Annual Bodybuilding Competition held in Shryock

Bright lights flooded the stage and music rang through Shryock Auditorium Saturday evening as an indication to contestants that it was time to show off the hard work they put into their bodies.

Onstage Saturday evening at the annual SIU Bodybuilding Competition, each participant sought to become the next Mr. or Ms. SIU by flexing his or her stuff and modeling favorite poses while being covered in enough Crisco to deep-fry dinner for a family of five.

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The Crisco doesn’t catch the light much, said Chris Wright, a former bodybuilder at SIUC. That’s important, because if [contestants] are too shiny, it drowns out their muscles.

Wright directed the competition the past five years, but took on announcer duties this year, introducing participants and announcing winners.

Thirteen men and three women participated in this year’s event. The men were divided into two classes:heavy and light, while women were placed in only one class.

Backstage at the competition, a strong buttery aroma filled the air. The tension was high as men and women wearing nothing more than a Speedo or two-piece swimsuit prepared for their onstage appearance, in which they would perform their flexing routine to music of their choice.

Brad Kazmarski, a senior in exercise science from Mount Carroll, did his routine to House of Pain’s, Jump Around. Kazmarski, like others, got into his desired mindset by working out backstage and clearing his head by pacing. Other participants practiced flexing, did pushups and arm curls, and one guy walked around grunting to psyche himself up before his name was called.

Kazmarski was named Mr. SIU after winning the men’s competition outright. He first won the lightweight division and then took overall men’s honors for the show. Jessica Campbell, a senior in special education and elementary education, won the title of Ms. SIU.

Wright said this year’s show was more controversial than usual. Most of the nearly 200 audience members booed the judges’ selections late in the show after finalists in the men’s heavyweight division were selected.

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Evaluations are conducted on a point system. Judges look at muscle definition, presentation and other factors when deciding a winner.

Their judging sounded really biased to me, said Rick Harris, a junior in elementary education from Pontiac, who attended the event as a life-long fan of bodybuilding. My dad was [a bodybuilder], and I’ve been at plenty of competitions, but this is the first time I thought I could have done a better job [judging].

Some contestants even walked off the stage when their names were not called, leaving early in disappointment.

There are some rules of conduct, but there’s an unwritten law of sportsmanship we’d like them to follow, Wright said.

Megan Clarida, a senior in engineering from Peoria, was sitting up front and she wasn’t happy with the booing that took place.

I know it can get competitive, but they shouldn’t be booing, Clarida said. The show is supposed to be fun. They can’t take it that seriously.

Kazmarski may not have been the favorite at the competition, having received some boos, but according to Wright, he worked just as hard as the other contestants to get where he is today.

Kazmarksi said he has been on a strict diet since Jan. 2 and has lost 20 pounds. Like other members of the SIU Weightlifting Club, he has to eat six times a day, and his diet mainly consists of as much protein as possible and few carbohydrates, which add fat. Although only members of the weightlifting club participated in the competition, anyone associated with SIU could have entered.

In the mornings, the bodybuilders do cardiovascular exercises, and in the afternoon, it’s all heavy lifting. Throughout this, they consume at least a gallon of water a day to keep from dehydrating.

I know all too well the time and effort these guys put in, Wright said.

Steroids are prohibited in the competition, and Wright said he made a point of testing for steroids last year when he directed the event.

We’re here for the health, Wright said. We want to promote a healthy presentation and not something improper.

Reporter Brian Peach can be reached at [email protected]