Photo By Bethany Huff | Sgt. 1st Class Rodney Lubnow, Fort Bragg Culinary Arts team captain, accepts the...... read more read more
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FORT LEE, Virginia – As the 36th Annual Armed Forces Culinary Arts Competition came to an end, 25 teams with 251 competitors, waited in anticipation during the competition’s awards ceremony to hear where they placed among their culinary peers here, March 11.
“I’m expecting third place,” said Sgt. 1st Class Rodney Lubnow, the Fort Bragg Culinary Arts Team Captain. “I told the team to be surprised if we placed third or even second, but if we placed first then they could go crazy.”
Some contestants seemed anxious, while others looked scared as the ceremony began. One by one, each team was recognized for their accomplishments throughout the competition. Fort Bragg walked away with a total of 40 medals; 15 gold, 20 silver and 5 bronze medals.
The medals were not only awarded for a job well done, but offered the participants a chance to see how much they accomplished during the 788 events of the competition.
With half of the ceremony almost over, the Fort Bragg team waited to hear where they placed with other events during the competition which would ultimately show them where they placed for the Installation of the Year title.
Currently, Fort Bragg holds nine IOY titles, which is the most for any military installation in the history of the competition.
“Right now, it is a close call between the Pentagon, Fort Bragg and the Coast Guard for Installation of the Year,” said Sgt. Major Mark Warren, a culinary judge, earlier during the competition. “I was on the Fort Bragg team when they won some of their Installation of the Year titles, so I’m anxious to see if the ‘center of the universe’ will win their tenth title this year.”
The team’s anticipation grew as the special awards were announced.
The Fort Bragg Culinary Arts team took home the award of Best in Ice and a gold medal in the Knowledge Bowl, which was an event that scores the teams points toward the IOY title.
Prior to the IOY award, a paratrooper from the Fort Bragg team was selected for the United States Army Culinary Arts Team. Private first class Deborah Adam, Fort Bragg Culinary Arts team member, will train and compete for the 23rd IKA/World Culinary Olympics in October 2012, in Erfurt, Germany.
“And now the moment you all have been waiting for,” said the announcer for the ceremony as members of the Fort Bragg team closed their eyes and crossing their fingers. “Third place goes to the United States Coast Guard.”
The look of relief flooded many of the member’s faces, as the announcer began to call second place. “Second place goes to… Fort Bragg.”
With graceful smiles and looks of defeat, the team marched on stage to accept their second place trophy.
“I’m disappointed that we didn’t win first place and Sgt. Maj. Warren told me as we went up to accept our award that I’d be upset by how close we lost by,” said Lubnow, a Pensacola, Fla., native.
The Pentagon team won first place for IOY and Lubnow said, he plans to beat them next year.
“The team worked hard and I’m proud of them. Next year, we just have to focus and begin planning now,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 03.11.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.22.2011 14:56 |
| Story ID: | 67550 |
| Location: | FORT LEE, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 104 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Bragg’ing Rights: Culinary Arts Team places in top three for 36th Annual Armed Forces Culinary Arts Competition, by Bethany Huff, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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