Wing Bowl 22 a morning to remember in South Philly

Enthusiastic fans in the stands at the Wells Fargo Center watch the action during Wing Bowl 22 Friday morning. Credit: Charles Mostoller/Metro

Costumes, floats, wings, beer and, of course, beautiful women were just some of the fun at Wing Bowl 22.

Fans roared as each of this year’s contestants was introduced by longtime Flyers announcer Lou Nolan to the sell-out crowd at the Wells Fargo Center.

But the loudest cheers were saved for Eagles center Jason Kelce.

Kelce arrived on the Wells Fargo Center floor in a car shaped like an Eagles helmet driven by Eagles President Don Smolenski (to the familiar sound of “Fly Eagles Fly”), followed close behind by the Eagles drumline.

Although Kelce got eliminated in the first round, consuming only 65 wings in 14 minutes, the Eagles didn’t have an issue with him competing in the contest.

“No, the Eagles, they were fully for it,” Kelce said. “I think the Eagles definitely know this event is a very well put together event; it’s for a better cause — as they give to charity they were all about this thing.”

Kelce doesn’t intend to compete in Wing Bowl 23; he’s hoping that the Eagles will be in next year’s Super Bowl. But one thing that Kelce did take away from Wing Bowl 22 was that it takes skill and knowledge to compete in an eating contest.

“I was amazed at the speed in which they were eating them next to me,” Kelce said. “You trying to eat and chew as fast as you can, it almost feels like you’re superhuman at how fast they chew and swallow that food, it’s amazing.”

Wing Bowl 22 had several great moments, like CBS 3’s lead sports anchor Beasley Reece singing the national anthem and Former Phillies playoff hero Matt Stairs crushing and guzzling two cans of beers simultaneously to the delight of the fans.

76ers head coach Brett Brown spoke to 94 WIP host Angelo Cataldi before the festivities began and asked the crowd, “Can you stay about 15 more hours and come to our game tonight?”

Other notables onhand included actor Chazz Palminteri of “A Bronx Tale,” former Flyer goaltender Bernie Parent and Eagles long-snapper Jon Dorenbos presiding as commissioner of the Wing Bowl.

Molly Schuyler won Wing Bowl 22 and set a record in the process by consuming 363 wings. Sebastian “The Polish Punisher” Jablowski won the college portion of the Wing Bowl by eating 78 wings and winning a 2014 Chrysler 200.