Wisconsinites spit crickets at fair

JEFFERSON, Wis., July 8 (UPI) -- The gold-medal winner of Wisconsin's annual Cricket Spitting Contest launched a dead cricket 21 feet and 2 inches from his mouth.

Mike Morateck, 46, of Palmyra, took the top prize in the 15-and-up age bracket during Wednesday's contest at the Jefferson County Fair, using his knowledge as a "man of science" to spit the cricket, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Thursday.

"Pick a big cricket -- the heavier the cricket, the further it goes," Morateck said. "Put the cricket in your mouth, feet first on its back with the head pointing out because you don't want the legs dragging on the way out. Then take a big breath through the nose -- otherwise you eat the cricket -- and let it fly."

However, the best distance of the day was achieved by junior division winner Tristan Zimmermann, 14, who launched his cricket 24 feet and 1 inch.

Roger Kylmanen, Jefferson County Fair park supervisor and a volunteer with contest sponsor Jefferson Lions Club, said the frozen crickets are donated by a local pet store.