Best of luck to the U.S. Pizza Team as they battle for gold at the World Pizza Championship in Parma, Italy, April 18-20! A competing squad of 13 U.S. Pizza Team (USPT) members will journey to Parma, Italy, to face off against 800 pizzaioli from 30-plus countries in the home of Parmesan and prosciutto. USPT members will compete at the World Pizza Championship, taking place April 18-20, in more than 25 categories, from Classica to Pizza in Teglia (pan), Pizza in Pala (pizza on the peel), Pizza Senza Glutine (gluten-free), and Pizza a Due, an event that sees two pizzaioli partner to build one masterpiece for the judges.
The USPT will also vie for gold in pizza acrobatics, with members competing in Largest Dough Stretch and the visually stunning Freestyle Acrobatics.
USPT fans and pizza industry professionals can visit the USPT Facebook page for live updates and posts throughout the week of April 17 and cheer on the U.S. Pizza Team. They’re invited to use #PizzaGold and tag @USPizzaTeam and US_Pizza_Team when posting about their favorite team members and join the rest of the country in supporting the team that supports the industry. The following USPT members are competing (videos will be updated as completed!):
Lenny Rago, Panino’s Pizzeria, Chicago, Ill.:
Classica
Pizza in Teglia
Pizza Senza Glutine
Pizza a Due (with LaMarca)
Michael LaMarca, Master Pizza, Cleveland, Ohio:
Classica
Pizza in Teglia
Pizza a Due (with Rago)
Jose Flores (Galbani Cup Champion), Crust Lover’s Pizza, Sanford, Fla.:
Classica
Pizza a Due (with Rodriguez)
Wilhelm Rodriguez, Papa’s Pizza, Cabo Rojo, P.R.:
Pizza a Due (with Flores)
McKenna Carney, The Nona Slice House, Safety Harbor, Fla:
Classica
Freestyle Acrobatics
Pizza a Due (with Jamie Culliton)
Jamie Culliton, The Nona Slice House, Safety Harbor, Fla.:
Pizza in Teglia
Freestyle Acrobatics
Pizza a Due (with Carney)
Lars Smith, State of Mind Public House & Pizzeria, Los Altos, Calif.:
Classica
Pizza in Teglia
Pizza in Pala
Cristina Aceves Smith, State of Mind Public House & Pizzeria, Los Altos, Calif.:
Classica
Pizza in Pala
Vitangelo Recchia, Bella Napoli Pizzeria & Restaurant, Port Charlotte, Fla.:
Classica
Pizza in Teglia
Dave Sommers, Mad Mushroom, West Lafayette, Ind.:
Classica
Largest Dough Stretch
Sean Dempsey, Dempsey’s Brewery Pub & Restaurant, Watertown, S.D.:
Classica
Pizza in Teglia
Drew French, Your Pie, Athens, Ga.:
Classica
The US Pizza Team’s journey to glory is made possible by the generosity of its sponsors. With their understanding of the industry and their passion for pizza and the U.S. Pizza Team, they are integral in creating events throughout the year, like the Galbani Professionale Pizza Cup, that help the USPT find the best culinary and acrobatic pizza talent to represent the team, its sponsors and the United States in international competition. They support the team that supports the industry. Thank you, USPT sponsors, from the entire United States Pizza Team!
