Sloopy’s Sports Cafe of Port Clinton and servers Ross Funderwhite and John Stephenson notched a couple of victories in the Port Clinton Rotary Pizza Challenge last week, with students giving it the nod for Best Pepperoni Pizza and celebrity judges favoring its Best Specialty Pizza. (Photos by D’Arcy Egan)

There is no doubt a slice of pizza is a popular item around town.

The Port Clinton Rotary Club proved that at its 10th annual Pizza Challenge at Mon Ami Restaurant and Historic Winery last week, setting records for attracting pizza lovers and passing out the pies.

A steady line of pizza lovers paid $10 to try an unprecedented number of pizzas from around the area all afternoon. The crowd of 795 pizza fans consumed a record 500 pizzas from a eight area pizza palaces.

Michelle Matthews of Mon Ami Restaurant served up a lot of slices of pizza at the Port Clinton Rotary Pizza Challenge, with a record 795 pizza lovers consuming more than 500 pizzas.

The pizza vendors were: Bruno’s Pizzeria, Cameo Pizza, Domino’s Pizza, Friendship Kitchens, Marco’s Pizza, Mon Ami Restaurant and Historic Winery, Sloopy’s Sports Cafe, Camp Runinmuck – The Woods Restaurant.

The winning pizzas were: Best Pepperoni Pizza, Sloopy’s Sports Cafe; Best Specialty Pizza, Sloopy’s Sports Cafe; People’s Choice Winner, Cameo Pizza; People’s Choice Second Place, Sloopy’s Sports Cafe; People’s Choice Third Place, Camp Runinmuck.

“We set a record for attendance, and we have to thank the ownership and management of Mon Ami Restaurant for being great hosts for the afternoon. They accommodated 795 people for the event, and everyone had a great time,” said Rotary Challenge Chairman Duane Waite. “It was a great fundraiser, with the proceeds going for scholarships at both Port Clinton High School and Danbury High School.”

The Rotary Pizza Challenge also provides funding for its national crusade to eradicate polio.

Sara Hill and Nicki Geller dished out the pizza for Camp Runinmuck, which was a runner-up for a People’s Choice pizza in the Port Clinton Rotary Pizza Challenge.