There’s something rotten in Sterling Brinkerhoff’s closet: his sneakers.

The 9-year-old boy from Benjamin, Utah has the worst sneaks in the land, according to the judges of the 36th National Odor-Eaters Rotten Sneaker Contest.

One judge says the boy’s sneakers were foul.

Sterling’s secret of smelly success? He says he likes to wear them while looking for frogs and bugs.

Sterling wins $2,500, a trophy, a trip to New York City to see "Mary Poppins" on Broadway and a supply of Odor-Eaters.