2011 Stache & Chili Winners!!
article submitted 12-02-2011
It was hands-down (literally) our craziest 'stache contest in our six year tradition. After 30 days of hair-raising competition, the guys shaved their facial hair into some of the creepiest and coolest sculpted 'staches we can recall.
The fierce competition and voting ended in our first-ever TIE for Best 'Stache between Nic Lubbers and Todd Whetstone. Contest MC 
Nate Closser polled the audience -- break the tie via "most applause" or a good old-fashioned arm wrestle throwdown between Nic and Todd? Arm wrestle!!! On the pool table!!! Duh.
Nic and Todd both gave it their all but in the end, Nic's super-human upper-body strength from years of computer programming gave him the edge. Todd went down in defeat.
Other winners (or losers depending on how you look at it) were Sam Sweitzer for Worst 'Stache, which is actually sort of the Best 'Stache by our convoluted rules, and Ben Young for 2nd Worst 'Stache, which is really the Worst 'Stache since it wasn't good enough to win Worst 'Stache. Sadly, this is Ben's 2nd year as 2nd Worst 'Stache recipient. Maybe someday he'll be the worst.
On the chili front, our six lady contestants BROUGHT IT! We had spicy chili, turkey chili, three-meat chili, store-bought chili, secret-recipe chili, and even a "beef stew" chili. The 
official judging panel of Colin Brimfield, Dave Zingery and Josh McDermitt took their job VERY seriously as they sampled, ranked and argued over chili for half an hour with words like "texture," "aroma," and "consistency."
In the end, both Judge's Choice and People's Choice went to Emily Regula for her spectacular smoky pot of beef and bean chili. The judging panel loved the smoky tomato flavor and tender pieces of stew meat. Most Unique went to Collyn Floyd for her three-meat chili with roasted poblanos. The Frito garnish sealed her victory.
Head over to Facebook for all the 'stache and chili cook-off photos, including some very unique prizes, shall we say. Also check out our story in the North Canton Patch.