SAN ANTONIO — Madison High School students are sizzling up more than just delicious barbecue. Three teams from the school made the top 10 at nationals smoking the competition. One of the teams named 'Meat Militia' are all girls and are the national champions. They're the first all-girls-team in the country to win the national title.
The students spend hours perfecting their dishes and are guided by their coach Janell McMullan.
"We were not only national champions, we were third place and sixth place as well, “McMullan said. "I didn't expect it. But, it was really cool."
They got champion in pork chop, skirt steak and chicken. Meat Militia, 3 Chicks And A Hog and Smokey and the Bandits all landed in the top 10 in the 2024 National High School BBQ Association competition.
Meat Militia, 3 Chicks And A Hog and Smokey and the Bandits all landed in the top 10 in the 2024 National High School BBQ Association competition.
"We go over seasonings, but I will also teach them on how to trim the meat and prepare for it," the coach said.
Two members of the top team 'Meat Militia' are Hannah McMullan and Jada Murphey.
"The feeling was surreal,“ McMullan said. "I know personally it has taught me a lot of patience."
Murphey said she is still taking it all in terms of snagging up the top prize.
"It is shocking that we are the first all-girls, like especially national championship," she said. "I would have never thought we would have made it this far, especially it being my first year."
The girls are part of a team breaking barbecue barriers.
"I feel like barbecue is more like a male dominated thing, especially like with holidays it is always the dad barbecuing," Murphey said. "I feel like this proves them wrong. Like we are all girls. Girls can cook too, and we have a female coach."
The students said this is bigger than barbecue. They said it teaches them life skills. Other members a part of the other teams like Wyatt Dittrich and Aubry Donato said they're proud to be part of a big group that grows and learns together.
"We work hard and we are into it," Dittrich said. "We have the passion to go out and do it."