Mike Soost, Class of 2003, said that in Virginia Beach, where he currently resides, a girl would never participate in a wing-eating contest.
But Soost was happy to see a girl take the crown last night at Wing Fest, held at Tussey Mountain for the third time this season.
"In Virginia Beach, if a girl would be in a wing-eating contest, she'd be in a bikini," he said. "Seeing this, a normal girl winning, is nice."
At Tussey Mountain last night, wings, beverages, and live music provided both State College locals and displaced State College lovers like Soost with an enjoyable summer evening. The event was mainly sponsored by JOE FM, and wings were provided by 797 Lounge, Prospectors Allegheny Rib Co., Toftrees Down Under Steakhouse and Hammer Mill Bar & Grill.
Local bands Brew Devils and Giants of Despair took the stage while attendees milled around the base of Tussey Mountain, sampled the wings and food from vendors and sat on blankets listening to the music with their families and friends.
Enjoying the quirks of Happy Valley this summer for a few days, Soost hasn't been back to State College in four years, and he said the area looks "as nice as ever." He added the event was a great deal on wings, and the atmosphere of the evening made it even better.
Soost said all the wings he sampled were good, but the Bourbon barbeque flavored wings from 797 Lounge were his favorite. His friend, Will Henely, 30, also of Virginia Beach, deemed the regular barbeque from Prospectors as his favorite.
The Brew Devils, while interacting with the crowd, asked them how they liked the wings and provided those present at Wings Fest with popular music. They covered tunes from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, 311, Pearl Jam, John Mayer and more. Pat Sullivan, Class of 1989, who recently moved to State College from Chester County, said this band was the main reason he came.
Sullivan said events like this are one of the reasons his family relocated to State College, a place he says is "great for families." He sat on a blanket with his son, age 7, who ran up to the stage and skipped around with the throng of young children surrounding it.
"Our son had an 100-degree temperature yesterday, and now he seems to be all better," Sullivan said. "He must be having a great time."
After the Brew Devils finished its set, the wing-eating contest commenced. Four participants were required to eat six wings as quickly as possible, Cara Adamus, intern for JOE FM, said. She said the winner of the final contest at the last Wings Fest of the season will win a flat-screen TV.
"Wings Fest brings the community together. Even if you don't like wings, it's a great place to listen to good music," she said.
The only female participant in the wing-eating contest, Andrea Dubensky (senior-biology) was "really nervous" before it began. She said she thought it would be fun, and she thought "I'm a girl, and I can do it."
"I was scared the wings were going to be so hot, but they weren't as bad as I thought they'd be," she said. "I was shocked I won, there was some serious competition up there."
Dubensky has no doubt she will win the final contest in a few weeks, saying she is "very confident."
After the wing-eating contest, the Giants of Despair took stage. "We're the Giants of Despair, but we're very cheery people," the lead singer said as his band began to play. The band provided the crowd with folksy, southern-inspired original rock songs.
As the sun started to set on Tussey Mountain, rock music and the tangy scent of buffalo sauce filled the air, providing all with a tasty summer night.
