Smokin’ Ferrets going back to BBQ championship
Arlington ISD’s BBQ team the Smokin’ Ferrets is heading back to the state BBQ championship competition.
The team qualified after placing fourth overall – including second for desserts – out of 17 teams at a regional competition hosted for the first time at the Arlington ISD Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center. The competition included categories for brisket, ribs, chicken, beans and desserts.
But this isn’t the same team that that went to state last year and earned fame on the reality TV show “BBQ High.”
This is a brand-new team since all but one of last season’s members graduated. But the new pitmasters are keeping the success going.
Isaac Baskin, from Martin High School, is the team captain and the team member responsible for the ribs. He is proud of his inexperienced team.
“I feel like our first competition went really well, all things considered,” he said. “Everyone did their job to the best of their knowledge and ability, and I’m really proud of them for that, especially since this was only our second time practicing together.”
The rest of the team agreed but aren’t content with their early success.
“It was a wonderful experience working with the team I did, and for my first time, I did better than expected,” said Sam Houston High School’s Jesus Mendoza, who is in charge of beans. “However, there are a couple of things I could have done better, and I will work to improve those.”
The Smokin’ Ferrets coach, Chef Greg Almendarez, a culinary instructor at the CTC, knows what needs to be fixed, too, and is confident this team will improve further.
“Overall, I am really proud, pleased and grateful to have a team as good as ours, and I am looking forward to our next competition and the state competition,” Almendarez said.
Congrats to the entire team: Isaac Baskin (Martin HS), Riley Martin (Martin HS), Emily Makanjualo (Sam Houston HS), Jesus Mendoza (Sam Houston HS) and Justin Byers (Martin HS).