Senior Kristal Noyan (l) celebrates winning the Wing Bowl with her entourage in the Allentown High School gymnasium on Feb. 4. She ate 35 wings in 10 minutes to win. More photos at gmnews.com. ERIC SUCAR staff A llentown High School crowned a chick the winner of this year’s wingeating contest.
Senior Kristal Noyan ruled the roost on Feb. 4 when she ate 35 chicken wings in 10 minutes to best nine fellow students and two administrators in Allentown High School’s annual Wing Bowl. The student council sponsored the event as a fundraiser for Operation Redbird, which creates care packages for former students and area residents serving in the military overseas.
“I only ate breakfast and drank a lot of water,” Noyan said of her winning strategy. “I had a lot of confidence.”
In a gymnasium that smelled like sweet and sour sauce instead of competition sweat for once, the student council donned Noyan “The Chicken Wing Eating Champion” and placed a crown on her head in front of the entire student body. She ate four more wings than runner-up Justin Duffy, who had 31, and eight more than second runner-up Tyler Tice, who ate 27. The other student contestants were Bob Millar, David Kirby, Ryan Ramsey, Samantha Sloane, Jake Stein, John Carlo Mancini and Mikayla Storey.
Left: Senior Justin Duffy’s wrestling themed support group won the Best Entourage Award during Allentown High School’s Wing Bowl on Feb. 4. Above: Senior Justin Duffywas deemed the “People’s Favorite” to win. However, he came in second having eaten 31 wings in 10 minutes. Below: Allentown High School Student Council members transfer chicken wings donated by local restaurants to contestants’ plates prior to the start of the eating competition. More photos at gmnews.com. This was the school’s third Wing Bowl but the first in which school staff had a chance to compete. Vice Principal Brian Myslinski and Guidance Director Patrick Leary chowed down 18 and 21 wings, respectively. “I’d do anything that brings the school together for a little fun on a Friday going into the weekend,” Myslinski said about his participation in the contest. “They deserve it. They’re great kids.”
PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff The 10 students and two staff members who made it to the contest table were those who collected the most donations for Operation Redbird in one week. This year, the contest raised $868 for the cause.
The event’s success in raising money to help local military servicemen and servicewomen in combat zones earned the Allentown student council recognition from the New Jersey Association of Student Councils this year. The association named the Wing Bowl one of the top 10 outstanding student council projects in the state for 2011.
TheWing Bowl is the brainchild of a former Allentown High School Student Council member who is currently serving in the Marines, according to Lisa Tetto, student council president.
“This event gets the whole school involved,” Tetto said. “Everyone gets really excited. It’s unique and it’s for a good cause.”
To boost spirit during the event, the student council encourages contestants to choose a theme song and organize an entourage, a group of 10 friends who help them make an entrance and cheer them on during the competition. For example, Millar’s entourage danced him to his place at the table, with some members performing gymnastics and others throwing money. Ramsey dressed up like a chicken and couldn’t duck his entourage of cavemen who pretended to club him to death before “skewering” him.
After all of the entourages set the scene, the competition began. There were two 5- minute eating periods during which contestants tried to eat as many chicken wings as possible. Student council Vice President Tyler Freeman hosted the contest and stipulated the rules.
“The bone has to be clearly visible,” Freeman said. “You will be disqualified if you use a napkin or try to use your shirt as a napkin. If a person shall vomit, he or she will be disqualified.”
During the two-minute break between the rounds, students learned that Myslinski might not have what it takes to win when he said, “I feel like I’m going to be sick.” Freeman replied, “Remember, if you vomit, you’re out! ”
Myslinski didn’t give up but finished the competition with a beard full of meat instead of the crown. Student council members nicknamed the “Wingettes” determined Noyan to be the winner after they put on gloves and sifted through each contestant’s bones.
The council presented both the People’s Favorite and Best Entourage awards to Duffy, and the Most Spirited award went to Sloane. Duffy not only earned the most applause and cheering during the contest but also had a wrestling entourage of fellow classmates wearing singlets. Sloane won her award for raising the most money for Operation Redbird with a total of $153.64.
The council members thanked all who donated funds to benefit Operation Redbird, as well as Allentown restaurants La Piazza Ristorante and Woody’s Towne Café and East Windsor’s Via Roma for donating hundreds of chicken wings for the event.
This year, the student council has over 50 members and is led by Tetto, Freeman, Secretary Ariana Alleman, Treasurer Danielle Galipo, Public Relations Officer Madeline Collins, and Board of Education representative Rebecca Putpinski.
The student council’s next event will take place in March. “Mr. Allentown” is a beauty pageant during which male students representing a club or sport compete for best swimwear, talent and formal wear. At the end of the pageant, contestants are bid off for dates, with the money raised going to charity. Leading up to the pageant, contestants also help raise money for charity by carrying cans that feature a picture of their legs. The one who raises the most is named “Mr. Legs” at the show. The council also collects money for charity by selling calendars featuring the candidates and program ads to local businesses.