The scent of simmering spices filled the air at Woodcrest University as students and staff gathered on the Administration Building lawn for the highly anticipated 2025 Soup Showdown. Hosted by the ΣEX fraternity and emceed by Rhys Lingdilong, the event brought together contestants from across campus to compete for the ultimate title: Soup King or Queen.
With five bold soups on the tasting menu: Lost and Found, Vegetarian Lentil, Creamy Lemon Asparagus, Harvest Heatwave, and Creamy Chicken Veggie—contestants faced off in a battle of flavor, presentation, and creativity. The judging panel, led by a comically overwhelmed Rhys and an increasingly broth-drunk crew including Axl Rimbaud Juan, Cassian Thorne, and Yosh Juan, used criteria like aroma, texture, seasoning balance, and originality to rank each entry.
The real fun, however, was in the commentary. Axl described the Creamy Lemon Asparagus as “shouting over the asparagus” and claimed Lost and Found looked like “it would take you on a date.” Cassian noted the Creamy Chicken Veggie “looked like the pot gave up halfway,” while Night praised the visual flair of the Lost and Found soup, calling it “rich, layered, and daring.”
As the judges visibly struggled through their fifth bowl, students kept the humor alive with banter about haunted chickens, secret THC ingredients, and whether soup truly makes someone “wifey material.” Between spoonfuls, laughter erupted over “Poultrygeist” jokes and fake mustache plans.
In the end, Bonni Starlight emerged victorious, crowned Soup Queen to thunderous applause, with Cassi Crush named runner-up. As the sun set behind Whisperwood and Rhys clutched his stomach with pride (and possibly regret), the event closed with cheers, claps, and cries of “Soupocalypse Now!”