STF24's Grand Champions (most fan votes) Clay Pixler and Tony Forzono of All Sauced Up are back to defend their title. Clay, a Kentucky sports fan, below-average poker player, above-average golfer, rec soccer & baseball coach, bourbon lover, smoked St. Lous pork ribs specialist, 20+ years in SoBo, Emily’s husband for 24 years, lucky dad of four. Tony, a Georgia native but Locust Point resident for 16 years. Raven's season ticket holder and avid sports fan. Professional moonshine drinker. Loves smokin' anything, second time in competing, and in it to win again! This year the team is being joined by SoBo's own Charlie Parker.

Mike Levandusky and Scott Cohen are just two average dudes making average BBQ. Mike has been in Otterbein for 8 years and smoking meats for 6.  He is a proud husband to Whitney and father to his two daughters Esme and Abigail.  Scott has been in Otterbein for 4 years and smoking meat for 6.  He is an Orioles and Ravens fanatic and proud girl dad!

Brisky Business are second time uncle/nephew smoking duo Joe and Matt Walsh. Joe: 5G consultant; @homechefjoe; cyclist; PSU and ND parent with amazing wife Patti. Matt: PhD student at JHU studying AI & biology; New England transplant; newly married to the gorgeous Julie; newbie to Bmore, Otterbein, and smoking meats but ready to be a lifer.

First time smoker at STF24; Otterbeiner with wife Abby; Howard University grad; Senior Attorney Advisor at United States Air Force; Advocate for disabled veterans, Suicide Prevention Trainer and Wellness Coach

Frank Curriero is a first timer at STF24 but loves BBQ and has been smoking for a few years, mostly just to share with family and friends. Originally from Northern NJ.  Husband and girl dad; Professor at Hopkins School of Public Health; Enjoys baseball, college football more than pro and a big time Penn State fan.  

The Hot Bois–the wild game harvesting and adventurous cooking team of former 'Beiner Billy Breslin (along with wife Alex and kids Aspen and Griffin) and sous chef Trevor Potash of LoPo (with wife Meghan and daughters Georgia and Sydney–are back to defend their STF23 title for Fan Favorite Appetizer.

I'd Smoke That is spearheaded by STF cofounder Dan Anderson, alongside BBQ wizards Adam Bober and Matt Eskridge. When Dan is not advising clients at Merrill Lynch, he is pushing his limits on the ski slope or sailing the Chesapeake. Adam, a die-hard WVU fan and top-tier banking marketer, brings passion and expertise to the team. Matt, a true Southern gentleman with a love for live music and his Clemson Tigers, adds his own flair. Together, they rule the outdoor kitchen and are on a mission to bring home some major wins this year!

Jew-b-que is Carl Ziegler, STF23's fan favorite dessert winner with his Smoked Apple Fritters and famed for his corned brisket. Estate planning attorney, chair of FHPS grounds committee, 15+ year SoBo resident with wife Katarina and two boys Miro and Lucian, proud PREP parent, expert jammer, paw paw farmer and moonshine distiller, horticulturist.

Lube's Que are brothers Ryan and Chris Lubert from the home of barbecue–North Carolina. Ryan lives in Otterbein with his wife and two boys and is either watching the O's or playing pickleball. His brother Chris has flown in from Charleston, South Carolina to join STF24 this year and lives with his wife, dog, and cat. Enjoys Braves baseball, Panthers football, and playing pickleball.

In a world fraught with quinoa and kale, two heroes Max LeVee and Casey Hawes united by destiny, team up to give you . . . MEAT SWEATS. Max Levee is the seasoned pro, a public finance consultant, golfer, WV alum, and Ravens fan. Casey Hawes is the new smoker, a creative director, and sports fan. This October, the smoke will make you SWEAT. 

Motley Que are Adam Mcdermott, Jon Bresloff, and his cousin Ben and his bud. Team of misfits led by a New England Yankee who spends a significant amount of time bumping between Matagorda and Guadeloupe County, Texas.

O'B-Wan K’Nobi is Smoketoberfest cofounder Brendan O'Brien and his K (as in Korean) posse; winner of the Golden Pig Brisket Award in 2021, owner of Cobblestone Wealth Mgmt., GraceCity Church elder, the ‘commish of South Baltimore Little League, bad golfer, pretty good skier, former Sox fan/now O’s fan, 25 year ‘Beiner, aka Mr. Judy O’Brien, raising three CityKids

STF23's Judges' Choice and Golden Pig Brisket Champion Jim Freaney of Small Batch BBQ is back to defend his title; Works at Pitango Cafe; Ravens and Os all day; Hampden hottie; Carolina-style pork specialty; better half is Allison; daddy to Josh and Evelyn; “I hate people but I’m nice, but I love people at the same time.”

Smokin' Animals, Matt Calderone & Chris Capaccio are STF24 rookies but decades as a smoker and now drives a 250 gallon stickburner in Arnold, MD. While known for his pulled pork, no stranger to whole packer briskets, ribs, prime ribs and legs of lamb. College at NC State in Raleigh was responsible for the passion for smoke. Avid golfer (real and virtual) when not tending to a smoker with sports allegiances by way of New England.

Team Poland—back to defend their STF23 Best Poultry title with their Alabama-Style Smoked Chicken Thighs—consists of Josh, manager at Booz Allen by day, musician and video game developer by night; Hannah his brillant wife, and baby boy Jonah.

Paul and Margaret Welling are returning for their 2nd year with their specialty of KC-style BBQ pork ribs and homemade sauce. Margaret, raised in Otterbein, Columbia grad, clinical social worker and mental health therapist/advocate–is excited to join her dad Paul, a kidney doctor/scientist at JHMI; avid golfer; baseball lover/O’s fan; softball dad; 30-year-Otterbein resident; proud husband to Teresa and father to Margaret and King Charles Spaniel, Ruby; Springer-Spaniel Louis’s Grandfather.

Since the dawn of smoked meats (or at least this competition), Bunty Chea has been chasing the perfect fusion brisket, that is when he’s not busy whipping up Cambodian dishes, traveling the world, or getting punched in the face at Muay Thai. With two kids cheering and a wife who's way more supportive since the last brisket attempt, Mark Annunziato and brother Rithea Chea complete their team and together they will bring the flavor and represent the Otterbein community with a brisket that'll knock your socks off, but hopefully not like his sparring partners!  

Justin Shelby and Hugh Bernstein are the War Pigs, the barbecue team with an origin as fiery as their grill, were not just raised, but forged in the wild ethos of wolf packs and the raw power of heavy metal. Growing up under the fierce tutelage of nature’s untamed guardians, these pitmasters learned the art of survival and the rhythm of the wild, infusing their barbecuing style with the same intense and relentless spirit. Their culinary skills are a tribute to their heavy metal roots—bold, unapologetic, and always smoking.