Muscle Memory Remains After Nationals!
Nov. 18, 2007
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Admittedly, the title has little to do with anything, however the 25th Anniversary NPC Nationals Bodybuilding and Fitness Competition came and went in Dallas, Texas this weekend, which is always something of a let down for fans of the sport sensing nothing but the wintry off-season ahead. Weigh-in was Thursday, Nov. 15 followed by Mens’ prejudging on Friday and the Women’s Bodybuilding prejudging and all finals occurring for bodybuilding and fitness competition on Saturday.
For the run down of finals:
Evan Centopani, won the Super Heavyweight Class and Overall. He is a humble guy noted for the respect he shows for his fellow competitors. Phil McDowell, a well-known North Florida Super Heavyweight didn’t make the top five, but had been stating weeks before Dallas that his target for coming on strong was the 2008 Atlanta Nationals. Dave Candy took the Bantamweight class with Leonardo Ortiz leading in the Lightweights. Muscle Chef Carlo Filippone took the Welterweight Class beating out Stoil Stoilov who has noticeable issues with his disproportionally small biceps that many observers believed to be torn although they are not according to MD reporter and IFBB Pro Flex Wheeler.
Jose Raymond won the Middleweight Class in an interesting story considering he turned down his pro card after winning two other qualifiers as a lightweight and welterweight. He will be making his pro debut at the New York Pro and may benefit from the new weight class being introduced for those competitors under 202 lbs.
At 5.3” and 200 lbs. Charles Dixon beat out Peter Putnam for the top spot in the Light Heavyweight class. He is respectfully called a freak considering the volume of mass he carries in that compact package. The top spot in the Heavyweight class went to competition veteran Adi Cherry with his amazingly classic shape of a super small waste and deep v-tapered back. He beat out Brandon Cherry a very gifted athlete who still in his early twenties has much promise to turn pro sooner than later. Our North Florida favorite Lee Banks took the third spot in the heavyweights improving from the sixth spot last time on the national stage. There are more great things to come from Lee Banks. Count on it! Banks is qualified for nationals for two years after winning the AllSouthChampionships.com on Nov. 3rd. Plus, he could very well gain a pro card at another show prior to next years Atlanta affair.
Light Heavyweight Bodybuilder Kristy Hawkins took the top slot in her class and the overall. Beni Lopez formerly a figure competitor won the Lightweight class and the well-conditioned Tina Chandler took the Middleweights.
The interesting battle for Florida Feminine Muscle Fans was in the Heavyweight class where Kris Murrell and Lucy Wilson both ladies living in Jacksonville were competing along with Ft. Myers promoter of the Gulf Coast Championships show Beverly DiRenzo. There was some controversy after the North American Show in Cleveland on Sept. 1 where DiRenzo lost to Nekole Hamrick wherein many thought DiRenzo deserved the title. Well in excellent shape again DiRenzo took the class winning the top spot with Hamrick second this go around and Murrell fourth. Wilson did not make the top five, but was not far off the numbers and put forth a showing that all her area friends and fans can be proud of at this her first of many likely future national shows to come.
Tina Durkin took the Fitness Overall and Class B title. IFBB Fitness Pro and Atlanta Falcon Cheerleader Nicole Duncan, who I met at the Palm Beach Pro-Am emailed me with glee about Durkin’s win along with Tonya Burkhardt who took second place in Class A as both of those ladies train with Duncan at her fitness camps in Atlanta. Kristina Rojas, a relative unknown who took the 2007 NPC John Sherman Classic in Texas won Class A at this years nationals. Seasoned Fitness Veteran Beauty Tanya Merryman took Class C and looks even better now that the first time I saw her compete at a Fitness Universe Show in Orlando probably a decade ago! She looks younger and I look just the opposite. Anyhow that was how it went this weekend at the big event in Dallas.
There are still shows to see with the South Florida District Championships (www.SouthFloridaChampionships.com) coming up at the Milander Auditorium, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah, Fl 33012, Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. prejudging and finals at 7:00 P.M. Weigh In is at 8:00 a.m. I’ll be there shooting video and getting stories from the athletes with my buddy Israel Hernandez ''Papi Rickey'' as we jokingly call him as he trains with Lucy Wilson (Lucy and Rickey; get it?). We will be there Friday night at Physique World Gym with promoters Sergio Pacheco and Mari Redondo who will be hosting a pre-contest posing party with more than a dozen of their competitors. IFBB Pro Darrem Charles will also be hanging out Friday night and guest posing Saturday.
So don’t eat too much Thanksgiving dinner and then come down to the biggest bodybuilding, fitness, and figure party event in the state on Saturday where we will be doing it Miami style!
For more information on bodybuilding, fitness, and figure competitions and for show audio and videos visit www.Musclepapa.com.
Until next time stay pumped!