Joseph Annese is a quick thinking 10-year-old. The Weehawken youngster made sure he was prepared for the township’s annual watermelon eating contest, sponsored by the town’s recreation department.
"I was practicing beforehand," Annese said. "I had some watermelon a couple days before the contest. To be ready, I had a really small dinner. I knew what I had to do, because I’ve been in the contest for the last few years."
The competition was held once again to a rousing success last Wednesday night at Weehawken Stadium.
In fact, Annese was not alone. Many of the youngsters who participated in the contest had some sort of strategy.
"Just stick my face into it and go for it," Annese said. "I didn’t want to waste time."
And of course, spitting out the watermelon pits would take away from the precious eating time.
"I swallowed the pits," Annese said. "I didn’t care. I wanted to win."
Recreation director Chuck Barone said that most of the eager youngsters didn’t take the time to remove the pits.
"They either swallowed them or spit them out," Barone said. "The rules said that they had to eat the watermelon to the rind and swallow everything, so maybe that included the pits. Some take their time and just enjoy the watermelon, but others get right into it. Thank God we have it after dinner. It’s an after-dinner delight."
Each participant was given a healthy slice of the refreshing summer treat, approximately three inches thick. The youngsters, ages three through 12, then had to eat the juicy fruit as fast as possible in order to collect a trophy. Each of the top three fastest watermelon eaters in their respective age brackets received an award.
Barone said that the watermelon eating contest has been a staple of the summer recreation program for many years, probably as long as 15 years.
"It’s one of our regulars," Barone said. "The kids really seem to come out for the eating contests. They have a lot of fun. It’s cute, especially with the real little ones, who get their entire faces into the watermelon. I didn’t think the little ones would finish, but they went right to the bottom."
Annese’s strategy paid off. He finished third in his age group (10-to-12), but he had some stiff older competition.
"There were some really big kids," Annese said. "But I was able to beat some of them, so I was happy. It was really a lot of fun. I got to challenge my friends, and then I was able to beat some of them."
Barone said that many of the youngsters hung around to finish off the watermelon that went unused during the contest.
"Some of the kids ate four or five slices," Barone said. "They just kept on eating after we were done. Remarkably, no one got sick."
Annese said that he had so much fun that he’s getting ready for the next challenge – the pie-eating contest, which will be held Wednesday night at Weehawken Stadium, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
"I’m going to try for the pie," Annese said.
Then, on August 7, there will be a new eating challenge, an event that is being called "The Hot Dog Eating Frenzy." Bring the Rolaids.
"I don’t think I want to try eating the hot dogs," Annese said.
Not if you have to eat them as fast as possible. Some things are better savored.
Annese was asked if he was worried that perhaps little watermelon could be growing inside his stomach.
"I don’t think that can happen," he laughed.
He’s right. Smart kid.
WINNERS IN WATERMELON EATING CONTEST
Ages 3-to-6
First Place – Elena Benoit
Second Place – Christina Benoit
Third Place – Kellen Dorio
7-to-9
First Place – Mike Jodice
Second Place – Tessie Urtubia
Third Place – Naysha Tanaquiche
10-to-12
First Place – Gilberto Lopez
Second Place – Jared Grimes
Third Place – Joseph Annese