‘BBQ High’ debuted on Sunday
Spoiler alert! We’ll be giving weekly updates on the sizzling reality TV series “BBQ High,” featuring 91Ƭ’s competitive BBQ team.
When most people think of high school extracurriculars, they picture football games, marching bands or theater productions. But in 91Ƭ, a new kind of team is bringing all the heat – literally.
And they’re doing it on reality TV! Episodes one and two of “BBQ High” premiered this past Sunday, showcasing high school barbecue teams, including the 91Ƭ Dan Dipert Career + Technical Center’s Smokin’ Ferrets.
The series on the spotlights Martin High School senior Marc Fadel, his teammates and their coach Greg Almendarez, or “Coach A,” as they navigate the 2023-2024 BBQ season, which kicked off in September 2023, eight months before the state championship.
The Smokin’ Ferrets have been competing in regionals for the past six years. After ranking in the top 30 for the 2022-2023 season, the team has one main goal – to rank in the top 10 to qualify for state.
This week, the show offered a deeper dive into the personal lives of the BBQ captains and captured the tension of their first competition of the season, the Southlake Regional.
Practicing for up to 12 hours each Saturday, the Smokin’ Ferrets worked hard to perfect their skills for the five categories: dessert, chicken, beans, brisket and ribs.
“This is my senior year, so this is my last year doing this type of competition,” Fadel said on the show. “I really want to place high. I put a lot of time in this, and I need proof that I did good.”
Competing against Mansfield ISD’s Phat’s BBQ team, which placed second in state in 2023, and the team’s rib champion Zane, Marc knew the competition would be tough. But he was determined to secure a top-three finish in the rib category.
Despite the challenges of missed alarms, tight deadlines and the fear of under or overcooking, the Smokin’ Ferrets submitted their entries to the judges. Ranked one through 10, every detail counts. The cut, the presentation, the flavor and the tenderness.
In the end, the Smokin’ Ferrets ranked eighth in beans, seventh in brisket, third in ribs and dessert, and took first place in chicken. Their overall performance earned them a fourth-place finish, securing their spot in the state competition.
“We’re real proud of them,” said Coach A. “When it comes to state there’s no errors. We’re going to go back and look at what the judges had to say.”
Job well done!
Watch new episodes of “BBQ High” each Sunday on Magnolia Network or stream the series on Max and discovery+.