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Battle Mountain culinary team wins again

Vail Daily staff reportnewsroom@vaildaily.comVail, CO Colorado
Special to the Vail DailyBattle Mountain High School ProStart and culinary teacher Sharon Wible,students JonPaul Ferzacca, Zander Lucero, Clint Hervert and Cliff Rodrick, and mentor chef Paul Ferzacca are headed to nationals after winining the state culinary competition
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VAIL VALLEY – Battle Mountain high’s cooking squad, known as the ProStart team, recently took first place at Colorado Restaurant Association’s state competition. The school has previously won eight state championship medals and one national championship. Its teams has twice finished second at the national championship. This year’s team – JonPaul Ferzacca, Zander Lucero, Clint Hervert and Cliff Rodrick – will represent the state of Colorado at the National ProStart Competition in Kansas City on April 30 to May 2. At the state competition – under the direction of Battle Mountain culinary teacher Sharon Wible and mentor chefs Paul Ferzacca, Tom Walker and Todd Rymer – the students took just under an hour to prepare winning three-course meal of smoked trout agnolotti, pan-roasted Colorado lamb loin and marscopone ice box cake.Each student is assigned to an appetizer, entree or dessert, with the exception of the student who serves as “floater.” This student holds the glue together in the kitchen by assisting the others in prepping the food, finishing their dishes and ensuring cleanliness is a priority. While they have two hours for the national competition, the rigorous judging criteria remains the same: Compilation of the menu, knife skills, sanitation, skill-level, taste, teamwork, communication, plate presentation and cost of the menu. There also is a question/answer session with the judges.”I am so appreciative of the Mentor Chefs giving of their time, energy and expertise to help these students fine-tune their skills in order to succeed in competition,” Wible said. “We couldn’t do it without them.”The team is now fundraising for its trip to the national competition. For more information on how you can help, please contact Sharon Wible at sharon.wible@eagleschools.net or 970-471-3364.The ProStart Team would like to thank First Bank of Vail and Avon, Will Lewis-Soaring Eagle Enterprises, Cindy and Boulder Lefebvre, Frank and Kathie McNeill , Walls and Floors, the Paint Bucket, La Tour, Maria Minick, Costco, I Openers (Ilene Rapkin), Edwards Rotary, Pam Beaudin and Resort Technology Partners (RTP) for their generous donations to help them travel to the 2010 National Competition in Kansas City later this month.


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