1st Annual Laker Loin Challenge

Isaiah Banwart, Writer

The morning of Tuesday, April 27th marked the beginning of a grand new tradition for Iowa Lakes: The Laker Loin Challenge. 

The rules were simple. Each of the contestants had a half hour to finish four and half pound meal consisting of six pork tenderloins, a lovely bun, a plate of fries, and plenty of high-fiber vegetables. They stood to win the meal for free, along with a shirt and their visage being mounted on campus. Upon failure or disqualification, they had to pay full price, approximately $40.

Isaac Bruggeman and Dustin Ross, two Iowa Lakes students, won the chance to compete in the challenge over a month in advance when tryouts were held among the student body. A third challenger, Jacob Oliver, was unable to attend due to conflicting schedules with his swim team commitments. The two attending Lakers were joined by professional eaters Randy “Atlas” Santel and Katina “Eats Kilos” Dejarnett at the event.

Santel finished his meal in approximately sixteen minutes and Katina came in second place six minutes later. The two local challengers were felled by the meal, but the entire event was a huge spotlight for Emmetsburg’s Hotel and Restaurant Management program. “Y’all know how I feel about fries, and these are delicious,” smiled Katina into one of the nearby cameras.

“My background is in bodybuilding,” she continued to explain. “I’m also in the international guard and I have to maintain some level of physical fitness.” According to both Santel and Dejarnett, diet and exercise is paramount to their success as professional eaters.