On a frigid and windswept Kansas prairie, the Tallulah Falls School Pit Vipers competition barbecue team had a strong showing at the Kansas City BBQ Society World Invitational.
The field consisted of 130 championship teams from around the globe, including one from Canada and one from Sweden, all striving for the title of BBQ World Champion, according to Head Pitmaster Tom Tilley.
“The Pit Vipers had an amazing finish from among a pool of champions, placing 17th in Chicken, 25th in Ribs, 44th in Turkey and 35th in Dessert,” Tilley said. “These kids performed fabulously with temperatures in the 20s and battling 25 mph winds.”
The Pit Vipers included seniors Ty Tilley of Tallulah Falls and Cainan Yaskiewicz of Sky Valley, freshman Brooke Hayes of Cornelia, and eighth-grader Teryk Tilley of Tallulah Falls. The TFS Pit Vipers’ dessert baker was eighth-grader Lily Turpin of Demorest. Joining the team were TFS alumni Pit Vipers Garrett Hunter of Tallulah Falls and AJ Hayes of Cornelia.
“The TFS Pit Vipers were the only high school barbecue team at the KCBS World Invitational,” Tilley added.
“It is absolutely amazing we have a high school team here at our competition,” KCBS CEO Emily Detwiler said before asking for a photo with the Vipers.
The Pit Vipers finish the KCBS Backyard Series ranked nationally 20th in Chicken and 25th in Ribs. The Vipers will wrap up the season at the Georgia BBQ Championship in Cumming on Nov. 19-20.
