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Kenston reigns supreme in News-Herald/Varsity Chalk Talk hot dog eating contest

john kampf, the news-herald, willoughby, ohio
·4 min read

Jul. 18—Even the most accomplished athletes reach a breaking point, the crossroads of whether to quit or go on.

Sean Doyle found himself in that situation at the annual News-Herald/Varsity Chalk Talk hot dog eating contest on July 18 at Hooley House in Mentor.

With time winding down, the 6-foot-3, 280-pound senior lineman from Kenston — answering to his inner competitive nature — jammed one last hot dog and bun into his mouth and resisted the temptation to spit it out.

He didn't — and because of that decision, Kenston was crowned the champion of this year's contest held in front of a large, vocal crowd at Hooley House.

Round 1 of tonight's @NHPreps — @realchalktalk hot dog eating contest at @HooleyMentor . @KHSBomberSports @southathletics @kirtlandFB @wickliffefb @HsHuskies pic.twitter.com/2KSsfbGeVY

— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) July 19, 2022

"It's horrible," Doyle said. "It's 10 times worse than you can imagine, but you've got to do it. ... I heard someone in the crowd yell, 'Put the whole dog in your mouth.' It was a battle. I almost threw up, but I put it down."

Doyle and Kenston Ben DiMarco wolfed down 10 jumbo dogs and buns for the title. Tied for second were Benedictine's tandem of A.J. Slemc and Pat Morse along with Wickliffe's duo of Bobby Plumb and Alex Cunningham. Those teams ate nine hot dogs and buns apiece.

Sean Doyle and Ben DiMarco are the champs are this year's @NHPreps — @realchalktalk hot dog eating contest at @HooleyMentor pic.twitter.com/HFsjzwfGt1

— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) July 18, 2022

The rest of the competitors were Kirtland's Otto Loschert and Macguire Boyd (eight), Riverside's Carter Rudler and Brett Stephens (eight), Chardon's Tyler Malloy and Blake Masterson (eight), Cardinal's Aidan Gallagher and Kyle Sinclair (eight), South's Colin Quinlan and Tommy Funk (six) and North's Nathen Gangloff and Eddie Balic (five).

Round 2 of tonight's @NHPreps — @realchalktalk hot dog eating contest at @HooleyMentor . @BeneBengalsFB @rhsbeavers @topperfb @northrangers pic.twitter.com/rWebnVIBQE

— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) July 19, 2022

The contest was part of a high school football kickoff show, a special edition of the Varsity Chalk Talk Show. Participants and three minutes to eat 14 hot dogs and buns.

Different strategies were put in play by the teams. Some split the tray in half, some ate the hot dogs while their teammates ate the buns, and others yet just threw down the food in reckless abandon.

Riverside ALMOST forced a three-way tie for second, but couldn't hold down its last hot dog the tandem tried to choke down.

Pat Morse and AJ Slemc of @BeneBengalsFB tied for second in tonight's @NHPreps — @realchalktalk show at @HooleyMentor pic.twitter.com/4Mn9PB1UR4

— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) July 18, 2022

"It gives me more respect for the great ones, like Joey Chestnut," said Benedictine's Pat Morse. "He did 75 in 10 minutes by himself versus two of us together struggling to eat 10 in three minutes.

"I honestly think if it was just the hot dog and no bun, I could eat 40. But eating the bun makes all the difference."

Wickliffe's Bobby Plumb agreed.

"I watched Joey Chestnut a lot," he said. "I saw what he was doing and tried to do that."

Bobby Plumb and Alex Cunningham of @wickliffefb tied for second in toight's @NHPreps — @realchalktalk hot dog eating contest at @HooleyMentor pic.twitter.com/2Zb95hGWxP

— News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) July 18, 2022

But slamming a bun in the water and trying to eat a soggy bun?

"That," Plumb said, "was rough."

The Kenston crew said it was intimidating being the first up on stage for the contest.

"We did (have a plan), but it fell apart when we got up there," DiMarco said.

Said Doyle, "Once you get up there, you get in a zone like football. You just focus in and put in the work."

Coaches corner

Coaches are asked to send their preseason football camp dates and times, as well as their scrimmage schedule, to JKampf@News-Herald.com, so as to set up camp visits for The News-Herald's annual football preview section. With scrimmages, please include date, time, location and what teams are participating.