Unleash Your Appetite at Wheeling Island's Man v. Food Contest

Event Highlights

Wednesday night witnessed a frenzy of food-filled forks as the Wheeling Island Buffet transformed into a competitive arena. The multimillion-dollar renovation had brought a plethora of upgrades, and Executive Chef John Greenwald curated an impressive array of new menu items. Casey Webb, the star of "Man v. Food," hosted the event, adding to the excitement. A total of three-man teams participated, including players from the Wheeling Nailers hockey team, the Wheeling Miners indoor football team, Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, and a group of eager guests. Even the Wheeling Fire Department was scheduled to participate but had to leave due to an emergency call. However, the crowd still showed their appreciation for the dedicated first responders.

Participants were randomly selected from the buffet crowd and had to sign a waiver before attempting to eat the enormous mound of food. Each team was served a cold plate and a hot plate of food, weighing a total of 27.6 pounds. They had 20 minutes to consume as much as possible, and after the time expired, officials weighed the remaining food to determine the winning team. Webb's jovial personality and high-spirited commentary added to the entertainment value as the teams chowed down.

Team Performances

Among the teams, Team Mouthful, consisting of randomly selected guests, managed to swallow a respectable 7.8 pounds. The crew from Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration handled 8.74 pounds, while the Wheeling Nailers scored with 11.18 pounds. However, the Wheeling Miners truly stood out by claiming victory with an impressive 13.1 pounds of buffet items. Joel Zellem, a member of the Wheeling Miners, kept his game face on despite the intimidating amount of food. After the competition, he reflected on his strategy, saying, "For the first seven minutes you were flying through it, and then you hit a big wall. But you know, you've just got to pace yourself after that, but it was fun. I feel like crap now, but it was fun while we were doing it, for sure."

Despite their success, Zellem indicated that he may not be participating in another food competition soon. "I don't think I'll ever do it again - I feel defeated," he laughed. After the competition, Webb participated in a meet-and-greet with guests, signing autographs and posing for pictures.

Buffet Renovation

The Wheeling Island Buffet recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation and is now reopened to the public. The new renovation has brought a fresh look and a wider variety of menu items. Guests can now enjoy a smorgasbord of delicious offerings at this upgraded buffet. (Photos by Eric Ayres)