Rookie wins the 14th annual Mussel Bowl

The tradition continued with the 14th Annual Mussel Bowl at the AOH Hall in Swedesburg. This yearly event preceding the Super Bowl was started at Chick’s Tavern by Dave Chiccarine. Dave his wife Carol and daughter Amy made the event at the AOH this year and it’s great for Dave and Carol both seeing old friends.

This year’s contest had a total of seven contestants that included the Elks 2016 Champ Brian DeStefano. With the AOH packed the Irish Thunder opened up the event playing a few tunes including a set honoring our military. Al Fox did the MC for the contest while AOH members and help from the Swedesburg Fire Company cooked up the three thousand mussels.

With two sets of eating frenzies of five minutes each the winner of the 2017 Mussel Bowl was Kyle Shenk of the Swedeland Volunteer Fire Company. This was Kyle’s first year in this event and he won it by eating 323 mussels -- beating out last year’s Elks champ by just five mussels. Others taking part in the contest were the AOH, CBC (Conshohocken Bocce Club), Bridgeport Rib House and the Maennor Chor Club.

As always the Irish Thunder played Amazing Grace for the deceased mussels at the end of the event and a special happy birthday was played to the 2017 St. Patrick’s parade Grand Marshal -- Norristown Fire Chief Thomas O’Donnell who also attended the Mussel Bowl.

All the proceeds help support the William Bradley Scholarship Fund.

Seven contestents representing the AOK, the CBC, Bridgeport Rib House and the Maenner-Chor Club competed in this year’s event.

Proceeds from the event support the William Bradley Scholarship Fund.

Seen here are 2016 champ Brian Destefano, 2017 champ Kyle Shenk and Dave Chiccarine who started it all.