ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Radio station 95.1 WZZO crowned winners in three age categories at its inaugural mullet contest Saturday night at the Great Allentown Fair.
The competition took place at the Astound Broadband Farmerama Theater and drew more than 100 spectators for the 90-minute event hosted by radio personalities Joel and Keith.
The contest featured three age divisions: Kids’ Cut (ages 9 and under), Teen Tails (ages 10-17), and Adult Mullets (18 and over). Contestants were judged on mullet quality, creativity, and swagger.
Judges: George Wacker from Lehigh Valley with Love, Ben Youngerman from Molten Metal Media, Kayla Marhefka from Lehigh Valley with Littles, Jason from Amey’s Garage, and a representative from Banko Beverage Company.
Overall Winner – “Best in Grow”: Karl Kassees, Landisville
The overall “Best in Grow” award was determined by crowd applause levels for each age group winner. Karl Kassees received overwhelming audience support, earning him the contest’s top honor across all age groups.
Kassees, who traveled an hour and a half to attend the competition, is no stranger to mullet contests. He previously won first place in the adult category at the Pennsylvania Farm Show mullet contest and has been actively seeking out other competitions.
“I’m always going for the win, but it’s a good competition,” Kassees said after his victory.
The Landisville resident has been growing his current mullet for four years. He previously sported the hairstyle in the mid-1990s to early 2000s while working in magic and special effects, but cut it off before deciding to regrow it years later.
“I kind of felt something was missing. So later on, I thought, hey, you know, I still got my hair, I’m gonna grow it again,” Kassees explained. “I get compliments from young and old.”
When asked how long he plans to keep growing his mullet, Kassees responded definitively: “Forever. It’s a lifestyle.”
Kassees thanked the Allentown Fair for hosting the inaugural contest and encouraged his supporters to follow him to his next competition.
He’s currently competing in an online contest at mulletchamp.com, alongside 86 contestants in his category, to support Jared Allen’s Wounded Warriors charity.
Kassees, who goes by “The Eggman” professionally, as he creates eggs for professional magicians, can be found on Instagram (@Egg50) and has a promotional video on YouTube called “Eggman’s mullet.”
Kid’s Cut Division (9 and Under) Winners:
1st Place: Kamden Cunningham, 8, Danielsville – “The Kammander” has used his mullet to raise over $15K for combat-wounded veterans in the USA Mullet Championships.
2nd Place: Michael Williams, 9, Easton – Mullet is rocked everywhere and flows under a football helmet. Growing since 2020.
3rd Place (Tie): Caiden Shimer, 6, Emmaus – Says “MY mullet is fantastic!” Inspired 2 years ago by the PA Farm Show video, let his mohawk grow out into a mullet.
3rd Place (Tie): Justin Schreck, 8, Swoyersville – Business in the front, party in the back. Going on 3 years of growing the mullet.
Teen Tails Division (10-17) Winners:
1st Place: Hudson Sterner, 11, Center Valley – “This is a 5-year-in-progress project. A mullet is the perfect way to showcase what I love.”
2nd Place: Kaspian Hlavinka, 12, Bethlehem – “Move over Swayze and Hasselhoff!” Feathered and lethal mullet.
3rd Place: Luca Brown, 16, Nazareth – Golden blonde, fluffy on top & tight on the sides.
Adult Division (21+) Winners:
1st Place: Karl Kassees, Landisville – It’s cool.
2nd Place: Ryan Larrea, 36, Allentown – Started growing after marriage last November, working toward “the real deal.”
3rd Place: Dan Nauman, 34, Bethlehem – Mid-length, curly, still a work in progress.
All Contestants
Kid’s Cut Division (9 and Under):
- Leo Dean, 2, Bethlehem
- Warren Hirsch, 5, Nazareth
- Caiden Shimer, 6, Emmaus – WINNER (3rd)
- Jake Flurer, 6, Nazareth
- Kye Coyle, 6, Easton
- Wyatt Hadinger, 7, Nazareth
- Kamden Cunningham, 7, Danielsville – WINNER (1st)
- Justin Schreck, 8, Swoyersville
- Michael Williams, 8, Easton – WINNER (2nd)
Teen Tails Division (10-17):
- Wyatt Missmer, 10, Danielsville
- Frank Missmer, 10, Bethlehem
- Hudson Sterner, 11, Center Valley – WINNER (1st)
- Savva Jaeger, 11, Northampton
- Owen Schaeffer, 11, Lehighton
- Kaspian Hlavinka, 12, Bethlehem – WINNER (2nd)
- Logan Petri, 13, Coopersburg
- Leo Brown, 13, Nazareth
- Matthew Longenbach, 14, Northampton
- Luca Brown, 16, Nazareth – WINNER (3rd)
- Austin Kraut, 17, Lansdale
Adult Division (21+):
- Karl Kassees, Landisville – WINNER (1st)
- Jason Noyes, Lehighton
- Michael Blair, 26, Nesquehoning
- Ryan Larrea, 26, Allentown – WINNER (2nd)
- Allison de Haas, 30, Easton
- Michael Withers, 35, Saylorsburg
- David Bortz, 39, Bethlehem
- Matthew Grozier, 42, Northampton
- Michael Gery, 43, Zionsville
- Ray Seifert, 45, Allentown
- Dan Nauman, 45, Bethlehem – WINNER (3rd)
