8th Annual HCA BBQ State Championship Cookoff

September 27th, 2025
by Cynthia Contreras

2025 HCA State Championship BBQ CookOff
Grand Champions and Reserve Grand Champions

Congratulations to everyone who placed in the
2025 State Championship BBQ Cookoff

Grand Champions

Smoking & Toasting BBQ - Cesar Mejia

and Grand Reserve Champion

Fat Cap BBQ - Andres Reyes

We apologize for the poor quality of the indoor team winner photos.
Due to mechanical error, the camera didn't work properly.

1st Ever HCA Lil' Grillers Results

Lil' Grillers Top 5 - Ages 6-11
1st Place - Smoking and Toasting - Clarissa Mejia
2nd Place - Smoking and Toasting - Cesar Jr. Mejia
3rd Place - RGV Border Bandits - Kaleb de la Rosa
4th Place - June A. Jimenez
5th Place - Colton Cazares

Lil' Grillers Top 5 - Ages 12-17
1st Place - R&R Smokers - Anthony Castillo
2nd Place - Hot T Smokers - Peter Torrez
3rd Place - Team Buffa 2.0 - Kayda Ramirez
4th Place - Jaime Gonzalez
5th Place - Barbie-Q - Nina Hernandez

Jackpot: Fajitas

Dammit Boys - Danny Leal

Jackpot: Beans

"Y" The Hell Not - Ruben Ybarra

Chicken Results

1st Place - Los Gordos BBQ - Lamar Cody Nieto - WITH A PERFECT SCORE OF 200
2nd Place - Fat Cap BBQ - Andres Reyes
3rd Place - Shake & Smoke - Roy Sendejo
4th Place - Jericho Smoke BBQ - Ruben Rincones
5th Place - Chillin' & Grillin' - Mario Benavidez
6th Place - Team Beverly's Hardware - Jose Lopez
7th Place - Vera's King O Meats - Alma Vera
8th Place - CB Transportation - Brianna Gonzalez
9th Place - Smok'n Hazzards - Daniel Diaz
10th Place - Smoke-in D's BBQ - Daniel Rodriguez

Rib Results

1st Place - Chillin' & Grillin' - Mario Benavidez
2nd Place - Pink Smoke BBQ - Vanessa Weaver
3rd Place - R & R Smokers - Ralph Flores
4th Place - Suavecito BBQ - Bobby Salazar
5th Place - Shake that Ash BBQ - Oscar Rodriguez
6th Place - Gonzales Family Barbecue - Rene Gonzales
7th Place - Motley Q - David Santoy
8th Place - Fat Cap BBQ - Andres Reyes
9th Place - Pigz in the Hood - Tomas Garcia
10th Place - Kickin' Up Smoke - Tony Pecina

Pork Results

1st Place - Smoking & Toasting BBQ - Cesar Mejia
2nd Place - Gonzales Family Barbecue - Rene Gonzales
3rd Place - Natural Born Grillers Cooking Team - Elias Quiroz
4th Place - Texas Fire Barbecue - Eric Sanchez
5th Place - Suavecito BBQ - Bobby Salazar
6th Place -Team Suavecito - Fred Lozano
7th Place -UnderGround Smoke - David Cano
8th Place - Motley Q - David Santoy
9th Place - Kickin' Up Smoke - Tony Pecina
10th Place - RC BBQ - Rene Castro

Brisket Results

1st Place - CB Transportation - Brianna Gonzalez
2nd Place -Smoking& Toasting BBQ - Cesar Mejia
3rd Place - Smoke-in D's BBQ - Daniel Rodriguez
4th Place - SPG's Deep South BBQ - Santiago Bernal
5th Place - Motley Q - David Santoy
6th Place - Los Vecinos BBQ - Eli Coronado
7th Place - Fat Cap BBQ - Andres Reyes
8th Place - Los Gordos BBQ - Lamar Cody Nieto
9th Place - Smok'n Hazzards - Daniel Diaz
10th Place - Here for the Beer - Rolando Rivera

Posted in Harvest Christian Academy, Special Events