Noodle-mania adds to Classic in the Country’s allure

Make no mistake: Basketball remained the big drawing card for Classic in the Country XIX, which took place over Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend Jan. 15-17.

Just know this: There is a certain growing faction out there who, if pressed, would admit the homemade noodles are the main attraction.

Over the years visitors to CitC have become accustomed to the savory snack produced by Naomi Troyer, Kathy Mullet and their clan, who have whipped Noodle-mania into a full-blown destination.

One admitted to noshing on his sixth bowl — not of the tournament, of the day — on Friday evening, the first day of the showcase. Others continue to bring in large containers, paying whatever price they must to take some of CitC’s comfort food home with them. Others pay at the gate and make an immediate right turn to the concession stand, waiting to salt and pepper their noodles to taste and dig in.

What is it about these noodles that makes them so irresistible? Mullet said they have countless requests to give up the recipe, yet the reply of returning visitors is always singular in its delivery.

“‘I followed all of your directions; they just don’t taste the same. They were nothing like yours.’
“That’s because they don’t add enough love,” Troyer said.

Troyer has been making the noodles since day one of the Classic.

Last year she said was her last, but just like many longtime contributors, she answered the bell for CitC XIX this year because there was no one stepping up to continue making the masterpiece.

“I always said I’d retire from this when coach Dave (Schlabach) retired as the girls coach,” Troyer said. “But they still hadn’t found anyone, and I didn’t want to leave all of these fans of the noodles hanging out to dry. So here we are. There was a void that needed filled, so we volunteered because we understand the importance of this weekend.”

The noodle crew made 17 roasters on Saturday, 21 on Sunday and hadn’t gotten through Monday yet for a full count, one that would fall somewhere near Saturday’s numbers.

While people might think the noodle-making process begins at or around MLK weekend, the truth is it begins well before that.

The shopping list for the noodles is extensive. Around 70 roasters with four bags of noodles means the purchase of approximately 280 bags of noodles. One nice thing about the noodles is they are always — and Troyer reiterated there are no ifs, ands or buts about this — Inn Made Medium Noodles, which are made right here in Holmes County. They also utilize another local producer for their chicken, that being Gerber Chicken near Kidron. The crew buys all the chicken at Troyer’s Market, right across the road from the school.

The 480 pounds of raw chicken is always dark meat and gets cooked down, shred and placed in 4-pound bags in October. The crew cooks it down in a large tip kettle in the school cafeteria. Rather than use purchased broth, the group repurposes the chicken broth and water that is extracted when they cook the chicken down, keeping all that natural flavor in place. The chicken is placed in a freezer until game day.

All the other ingredients are brought in by Hiland sports teams, making them a part of the process and giving them some ownership in Noodle-mania.

Troyer also said despite the demand, they know they can’t rush the noodles, giving them time to simmer to perfection.

“I guess there is an art to it,” Mullet said. “All we can say is people seem to like them.”

Eventually, the noodles find their way from the roasters into cups, which are served to Noodle-mania fans who are more than ready to savor the special flavor.

Andrea Morton and her son Mason, an Akron family whose daughter Mari Brickley plays for Shaker Heights Laurel, were at one of the lobby tables, adding what they consider the perfect blend of salt and pepper to the noodles.

Morton said she has attended the CitC since its inaugural year, and it was then she discovered the power and allure of the noodle. She gladly joined the Noodle-mania frenzy. She said basketball is fun, but the noodles are a force to be reckoned with.

“One day I’m going to figure out exactly how to make these,” Morton said. “They are just amazing. It’s the ultimate comfort food, and they go down really easy.”

Basketball, hospitality, unity and the reunion-like atmosphere may be the centerpiece of the Classic, but for many, an annual pilgrimage to experience Noodle-mania is just the ticket to perfection.