Competitions
The Great American Pizza Challenge
Step into the spotlight at the Great American Pizza Challenge, where top pizzaiolos, creative newcomers, and rising stars go head-to-head in a battle for pizza glory. From traditional thin crusts to dessert pizzas, garlic knots, gluten-free, and even the perfect pepperoni slice, this is your chance to showcase your skills, earn serious bragging rights, and claim your slice of the prize.
Compete in front of a live audience. Be judged by industry legends. And maybe walk away as the next pizza champion.
Day 1 – Oct 26, 2025
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- America’s Best Dessert Pizza – 60 competitors
- America’s Best Traditional Thin Pizza – 75 competitors
Highest Scoring by Style:- Tavern Style
- Columbus Style
- New Haven Style
- St. Louis Style
- NY Thin
- Flat Bread
- America’s Best Gluten-Free – 50 competitors
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Young Pizza Maker of the Year (Non-Traditional) – 15 competitors
Day 2 – Oct 27, 2025
8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- America’s Best Pepperoni Slice – 60 competitors
Highest Scoring by Region- Mid-America
- Northeast
- Southeast
- Northwest
- Southwest
- Canadian
- International
- America’s Best Non-Traditional Thin-Crust Pizza – 75 competitors
Highest Scoring by Style:- Tavern Style
- Newhaven Style
- Columbus Style
- St. Louis Style
- NY Thin
- Flat Bread
- America’s Best Breadsticks/Garlic Knots – 75 competitors
Past Winners
Traditional Thin Pizza Division
- 1st — Tony Troiano
- 2nd — Anthony Berghela
- 3rd — Michael Mercurio
Traditional Thin Pizza Regional Division
- Columbus Style — Ed Stalewski
- Flatbread — Wilhelm Rodriguez
- New Haven Style — Anthony Berghela
- New York Style — Gennaro Buontempo
- St. Louis — Sean Sempsey
- Tavern — Tony Troiano
Non-Traditional Thin Pizza Division
- 1st — Nicole Bean
- 2nd — Brian Hall
- 3rd — Joe Harnett
Non-Traditional Thin Pizza Regional Division
- Columbus Style — Joe Harnett
- Flatbread — Jillian Sanders
- New Haven Style — David Conti
- New York Style — Chris Battiste
- Tavern — Nicole Bean
America’s Best Pepperoni Slice Division
- 1st — Chris Battiste
- 2nd — Wilhelm Rodriguez
- 3rd — Anthony Berghela
Gluten-Free Pizza Division
- 1st — Anthony Berghela
- 2nd — Sara Boyer
- 3rd — Issam Halawi
Dessert Pizza Division
- 1st — Tore Trupiano
- 2nd — Davide Lubrano Lavadera
- 3rd — Camryn Suggs
America’s Best Breadsticks/Garlic Knots Division
- 1st — Brayden Miller
- 2nd — Franky Vigliotti
- 3rd — Wilhelm Rodriguez
Young Pizza Maker of the Year Division
1st — David Hansen
2nd — Luca Lunardi
3rd — Alexcia Aldasouqi
Competition Sponsors
The Great American Pizza Challenge
America’s Best Traditional Thin-Crust
Preferred Equipment
Preferred Product
