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Sean Yeager devours competition in burger-eating contest

Winner more than doubles last year’s total at SmashMouth’s second annual event
SmashMouth Burgers owner Nichole Parsons placed the winning hat on victor Sean Yeager. Shown are (l-r) Parsons, Yeager, second-place finisher Ryan O’Neal, who ate seven-and-a-half burgers, and Stefan Talabisco and Tim Morefield, who tied for third with five-and-a-half each. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
June 28, 2023

Story Location:
SmashMouth Burgers
19406 Coastal Highway
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

SmashMouth Burgers held its second annual burger-eating contest June 24, and winner Sean Yeager smashed the competition with 13.5 burgers, which is more than double last year’s winning total.

Rain and possible thunderstorms had been predicted, but it was sunny and humid the day of the contest. Twelve contestants had 10 minutes to eat as many two-patty cheeseburgers as possible. They could sit or stand and use liquid to soften up the burgers.

Mike McLean ate six-and-a-half burgers to win last year’s inaugural contest. He returned to defend his title, but about halfway through he was laughing at Yeager’s pace and recognized defeat. He wasn’t the only one. It was clear from the start that Yeager was devouring the burgers at a different level than all other competitors – at one point, he ran out of burgers and Jason Dibattista, the contestant to his left, was happy to donate one off his plate. 

A self-described up-and-coming amateur competitive eater, Yeager won $250, but he donated it back to SmashMouth to support the Jamie Parsons Culinary Scholarship Fund. Parsons, the founder of SmashMouth, died of cancer about 10 months ago. Twenty percent of the event’s proceeds went to the fund, which was set up to provide an annual culinary scholarship to a Sussex County resident. Yeager is a survivor of testicular cancer.

 

With competitor Chuck Wallace to his left, Sean Yeager stuffs his mouth during SmashMouth Burgers’ second annual burger-eating contest June 24. Yeager won the event with 13.5 double-patty burgers eaten.
After it was all said and done, organizers and competitors gathered for a group photo. Shown in back are (l-r) organizer Kerri Fox, Mike McLean, Alex Zarechnak, Broc Townsend, Bruce Ritter, Stefan Talabisco, Tim Morefield, Jason Dibattista, Chuck Wallace and SmashMouth Burgers owner Nichole Parsons. In front are (l-r) Ethan Fox, Ryan O’Neal and Sean Yeager. Not pictured is Anthony Nacchia.
There may be some ketchup and mustard on his face, but there’s no burger coming back up.
The crowd draws in to see the action up close.
A bunch of burgers lined up and ready to be eaten.
Stefan “The Freak” Talabisco finished in a tie for third with five-and-a-halfburgers eaten.
Alex Zarechnak got to participate because someone didn’t show up. About halfway through, he looks like he’s reconsidering his decision.
The burgers don’t make themselves. Brandon Tyler smashes the meatballs into patty form.
SmashMouth Burgers owner Nichole Parsons laughs it up before the competition begins.
On a sometimes-cloudy day, the SmashMouth burger truck stands out.
Ryan O’Neal finished second in his first competitive eating contest.
Burger counters stand in place as the competition begins.

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