Four students dig in for Wing Bowl tickets

Competitive eating is not for those with light appetites.

But the appetites were not light last night for the four students, who decided to challenge their stomachs - and each other - in the First Annual "Penn Wing Off" held at Hill College House.

The contest, which began at 9 p.m. in Hill's dining room, included a large and excited crowd of students and dining staff who watched eagerly to see which student could eat the largest amount of wings in 15 minutes.

At stake were four courtesy tickets to the fifteenth Radio 610 WIP Wing Bowl, to be held at the Wachovia Center on Feb. 2nd. The runner-up was awarded with two tickets.

The competitors, some of whom hadn't eaten all day, were College freshman Dylan "Chef Boyardee" Boynton, College freshman Joe "Joebot the Wing-eating Robot" Romito, Engineering freshman Eric "The Endless" Chu, and College sophomore Jens "German Gobbler" von der Linden.

"I've always wanted to be in an eating contest, and this is my first opportunity," Romito said before the event began. "I think I'm going to be good."

Chu said he hoped to eat somewhere around 50 wings.

"I've never gotten sick from eating too much," he added.

One contestant looked especially calm as he leaned back in his chair waiting for his time to be called.

"I showed up just two minutes ago," Boynton said. "I don't care about the contest - I just want to eat cause I'm hungry and there's endless amounts of free wings."

The first part of the competition lasted 10 minutes, after which the students were given a short break to drink some water and catch their breath. The second part lasted five minutes.

Wharton freshman Andrew Rogers, who served as Chu's personal assistant - a "wingman," if you will - said he believed his friend could eat more than 50 wings. At break time, with five minutes left, Chu was at 33.

After the break, the crowd cheered even louder, and everyone was anxious to see who would win.

Boynton gave up after 20 wings. The competition soon became incredibly close between Chu and Romito, who kept stuffing wing after wing as if they'd never eat again.

"Let's go! Another one!" Rogers shouted to Chu.

"You can do it!" said Romito's assistant, College freshman Rebecca Sha.

When Al DerMovsesian, associate director for Hill Dining called time, the first winner in Wing Off history was Chu, with 43 wings; Romito came in second place with 36 wings.

When asked how he felt after the competition, winner Chu said, "I feel great! Where's the pizza, guys? Let's celebrate!"

Chu said he will share his tickets with friend Rogers and "any two lovely ladies who are interested."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.