Pittsburgh Man Shows Off Skills In National Competitive Pizza Event

PITTSBURGH, PA — Dough stretching isn't an Olympic sport yet. Neither are pizza box folding or pizza acrobatics.

But if they ever do become Olympics-sanctioned events, Matt Hickey might just bring home the gold.

Hickey, 36, of West Mifflin, recently competed in three categories in The Pizza Tomorrow Summit, a pizza industry event in Orlando, Florida. He won first place in the largest dough stretch event and placed third in the fastest box fold and pizza acrobatics competitions.

"I guess I've always had a bit of a competitive side to me and I'm happy I got to compete in those events," Hickey, the commissary manager for the local Caliente Pizza & Draft House chain, told Patch in an interview.

Hickey's pizza dough stretch reached 36 inches - measured perpendicularly like they do in such contests, of course. Having been in the pizza business for 19 years, Hickey said he didn't need to practice much to create a shell that no one possibly could finish in one sitting if it was baked into an actual pizza.

Pizza acrobatics was a different story. Hickey practiced for that event using a silicone shell because it is more durable and, well, less messy than dough.

"You can get them online. The one I like the best is made in the Czech Republic," he said.

And what exactly is involved in pizza acrobatics?

"Dough spinning on my finger," Hickey said. "Over my shoulder. Under my legs, I can take it down to the ground blindfolded."

Next up for Hickey: Competing in the 2024 International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. Until then, he intends to continue refining his craft in a profession he has no intention of leaving.

"I love creating things from scratch," he said. "I love the the science of dough, experimenting with flours, doughs and fermentation. As long as I keep learning, why would I want to give it up?