Ice cream eating championship helps support Rise Up Cafe

By Ian Swaby
| 5:00 p.m. November 4, 2023

Leila Schaedler-Luera, 10, goes all-in for the challenge.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Mark Russell was deliberate in choosing the foods he ate at Rise Up Cafe the morning of Nov. 4.

Russell had one-third of a Mary's Cinnamon Bun (named for his daughter Mary Russell, who works at the shop) and one-third of a garlic everything bagel, both of them warm and just large enough to get his stamina up.

"That freeze is real," he said.

Other participants in the Great Ice Cream Eating Championship at Rise Up Cafe, a coffee and ice cream shop staffed by people with intellectual disabilities, echoed his sentiments.

“I know it's cliche, but you’ve got to be quick,” said Aaron McWhorter, a two-time winner. “You have to keep going forward and keep trying to get it down ... It’s ice-cold. If you have sensitive teeth, you’ll freeze up for sure."

McWhorter said the experience is about more than the challenge of the competition. It's also a chance to support the opportunities and work culture the shop offers to those who may not be able to find them elsewhere.

Beaver Shriver, co-founder of the nonprofit-run shop, said ice cream and beignet-eating contests are a means of showcasing the shop's culture and supporting its operations.

The shop faces numerous expenses, he said, some of which are occupational therapists and the cost of the space. Shriver said the shop offers the public a chance to meet people with intellectual disabilities.

"They want to get married, they want to earn their own paycheck, they want to go to Target and buy their own stuff," Shriver said. "They want to do all the same things that everybody else wants to do."

The winner of the adult category in the competition received a $100 gift certificate and a goodie bag from Brick’s Smoked Meats, while the winner of the youth category received the chance to create and name an ice cream, and serve as a "Celebrity Scooper" for its debut, with additional prizes for runners-up.

Erin and Beaver Shriver see if they can persuade prospective competitor Nathan Bruneau to try the contest.

Ivan Gorodnitchev, 10, introduces himself to the attendees.

After receiving word of the competition that morning, Gorodnitchev headed out with his family to give it a try. — Ivan Gorodnitchev, 10, introduces himself to the attendees. After receiving word of the competition that morning, Gorodnitchev headed out with his family to give it a try. "He's very competitive and loves ice cream, and we decided to give it a chance," said his mother Elena Prostova.

Ivan Gorodnitchev, 10 competed against one other contestant, previous youth champion Leila Schaedler-Luera, 10. Both contestants open their first cups of ice cream.

Jacob Kozlow, 1, and Adam and Rebecca Kozlow watch the competition.

Ivan Gorodnitchev, 10 continues in the competition.

Leila Schaedler-Luera, 10 prepares for the final countdown, with one minute left.

Ivan Gorodnitchev, 10, stands with his emptied containers after finishing the competition. Gorodnitchev described himself as "nauseous," with "brain freeze," but glad to win.

Ivan Gorodnitchev, 10, and Erin Shriver discuss Gorodnitchev's victory with store customers Paul Williams and Shannon Jones.

The contestants in the adult competition get started.

Ben Gallaher of Seaward CrossFit and Patti Lawson and Paul Leonard of PLT Nutrition gulp down the ice cream.

Scott Malouf of Sarasota Street Talk podcast makes his way through a cup of ice cream.

Ben Gallaher and Tim Riesen of Seaward CrossFit make their way through containers of ice cream.

Store employee Ava Bruno and Juanita Christiana finish the competition.

There were plenty of cups emptied that morning.

Ivan Gorodnitchev, 10, became the youth champion. As a result, he will have the chance to create and name his own ice cream flavor. His mother, Elena Prostova, said the opportunity is perfect for him, as he wants to open his own restaurant one day.

“I’ve never been so happy to lose,” said Aaron McWhorter, who lost to his mother, Juanita Christiana, by one ice cream cup.

“It’s funny, because I didn’t think I was going to beat my son,” said Christiana, who ate 13 cups. “In the past, I’ve always been egging him on. This time, he was getting me going.” — “I’ve never been so happy to lose,” said Aaron McWhorter, who lost to his mother, Juanita Christiana, by one ice cream cup. “It’s funny, because I didn’t think I was going to beat my son,” said Christiana, who ate 13 cups. “In the past, I’ve always been egging him on. This time, he was getting me going.”

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.