MADISON, WISCONSIN – A U.S. university student is eating his way through school — competitively. Computer engineering student Eric Dahl now ranks third in the world of competitive eating as determined by All Pro Eating rankings. Dahl has earned more than $18,000 in prize money or merchandise to help pay for his education. “I’m eating for my education,” he said. “It helps me get through.”

Dahl was drawn to competitive eating in 2011 at a steakhouse in Wisconsin. He didn’t want to pay for his meal, so he signed up for a challenge: eat a 3-pound (1.3-kg) cheesesteak sandwich in less than 10 minutes and skip the bill. He finished in five minutes, 50 seconds. “It just started rolling from there,” he said.

The former athlete finds the competition and its over-the-top atmosphere reminiscent of professional wrestling.

“I really get pumped when the crowd starts cheering,” he said. “I’m friends with other competitive eaters, but once I’m on stage I don’t have any friends.”

Dahl walks each day, lifts weights twice a week and plays soccer and hockey to maintain his weight. He eats no more than 3,100 calories a day, mostly vegetables, and stretches his stomach by eating 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of cabbage or broccoli in a single sitting, followed by a lot of water.