Sandwich gladiators battle in Belly Buster

John Volk, senior in Engineering, displays his empty mouth as Theodore Cohen, freshman in LAS, drinks water at the end of Potbelly´s sandwich-eating contest at Potbelly´s on Fifth and Green streets Thursday. Volk, the winner of the competition Ben Cleary

John Volk, senior in Engineering, displays his empty mouth as Theodore Cohen, freshman in LAS, drinks water at the end of Potbelly´s sandwich-eating contest at Potbelly´s on Fifth and Green streets Thursday. Volk, the winner of the competition Ben Cleary

By Christina Peluso

Students crowded the tables of Potbelly Sandwich Works yesterday to watch five contestants battle it out in a full-on eating war. In commemoration of National Sandwich Day, Potbelly Sandwich Works held a “Belly Buster” sandwich-eating contest.

For the first time, the sandwich chain expanded its contest to nine college town locations. Towns from Ann Arbor, Mich., to Madison, Wis., to Columbus, Ohio and Champaign all hosted the contest.

The contest, which is normally held only in Chicago, spread across the country. Potbelly’s decided to host the contest in more locations because the company is expanding and thought it would be a fun thing to do, Champaign Potbelly’s Sandwich Works Manager Jim Harty said.

It was also used to bring awareness to the chain and to the holiday, Harty said.

“It’s just a fun thing to do, and that’s one thing we like to do here, is have fun,” Harty said.

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As students filtered into the restaurant, the five contestants were lined up at individual tables with a Potbelly’s employee coach by their side. The contestants were picked at random from applications that were sent in.

Harty introduced the contestants, or as he called them, “sandwich gladiators.” Each contestant had five minutes to finish as many turkey sandwiches as possible. At the end of five minutes they had to drop what was left and were given fifteen seconds to chew what was left in their mouths. In the event of a tie there would be a two-minute eat off.

The five contestants were all males. Only one female sent in an application. The contestants were junior in Engineering Michael Bauschard, freshman in ACES Kristopher Kinslow, Champaign resident Mark Gibbons, freshman in LAS Theodore Cohen and senior in Engineering John Volk.

As soon as Harty blew the whistle the guys were off. Volk and Bauschard were on their feet instantaneously shoving food into their mouths as fast as possible. The other three contestants were a bit more sedate, but seemed focused on the task. Cohen had his watch next to him, constantly checking the time.

Volk took the lead after downing his first turkey sandwich, but soon after, Kinslow swallowed his second and wasn’t far behind. With just under three minutes Gibbons caught up by finishing his second. At the two-minute warning Volk and Kinslow were in a dead heat, both respectively working on their third sandwiches.

At the one-minute warning the two lead competitors were desperately shoving down their sandwiches, while Cohen was visibly waning.

When the ten-second warning came the fans roared with cheers as both Kinslow and Volk choked down their food. At the end of the two seconds both had finished their third sandwiches. Then in the controversial 15-second chewing period Volk pulled ahead and swallowed the last of his sandwich first.

Volk was announced the winner and recipient of the $500 award.

The two final competitors shook hands after the contest, but Kinslow was upset with the outcome. The rules were a little flawed, he said. He felt that they should have had the two-minute eat off. He said he thought he could have beat him in the eat off. “I’ve got him by a couple pounds at least,” Kinslow said.

Volk was very pleased with the results and that his strategy paid off. Volk said he trained by drinking beer and having a few sandwiches. Volk’s general strategy was to “swallow it like a pill,” he said.

“Water was a big part of my strategy,” Volk said.

Volk said his coach, Charlie Lucas, really helped by keeping the water flowing.

“I just tried to swallow it down,” he said.

Volk said he felt the referee made the right call at the end of the contest. He was glad he did not have to enter the two-minute eat off.

Bauschard on the other hand was not happy with his performance. “It was a lot harder than I expected. Just the speed issue for me was difficult,” he said.

“I thought I could’ve at least gotten two down,” Volk said.