American Champion Spins her way to London at the Spring Acrobatic Trials!

Tara Hattan wows the judges to earn a trip to Europe
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Tara Hattan of andolini’s Pizzeria in Tulsa OK. takes home the grand prize of a trip to compete in London for Freestyle Acrobatics!

The United States Pizza Team (USPT), PMQ Pizza Magazine, Go Live Sports Cast and Sofo Foods sponsored the Spring Acrobatic Trials at the 2019 Sofo Signature Showcase in Toledo, Ohio Sunday, April 28^th. Dough acrobats from around the region converged to try for the grand prize of a trip London to compete in the European Pizza & Pasta show in November.

The field of competitors, both veterans and rookies, squared off in 4 events. All broadcast live on ESPN 3 by Go Live Sports Cast, the acrobats began with the Largest Dough Stretch, followed by the Fastest Pie Maker, Fastest Box Folder and the visually scintillating Freestyle Acrobatics.

With a 4-point difference between 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd, Tara Hattan of Andolini’s Pizzeria in Tulsa, Okla. dazzled the audience and judges with her 3-minute routine, which ended up with her standing on top of the prep table spinning doughs. This routine earned her the grand prize

Freestyle Acrobatics: 2nd Place Matt Hickey, 3rd Place Ryan LaRose, 1st Place Tara Hattan

to come to London to compete on the international stage in November. Coming in 2^nd place was numerous time competitor Matt Hickey of Caliente’s Pizza & Drafthouse in Pittsburgh PA. In an unprecedented tie for 3^rd were two Buckeye natives, Nathan Wilson from 600 Downtown in Bellefontaine and Ryan LaRose of Pies & Pints in Columbus.

Garnering 1^st in Largest Dough Stretch was first time competitor Joshua Owens from Mad Mushroom in Lafayette, Ind. 2^nd went to Toledo local Kodie Edler of Domino’s Pizza and third was grabbed by Landon Butler of 600 Downtown.

Fastest Pie Maker saw Rick Wheeler of Mad Mushroom in West Lafayette, Ind. take top honors. Coming in 2^nd and 3^rd were Joshua Owens and Tara Hattan

Largest Dough Stretch: 3rd Kodie Edler, 1st Josh Owens, 3rd Landon Butler

respectively.

Newcomer Joshua Owens of Mad Mushroom in Lafayette, Ind. earned another gold, this time in Fastest Box Folder. Joshua the only competitor to place in all three events, claiming 1^st place for 2 of them. Second place was grabbed by Matt Hickey of Caliente’s, followed closely in third by Rick Wheeler of Mad Mushroom, West Lafayette, Ind.

For more information about this event or the U.S. Pizza Team, contact Brian Hernandez at 662-234-5481 x 129, brian@pmq.com, or visit https://uspizzateamdev.wpengine.com/.