OCEAN CITY — A little rain didn’t stop a crowd from lining up to compete July 2 in the annual Wacky Wednesday Pie Eating Contest — a holiday tradition in America’s Greatest Family Resort.
Competitors from as close as Ocean City and Upper Township and as far away as Morocco gathered to show their mastery of masticating.
Boys, girls, tweens, teens and adults attempted to chomp their way to a championship under the loggia at the Ocean City Music Pier.
Results revealed a first-time title taker, three members of one family taking home ribbons and a four-time winner in the adult category — all with pie smeared across their faces, compliments of TastyKake.
Brendan and LeighAnn Speers brought daughter Aubrey, 9, and sons Ryan, 7, and Brett, 5, from Bedminster, Pa., to take part in their first munching madness.
“We come down all the time but we have never done this,” LeighAnn said. “Ryan was like ‘let’s do it, let’s come down and see what it’s all about,’ and here we are.”
“I’m looking forward to winning,” said Ryan, a rising second-grader at Bedminster Elementary School.
However it was Brett, who wasn’t planning to take part, who took home the ribbon this time.
Maura MacArthur, 13, and sister Nora MacArthur, 8, were back again from Chester Springs, Pa. The girls are repeat competitors.
Courtney Hoffmann brought children Ophelia, 7, Jax, 4, and Indi, 2, from West Chester, Pa.
“This is our second year doing it,” Hoffmann said, noting Jax took second last year. “He’s going for the blue ribbon this year.”
They have a home in the Gardens where they stay all summer.
“We love this family town. It’s our favorite on the Jersey shore,” she said.
Brothers John Van Cott, 14, and David Van Cott, 13, were looking for family bragging rights in the teen category. The boys, who were visiting their grandparents from Tampa, Fla., had competed a couple of years ago and then David got the best of John, who was looking for revenge.
John Oltz, 10, brought his father Fred Oltz and grandfather John Graham to take part in the event.
“I watched last year when they did it and he wanted me to do it with him,” Oltz said of his son.
Graham, a seasoned veteran, had a plan of attack.
“You’ve got to gobble it like a seal,” he said.
The men faced fierce competition in three-time winner Scott Cooper — who proved victorious again, taking home his fourth blue ribbon.
“I’m retiring if I win,” the Washington Township resident said.
Someone suggested he get a 15-second delay but there is no handicap in pie eating.
Simo Ra, 32, originally from Morocco, came all the way to Ocean City (from Philadelphia) to devour some delicious delicacies.
Facing a much shorter commute were Elsie Jamison and three of her handful of children — Johnny, 5, William, 4, and Emma, 3 — from nearby Upper Township. Their grandfather Erich Becker is chief of the Ocean City Beach Patrol.
Also from Upper Township was Luke Salanaria, (I refrained from saying “Luke, I am your father,” long enough to capture some great closeups.) who didn’t hold anything back.
It was a family affair for Thomas Costello. He, daughter Florence, 11, and son Jack, 6, all took home ribbons. Jack was a repeat winner.
“It’s amazing. We work all year, eating our sweets. Keeping them under the bed, throwing the wrappers under the kitchen table,” Costello said.
Island ambassadors Miss Ocean City Taylor Mulford, Junior Miss Ocean City Sarah Smith and Little Miss Ocean City Taegen Vivarelli host the weekly events.
“I’m excited for the summer, all of our summer events,” said Smith, who already has taken part in the First Dip, Doo-Dah Parade, Unlocking of the Ocean and Businesspersons Plunge.
“There are a lot of events in the summer but I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Taegen said.
“I’m really excited. I have never done one of these events before so it’s going to be a fun experience and I’m having pie for the first time,” Mulford said.
The misses also took their turn competing. Taegen and Mulford got busy, but Smith faked it, ultimately getting caught by an aghast Miss Ocean City.
Wacky Wednesday events are held through Aug. 20 at the Music Pier. Participants must be present at 10:30 a.m.
Wacky Wednesday
Schedule
— July 9: Taffy Sculpting. Shape Shriver’s Salt Water Taffy into a unique masterpiece — open to the first 200 participants.
— July 16: French Fry Sculpting. Shape french fries into a unique masterpiece — open to the first 200 participants.
— July 23: Christmas in July. Celebrate the Christmas holiday season in July with a special craft and a visit from Santa while he is in town on vacation. Visit with Santa from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and enjoy the sounds of the season with Christmas Music Bingo at 11 a.m.
— July 30: Soft Pretzel Sculpting. Shape a soft pretzel into a unique masterpiece — open to first 150 participants.
— Aug. 6: Prince and Princess Party. Design a prince or princess crown with Miss Ocean City Taylor Mulford, Junior Miss Ocean City Sarah Smith and Little Miss Ocean City Taegen Vivarelli.
— Aug. 13: Doughnut Sculpting. Shape a warm and fresh boardwalk doughnut into a unique masterpiece — open to first 150 participants.
— Aug. 20: Cookie Sculpting. Shape a giant chocolate chip cookie into a unique masterpiece. — open to first 150 participants.
– STORY and PHOTOS by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
