GIFFORD, Pa. — McKean County man and Tennessee top hat-wearing Sean Halladay’s ultimate mullet glorious run ended in 11th place at the National Hockey Hair Championships.
The 2023 USA Mullet Championship opened with 257 participants in mid-September, with Gifford’s Halladay determined to don a Camaro crash helmet and compete against the best teams in the country.
His McKean County mullet was ranked 41st after the first round and qualified for the second round. There he finished 24th and survived to see the Mane event.
The total of all votes and donations will count toward each contestant’s overall score. Judges then “critique each mullet based on length, style, uniqueness and showmanship” to determine the champion.
Halladay raised the second-highest amount of donations, totaling $2,753.56 and 1,260 votes. The 2023 Bora Championship season raised $220,251.60 for the Wounded Warriors Home, according to the contest page.
HFWW is the philanthropic organization of former NFL defensive end Jared Allen. Jared Allen is known for his big build and flamboyant personality. According to the contest website mulletchamp.com, Allen is a “fellow supporter of the mullet lifestyle” and the contest is “a way to give back to those who have sacrificed to protect our freedoms.” said.
All donations made on behalf of contestants through the contest voting process will be donated to HFWW. The organization supports U.S. military veterans by “providing seriously injured veterans with injury-specific, accessible, mortgage-free housing,” according to the site. Veteran housing built or renovated is “designed to meet the unique needs of each veteran, ensuring they have a safe and comfortable place to live as they recover from their injuries.”
The site says donations “directly benefit wounded warriors and their families, providing them with a place to call home and a sense of security and comfort.”
Halladay said the community support has been “amazing.” He plans to run the project again in 2024 and said he is “already making plans to increase donations.”
Halladay stepped up her fundraising efforts in the final round, holding a chicken barbecue and a 50-50 raffle, raising $1,340 and nearly doubling the contest total.
“I’ve really enjoyed raising money, visiting with people and hearing great stories from the community – I love it all.
“The mullet is a lifestyle. You don’t choose the mullet, the mullet chooses you,” he said, adding, “Win, lose or draw, the mullet keeps winning.” .