A man from Chicago pulled a big upset at the annual International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship in southwestern Michigan on Saturday.
Ronn Matt, 46, won the contest after spitting his pit 69 feet and became the first champion not named Krause or Lessard in 20 years, according to the official website.
The annual competition was held at Tree-Mendus Farm near Eau Claire, just north of the Indiana border. Saturday marked the farm's 39th year of offering participants the opportunity to become a spitting success story.
Members from the Krause and Lessard families have dominated the competition since 1992, Associated Press reported.
Brian "Young Gun" Krause, 29 of Dimondale, Mich., set the world record in 2003 after spitting his pit over 93 feet. This year he placed fifth with a distance of 52 feet 10 inches.
Krause's father Rick "Pellet Gun", 58 of Tuba City, Ariz., and 15-time International champion, place second with a distance of 61 feet and 2 inches.
The Krause family was there to award "Mr. Matt" with the traditional World Championship Belt, according to the official website.
Local
Three young Naperville residents also competed in the competition.
Shuter Sophia Cook placed third in the Youth Division 9-12 with a distance of 26 feet and 6 inches.
In the Youth Division 6 - 8, Lauren Cook placed second by spitting her pit 11 feet 6 inches and Teagan Wendt placed third with 8 feet and two inches.
