Champion Dough Pros Make the U.S. Pizza Team in Los Angeles

Two dough pros showed the nation they have what it takes to lead the United States to a World Pizza Championship next March.

Oxford, MS (PRWEB) August 9, 2003 -- Two dough pros showed the nation they have what it takes to lead the United States to a World Pizza Championship next March.

Michael Shepherd and Joe Carlucci earned a spot on the U.S. Pizza Team at the Acrobatic Trials held at the Western Foodservice and Hospitality EXPO in Los Angeles this past weekend. These two men earned an all-expense paid trip to Salsomaggiore, Italy.

The largest dough stretch, fastest pizza maker and freestyle pizza-dough tossing were the contests featured in the Acrobatic Trials.

The largest dough stretch, a contest to see who can stretch a 14-ounce dough ball the farthest in under five minutes, was the first competition held at the Acrobatic Trials.

In the largest dough stretch competition, Shepherd, owner of Michael Angelos Pizzeria in Kenton, Ohio, took the lead with a 35-inch stretch. Brian Edler, owner of four Dominos franchises based in Findlay, Ohio, placed second with a 33.5-inch stretch. Edler placed third at the WPC in the dough stretch in early 2003. Stan Miller, owner of World Famous Pie Zons in Fulton, Miss., placed third with a 31-inch stretch.
This marks the third year that Shepherd will go to Italy as part of the U.S. Pizza Team.

(The greatest thrill in winning a spot on the U.S. Pizza Team) was probably seeing that all these years of tossing pizza got me a trip to Italy," Shepherd said. I prepare when Im making pizzas by practice throwing and spinning and stretching. I also come in when I dont have to be here (at work) and practice."

The second event held at the Western Foodservice EXPO was the fastest pizza maker. This is a contest to see who can hand-stretch and cover five pie screens with dough in the shortest time possible. Shepherd took first place in this competition, also, with a time of 1.53 minutes. At the WPC earlier this year, he came in fifth place. Edler placed second in this category with a time of 2.11 minutes. Ty Dubois, a former Las Vegas pizza champion and owner of Flying Pie Pizzeria in Portland, Ore. placed third in this competition.   

The final contest of the Acrobatic Trials was the pizza-dough tossing. This competition was the most difficult. Contestants were required to perform a two to four-minute throwing routine set to music using five 400-gram dough balls. Judges based their points on the creativity, variety, dexterity and difficulty of routine.

Joe Carlucci took first place in this contest with his stunning blindfolded routine. Just a fraction of a point behind Carlucci, was 19-year old Siler Chapman, owner of three pizza stores based in Charlotte, N.C. Dubois also took third place in this category.

A new exhibition sport called Dough Duels took place at the 2004 Acrobatic Trials. This contest determined who could stretch and toss as much dough as possible in the air above their head in less than two minutes. Brian Edler proved to be the Dough Duels champion.

The U.S. Pizza Team is an effort on the part of industry leaders to bring publicity to the pizza industry and the people who make pizza. The U.S. Pizza Team is made possible by the support of the following sponsors: LaNova, CarryHotUSA, Woodstone, California Milk Advisory Board, Bellissimo, Marsal & Sons, DoughPro, KB Pizza Crust, Fontanini, Diamondtouch POS, Univex and Paradise Tomato Kitchens. For more information on the U.S. Pizza Team, please visit www.uspizzateam.com.