Barnegat team places in Jersey Mike’s sub-making competition

A three-person team from Jersey Mike’s shop in Barnegat sliced, sprinkled and wrapped their way to second place during the popular sub chain’s recent sandwich-making competition in Orlando, Fla.

As part of their prize, the crew – Bobby Lipyanek, Tianna Rauch and Daniella Cianci – received $20,000 each.

Barnegat was among six teams competing in the March 5 championship, which was held at the Jersey-born company’s National Conference.

Created in 2016, the National G13 Sub-Making Competition aims to reinforce the importance of safety, brand quality and speed of service with employees. According to Jersey Mike’s, “G” refers to Giant, the size of the sub contestants make, and “13” is a nod to the chain’s most popular order, No. 13 The Original Italian.

In addition to fresh slicing all the meats and cheeses, participants must dress the subs with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and olive oil/red wine vinegar mix before cutting, wrapping and bagging each creation.

In order to reach the finals, teams competed against nearly 2,500 others from across the country.

The crews, which were judged based on speed and execution, had the opportunity to bring home $30,000 per person for first place, $20,000 per person for second place and $10,000 per person for third place.

This year, first prize went to a trio from a Jersey Mike’s store in Windmere, Fla., while a team from Southington, Conn., placed third.

In a surprise move at 2023’s G13, Jersey Mike’s founder and Chief Executive Officer Peter Cancro gave $5,000 to each of the competitors from teams that did not rank in the top three.

The other teams competing came from Boca Raton, Fla.; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; and Brick Township, N.J.