NPC Bodybuilding Competition March 2003

A record-breaking field of competitors took the stage at the Herberger Theatre, downtown Phoenix, March 22, for the 2003 NPC House of Fitness Natural Western USA Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships. Event promoter Miles Nussel said that it was the first time the popular NPC Arizona contest had more than 100 athletes vying for coveted trophies.

One factor contributing to the turnout was the figure category with 41 females. A recent addition to the NPC championship format, figure is now divided according to height from A through D. Competitor Karen Marshall, who competed in D or tall figure, pointed out that because this is a new category, the "look" for a winner in figure is still developing. The winning figure body is somewhere between the bodybuilding female form and the nearly gymnast requirements of the fitness category. Marshall added that there was a reassuring consistency in the judging of Figure at the Arizona show.

Among the expansive field of athletes were a number of veterans returning to the stage after a hiatus. Kip Bretting, second-place in men's heavyweight, said that he just wanted to "see if I could still compete and hold my own. It was a great experience and even better when you have the support of family and friends." Bretting competed against event producer Nussel in 1991.

Heather Groat, second-place women's lightweight, said of her return after three years without a stage appearance, "It was great to see 101 athletes come out to compete. The sport is really growing and that is exciting. I think Miles and his crew did an excellent job of organizing all of the competitors and keeping us moving and the crowd energized. It was great to be back on stage again and the competitors were extremely friendly and we had fun."

Winner of the overall women's and of the category sponsored by SWEAT magazine, the women's middleweight, Dianna Lutfy, had not competed in 11 years.

A sure sign of the dietary sacrifices an athlete must make for months to win a trophy, overall-male winner Lamont Taylor had only one thing to say and the end of the event, "I'm going to IHOP."

DIVISION WINNERS
Fitness: Angie Fernwault

Figure
Masters short: Denise Young-Lsaly
Masters tall: Lorraine Cowie
A (up to 5'2"): Huang Vo
B (over 5'2"-5'3"): Angie Fernwault
C (over 5'3"-5'5"): Richelle ZuZeor
D (over 5'5"): Crystal Wallen.

Bodybuilding Women
Lightweight: Colleen McGregor
Middleweight: Dianna Lutfy
Heavyweight: Cindy Feltman
Masters: Loren Petta

Bodybuilding Men
Teen (under 16): Jason Lee
Teen (17-19): Raphael Teich
Jr. Masters: Dwight Reynolds
Masters: Robert Bennett
Sr. Masters: John Weedo
Novice Middleweight: Lamont Taylor
Novice Heavyweight: Jonathan Gadbilado
Bantamweight: Rafael Pablo Ornelas
Lightweight: Johnny Haney
Middleweight: Lamont Taylor
Light-Heavyweight: Jermaine Bernard
Heavyweight: Hugh Henry
Super-Heavyweight: Steve Schmall.