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Pit Vipers continue huge streak

Georgia's No. 1 ranked Tallulah Falls School Pit Vipers competition barbecue team continues to dominate the barbecue competition circuit with a Grand Championship win at the Blues and Boogie Festival in Calhoun on Sept. 24-25. 

"It was a big, big weekend; perhaps our biggest," said Team Pitmaster Tom Tilley. "Eight of the top Kansas City BBQ Society [KCBS] teams were in attendance."

The Pit Vipers placed as follows: 

KCBS Overall, first [Grand Champion]
KCBS Ribs, first with a Pit Viper record-breaking score of 179.4/180.
KCBS Pork, third 

KCBS Brisket, third [first time attempt]
KCBS Chicken, seventh
Dessert, third 

The Pit Vipers are currently ranked No. 3 in the nation in Ribs (KCBS) and No. 10 in Chicken (KCBS).

The Pit Vipers include sophomores Brooke Hayes of Cornelia, Matthew Wolfe of Clarkesville, Joel Bourlet of Tallulah Falls and Marc Crotta of Cornelia and freshmen Teyrk Tilley of Tallulah Falls and Zach Freeman of Clarkesville. The TFS Pit Viper dessert maker is freshman Lily Turpin of Demorest.

"Being a TFS Pit Viper is a privilege. We have fun with friends, and it encourages learning skills. Coach Tilley is a great leader and mentor, treats us with respect and helps us to have the mindset that we can accomplish great things if we set our minds to it and work together," Freeman said. "Being a Pit Viper is hard work, but it's great to see hard work pay off. Not many teenagers can go in front of hundreds of people and be called Grand Champions." 

The Pit Vipers' next competition will be in Galax, Virginia, at the Nightmare Before Zom-B-Q event, set for Oct. 16.