Seven Colgate University seniors gathered in the Colgate Inn Ballroom on Thursday, Feb. 26, to face a challenge unlike any other: the annual cookie pie eating contest. The room buzzed as senior hosts Ellrose Hanlon and Anna Lochhead gave the starting signal.
The Senior Class Gift Committee carried on the beloved campus tradition after last year’s competition was postponed amid concerns about rising illness rates.
As in years past, contestants were selected through a competitive application process. Students submitted videos demonstrating their qualifications, and the Committee announced each participant via its Instagram account alongside a short profile highlighting their motivation and prior experience.
Contestants included seniors Ariana Bezanson, Zja’Kyla Brumfield, Leonardo Chavarry, Nicholas Dalessandro, Andrew Mazzacano, Ethan Rifkin and Jenavieve Sherwood.
When the contest began, approaches diverged dramatically. Some competitors attacked the pie with single-minded ferocity, embracing crumbs and chaos. Others adopted a more measured strategy, carefully pacing their bites and chasing large mouthfuls with milk.
As the clock wound down, the pace only intensified. Forks flew, milk sloshed and the final bites disappeared in a blur. These participants offered a masterclass in competitive eating technique, but by night’s end, only one claimed victory: Swim and Dive’s own Andrew Mazzacano.
Between bites, Mazzacano revealed a poised, tactical focus honed only by years of training as a collegiate athlete. He secured the title with a wide margin, delivering a performance worthy of Colgate’s Division I pride.
Until its return next spring, the spectacle will linger in campus lore. If the class of 2027 hopes to contend, training may need to begin now.
