Ranked Eaters
Every competitor with a sanctioned National Council of Pineapple result, ordered by national ranking.
#1 National · NC
Michael Salomone
Charlotte, NC
Widely regarded as the greatest competitive pineapple eater of all time, Michael Salomone has never finished a sanctioned National Council of Pineapple event outside the top two. A backyard hobby that started during the 2020 lockdowns turned into a five-year run of dominance, anchored by his signature closed-fist husk-twist and a cutting stroke so clean judges nicknamed it 'the Salomone Spiral.'
#2 National · CA
Jake Winslow
San Diego, CA
A West Coast powerhouse and the only eater to ever beat Michael Salomone in a National Championship final, Jake Winslow built his reputation on raw speed-coring and a famously loud crowd-hype routine before every final round.
#3 National · WA
Nora Kessler
Seattle, WA
A West Coast Open regular known for icy composure under the clock, Nora Kessler has quietly climbed into the national top fifteen.
#4 National · OR
Sierra Nakamura
Portland, OR
Known on the West Coast Open circuit for competing entirely with reclaimed compostable tools, Sierra Nakamura is as much an advocate for the sport's sustainability push as a top finisher.
#5 National · TX
Priya Natarajan
Austin, TX
A former competitive swimmer who pivoted to competitive eating during the pandemic, Priya Natarajan has anchored the Texas chapter since 2022 and holds the Southwest Regional record for fastest clean cut.
#6 National · AZ
Colton Reyes
Tempe, AZ
The Southwest's second-ranked eater behind Priya Natarajan, Colton Reyes is famous for competing in full desert heat outdoor brackets without missing a beat.
#7 National · MN
Casey Lindqvist
Duluth, MN
The reigning face of the Midwest Open, Casey Lindqvist trains year-round in below-freezing conditions and jokes that 'a cold pineapple is a slow pineapple' — motivating a famously fast cutting style.
#8 National · HI
Hana Kahale
Hilo, HI
Raised on a family pineapple farm on the Big Island, Hana Kahale turned a lifetime of harvest-day skill into the fastest hand-peel time ever recorded at a Council event.
#9 National · IL
Nadia Petrov
Chicago, IL
A former line cook, Nadia Petrov brings restaurant-grade knife work to the Midwest Open and has never dropped out of the regional top three.
#10 National · OH
Ray Abernathy
Columbus, OH
One of the sport's earliest converts, Ray Abernathy competed in the very first backyard bracket that would eventually become the Midwest Open.
#11 National · NY
Marcus Huang
Queens, NY
A fixture of the Northeast Open since its inaugural year, Marcus Huang eats competitively while running his family's fruit market, and credits decades behind the counter for his blade control.
#12 National · CO
Dominic Alvarado
Denver, CO
The Mountain Open's most consistent competitor, Dominic Alvarado trains at altitude and swears it gives him a lung-capacity edge in the final round.
#13 National · WI
Trevor Lindholm
Milwaukee, WI
Trevor Lindholm brings a cheesehead crowd's energy to the Midwest Open and has finished top five in three consecutive seasons.
#14 National · NV
Ollie Fitzgerald
Las Vegas, NV
A newer face on the Mountain circuit, Ollie Fitzgerald turned a viral video of his first backyard attempt into a sponsorship and a Mountain Open podium finish within a year.
#15 National · MD
Lena Vogel
Annapolis, MD
A Northeast-adjacent competitor with a background in competitive rowing, Lena Vogel is known for explosive starts in the timed first round.
#16 National · MA
Brianna O'Connell
Boston, MA
A rising star of the Northeast division, Brianna O'Connell broke into the national top ten in her second season and has finished on the podium at every Northeast Open since.
#17 National · PA
Amara Osei
Philadelphia, PA
A Northeast Open podium regular, Amara Osei is known for a deliberate, almost surgical approach that has never once resulted in a judge's penalty.
#18 National · NJ
Sam Okafor
Newark, NJ
A Northeast Open regular, Sam Okafor is known for trash-talking rivals before the whistle and backing it up with consistent podium finishes.
#19 National · FL
Gabriel Santos
Tampa, FL
Competing out of the Southeast's other pineapple hotbed, Gabriel Santos has been a top-five Southeast finisher for four straight seasons.
#20 National · VA
Isaiah Brennan
Richmond, VA
Virginia's top-ranked eater, Isaiah Brennan has built a friendly rivalry with the Southeast Open's North Carolina contingent, chasing Michael Salomone's home-region crown every year.
#21 National · TN
Keisha Jefferson
Nashville, TN
A Southeast Regional stalwart, Keisha Jefferson has been on the podium in Nashville's home bracket every year the Council has sanctioned it.
#22 National · GA
Derek Oyelaran
Savannah, GA
A Southeast Regional mainstay since the division's first sanctioned event, Derek Oyelaran is known for an unshakeable pre-match routine and a top-five finish in every Southeast Open he has entered.
#23 National · LA
Tommy DeLacroix
Baton Rouge, LA
Known on the circuit for eating straight through the core without discarding it, Tommy DeLacroix built a cult following on regional livestreams before the Council began sanctioning events nationally.
#24 National · SC
Carmen Diaz
Charleston, SC
A Southeast neighbor and frequent runner-up to the North Carolina chapter, Carmen Diaz has been the Palmetto State's top-ranked eater since the division began.
#25 National · NC
Grace Abubakar
Raleigh, NC
The Tar Heel State's second-ranked eater, Grace Abubakar has spent five seasons chasing Michael Salomone at the Southeast Open, most often finishing just behind him.
#26 National · NC
Felix Marchetti
Wilmington, NC
A coastal North Carolina competitor, Felix Marchetti has cracked the state's top five every season since joining the circuit.