Athens High School’s BBQ Team is cooking up more than just competition this Saturday — they’re rallying around one of their own. Senior Levi Matlock, who is preparing for a life-saving kidney transplant in December, will be front and center as both a pit master for his team and the beneficiary of a special fundraiser to support his family during his recovery. The cookoff will showcase the talents of local student culinary teams while raising funds through concessions run by the barbecue team, parents, and the community.
“What’s so amazing about Levi is he is going to be at this competition, still being a pit master for his team,” said Lisa Ramsey, culinary arts instructor at Athens High School and the BBQ team faculty advisor. “He will go through dialysis for a night, come off the machine early that morning, and will come straight to barbecue practice to work for the entire day. He is quite the trooper through all of this.
” Athens High School's competitive barbeque team is hosting a cookoff contest at the high school this Saturday. The event serves as a regionals qualifier. (Contributed Photo) The cookoff is set for Saturday from 12 p.
m. to 5 p.m.
at the Athens High School CTE parking lot, 708 E. College St., just north east of Bruce Field.
The competition features several judges and multiple categories: (steak at 1 p.m., chicken at 2 p.
m., ribs at 4 p.m.
and additional specialty categories). In addition to the barbecue competition, concessions will be availab.