Bodybuilders place fifth, sixth
Date: 01-05-2007
Posted by: Anabolic Info Team |
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On Saturday, two Whitworth men participated in a bodybuilding competition in front of more than 1,100 audience members.
Senior Freddy Ky, a nursing major and junior Andrew Esqueda, a theology major and biblical languages minor, participated in the 6th Annual Empire Bodybuilding Classic at the Northern Quest Casino in Spokane.
Ky and Esqueda were among more than 100 total competitors.
Ky participated in the open men’s middle-weight competition. He earned fifth place in his category of 10 competitors.
Esqueda participated in the junior men’s category, for men 20 years-old and younger. He earned sixth place in his category of nine.
The competition began with pre-judging at 9:30 a.m. with the different categories: fitness routines, figure (two-piece), junior men, masters women, masters men, fitness (two-piece), figure (one-piece), open women (light, heavy) and open men (light, middle, light-heavy, heavy).
The finals competition began at 6 p.m. and included the same categories except for figure.
Ivan Ribic, a professional bodybuilder and co-promoter of the event, said in an e-mail interview that the first three years of the competition were held at the Shadle Park High School auditorium. For the past two years, the competition has been held at the Northern Quest Casino.
The event was open to any National Physique Committee (NPC) registered athlete. The NPC is an organization for amateur athletes. Membership in the NPC is required in order to eventually join the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB), an organization for professional bodybuilders.
Most of the competitors were from the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area, although there were also many competitors from other places in the western United States. Ribic said that each year, the Empire Classic brings in a professional bodybuilder to make a guest appearance.
“This year’s guest will be Marcus Haley who recently competed at the Arnold Classic,” Ribic said. “We will also be featuring World’s Strongest Man competitor Jesse Mudunde during the evening event, who will be performing various feats of strength.”
Ky and Esqueda said they heard about the competition mainly through word-of-mouth.
“I found out about it last year at the gym,” Ky said. “Around this time of year is when all the buzz about competitions is going around.”
Ky and Esqueda both said this was their first bodybuilding competition. Ky said he started training last year, but has been lifting since high school.
“I wanted to participate in the competition because I respect the people and the lifestyle associated with it [bodybuilding] and getting the satisfaction of knowing I’ve had the determination to achieve something most other people wouldn’t be able to do,” Ky said.
Esqueda said he wrestled in high school, which is one of the reasons why he started bodybuilding.
“I decided not to wrestle after high school, but I wanted to compete in some athletic activity and the mentality and training you need for wrestling is very similar to that of bodybuilding, so I decided to make competing in a bodybuilding contest one of my goals,” Esqueda said.
Ky and Esqueda formally began their pre-contest diet and training at the beginning of January.
While Ky and Esqueda were not sponsored by a particular gym or supplement company, some of the contestants were.
“It is nice to have a sponsor, but that usually doesn’t happen until you hit the big shots,” Ky said.
Esqueda and Ky trained together Mondays through Saturdays with professional bodybuilder Brad Hollibaugh.
“We did one hour of cardio in the morning on an empty stomach, lifted for about 45 minutes, and then did another hour of cardio,” Esqueda said. “Our diet currently consists of 60 grams of carbohydrates a day coming from oatmeal and broccoli and 350 grams of protein per day from protein shakes, chicken and fish.”
Ky said he plans to continue bodybuilding.
“I’m addicted to this sport now,” Ky said.
Esqueda said bodybuilding is the hardest thing he has ever done, even over wrestling.
“Bodybuilding is not a sport, it’s a lifestyle,” Esqueda said. “It has taught me to live a healthy and active life and I have learned a great amount about nutrition and training.”
