Camp 'Stache: The Catfish reigns supreme

And the winner is . . .

No shock here. The Catfish fought back from a first-day deficit to Wild and Crazy guy and won the first (and probably last) Camp 'Stache contest.

Catfish cruised with 14,077 votes (55.41 percent). W&G Guy lost steam and finished second with 7,893. The Candidate finished in the money with 2,855. No one likes admitting to fetishes, so The Fetish was fourth with 361.

The Catfish's true identity is Trevaniel Temple, from Keota. As it turns out, Trevaniel is a bit of a ringer.

He's a former member of the University of Iowa College of Law Mustache Club and two-time winner of the organization's coveted mustache of the week award in 2009. Trevaniel's e-mail came with an asterisk that read "* -- Yes, this really exists, we even had member cards."

No idea if it exists, but I love the whole idea.

Trevaniel issued this statement:

Dear Family, Friends, Mustache Aficionados,

I would like to extend the deepest of gratitude for what you have helped to accomplish this day. On my own behalf, I would like to thank you all for helping me to become the Camp Stache 2011 victor, and in such a dominant fashion (I would like to particularly thank my beautiful fiancé and mom). But beyond individual accomplishments, we are all winners on this day no matter who you voted for. I am delighted that you all took such an active interest in a competition of male facial hair, particularly one so near and dear to my heart as the mustache. Sadly, I feel it has become a lost art form. That is why it is so heartening to see the zealous mustache advocacy that was on display over the last 2 ½ days, it warms my heart. So, on this Friday night, I ask you to raise your glass to the ‘stache and all that it stands for. Burt Reynolds got it. Tom Selleck got it. Aaron Rodgers gets it. You get it.

Sincerely,

“The Catfish”

Aaron Rodgers clearly gets it.

Trevaniel wins the Bob Sanders signed Hawkeye mini-helmet. Congrats!

Wild and Crazy claims the black Heroes game hat. Candidate wins the red Heroes game hat (don't worry, there's a Hawkeye logo on it, too). I have a rally towel for fourth-place Fetish.

Thanks to everyone for the entries. I had a lot of fun. Next year, camp mohawks. Lock it down.

[polldaddy poll=5450457]