The poker playing priest from Garden City is off to a $100,000 start in a national poker competition that could land him and his church a $1 million jackpot. "I still can't believe how things went," said Father Andrew Trapp, of St. Michael Catholic Church.
Trapp is a contestant in the "PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge" being held in Los Angeles.
Over the weekend, the congregation threw Trapp a viewing party to watch his TV debut.
"I was praying, 'Win, win, win!" Mary Hoerl said.
Nearly 300 church members came out to cheer Trapp on.
"I was playing along with him," Pauline Copeland, church member explained. "I was getting excited thinking he'd win and at times, thinking he wasn't going to win."
To get on the show, Trapp says he had to enter a free online tournament. After making it into the Top 10, he had to create a YouTube video and was chosen by producers to compete in the game show.
"I think I'm going to read the story of David and Goliath," Trapp laughed. "I still feel like the underdog."
In December, Trapp heads back to L.A. to play in the final rounds, getting a shot at $1 million. He says whatever money he wins, he'll donate it to his congregation in hopes of building a new church.
Members at St. Michael say building codes have changed since it was built, and now is not designed to withstand a hurricane. With only 900 seats in the sanctuary, it's a full house at most services.
So far, members have raised $3.5 million towards the building, but many are now hoping their priest will hit the pot in Los Angeles.
"Maybe [I'll] inspire some young people," Trapp said. "They can serve God as a priest or sister or pastor and still have their same hobbies and interests and be themselves."
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