Pizza team from U.S. strikes gold in Italy

The United States Pizza Team headed out for the 28th edition of the World Pizza Championships in Parma with high hopes — and returned with accolades galore.

USPT member Scott Volpe of Fiamme Pizzeria in Tucson, Ariz. wowed the crowd with his seamless blend of hip-hop break-dancing and flawless dough spinning, earning first place in Freestyle Acrobatics. His performance was set to custom-edited music by fellow team member Lenny Rago of Panino’s Pizza in Chicago, Park Ridge and Evanston.

The culinary side of the USPT took some accolades as well in several events. Rago achieved the second highest score for the United States in the whole event, coming in one point shy of the highest in the USA. He also took the highest American score in Gluten Free. Coming out on top in the Peel category for the USPT and the USA was Rago’s brother, Gino, who notched the second highest score for the USA in the Pan division with partner Bruno Brunetti.

With 19 competitors in 56 categories between them, the USPT brigade was one of the largest teams to compete in the international event.

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Fra Noi produces a magazine and website that serve the Chicago-area Italian-American community. Our magazine offers our readers a monthly feast of news and views, culture and entertainment that keeps our diverse and widely scattered readers in touch with each other and their heritage. Our website offers a dizzying array of information drawn from every corner of the local community.

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