INGLESIDE, Texas — The Mustang Smoke Show BBQ team brought the heat this season by winning the first BBQ State Championship in Ingleside High School history last Saturday.
Last year, Coach AJ Alvarado formed the team and they placed 18th at the State Championship. This year, their hard work paid off in a big way.
"We're the first BBQ state champions of Ingleside," Coach Bo Daniel said. "We'd like to see this group even after my time at this school is gone, we'd like to see the legacy continue for many years."
A legacy that has just begun, the coaches said this is just the beginning for the BBQ team.
Member Noah Rodriquez said the road to victory was not an easy one.
"Our practices consist of waking up at around 3 o' clock in the morning, getting to our coach's house at 4," Rodriquez said. "We start the pit, we start a timer just like if we were in a competition and we try our best to make the time."
The team competed in four categories: brisket, ribs, chicken, beans and dessert.
Daniel said the first bite in each category is what makes a difference.
"At competitions, the judges get one bite out of your food so, I had to teach them how to make that one bite stand out above everyone else," Daniel said.
For some students like Noah Rodriquez and Logan McGrath, this win means a lot more.
"The town of Ingleside, my roots run deep, I have a lot of family around here, a lot of people that know me so it definitely makes my whole family proud," Rodriquez said.
"To win here, not only are we're here in Ingleside, my parents, my grandpa went to school here and to win here, it means a lot to us," McGrath said.
Daniel and Alvarado said they are excited to start preparing for next season and the team is ready to defend their title.
"It's hard to improve off of state championships, but now it is to try to see if we can win back-to-back championships," Daniel said.
Daniel said the team is looking to recruit new members to join the team before next season starts! If interested contact him, Coach Alvarado, or any of the team members.