Dossey, Gilkerson win bodybuilding crowns
Date: 20-04-2007
Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamUnited States |
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MUNCIE -- Moments before the start of the Mr. and Ms. Ball State bodybuilding competition, nearly 100 fans ran to the front of Emens Auditorium and started snapping pictures of their favorite competitors down below the staging area.
Just behind the horde of people a lady said, "this is like going to the buffet line."
The comment came just before the rising stage made its way to the top, and the 30 competitors began flexing and showing off their finely tuned physiques to the record crowd.
Emens officials said 1,112 people paid to watch the show, and the competitors did their best to make it worth the $5 paid at the door.
Nineteen men and 11 women competed for the right to be called Mr. or Ms. Ball State.
"It was a great show," said Jason Roberson, one of four judges for the competition. "There was a lot of muscle maturity for the young physiques. Any time the audience is participating and getting behind everyone, it's a great time."
The crowd was supportive of all the participants, especially the winners of the three divisions. Erica Gilkerson won the women's division, Brian Watters took the men's medium division, and Austin Dossey won the men's large division.
Dossey, last year's overall runner-up, beat out Watters in a pose-off to claim the Mr. Ball State title.
"I didn't care that much about winning," said Dossey, who is a personal trainer at Studio 22 Private Fitness in Muncie. "I really just wanted to look better than I did last year. Everyone looked so great."
Gilkerson won the women's crown for the third straight year. She beat out first runner-up Kelly Watson and second runner-up Stephanie Groh. Muncie's Julia Sabatine and Kilee Taflinger, and New Castle's Lauren Utt were also in the competition.
"It feels good each time," said Gilkerson, who was one of three Ball State gymnasts in the competition. "It was great to see the numbers up."
Last year there were only six participants in the women's division.
Watters, who finished second in the medium division to overall winner Andrew Risley last year, said he was disappointed in the overall outcome, but motivated for the future.
"I think it could have went either way," the Yorktown graduate said. "I want to win it next year."
Watters said his Pizza King pizza with ranch dressing was on the way just after the show. Most competitors deprive themselves of fatty foods for several weeks or months leading up to the competition.
While the show is competitive among the top men and women, there is also a lot of fun to be had by the competitors and the crowd. Other than the five poses the judges ask to see from each member of the group, each person is given a chance to choose music and perform a routine that shows off their body.
Among the highlights was a hilarious set of poses from senior Albert Redd. Redd started his routine with a top hat, shirt, black pants and a cape, and after stripping down and showing off some funny dance moves, he ended it with his cape back on and the audience rolling with laughter.
Before the competition began, Wapahani graduate Jeff Snell appeared as the contest's guest poser. Snell earned runner-up status in the wheelchair nationals on March 10.
Other local competitors were Muncie's Zachary Goldenberg and Landon Meyers, and New Castle's Andy Bell and Robert Pritchett.
