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Who would not take at least one quick look at a greatly shaped body? People who are physically fit often like to display their muscles. In return, spectators display their like or sometimes dislike.On Saturday, June 21, in the Sexson Auditorium, a panel of judges will decide who displays her/his physique the best in several categories during the 2008 Junior California Bodybuilding and Figure Championship, said Lonnie Teper, member of the Physical Education and Health faculty at PCC.

Teper is the producer of this bodybuilding competition, originally open only for college students. It became the National Physique Committee’s fastest growing contest over the years.

“I was teaching at Cal State LA in 1984. It was a quite boring school, so I decided to shake things up. I held the first collegiate body building championship at the student union building at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Pessimists said that nobody would show up, but the place was jam-packed. As a result, a yearly tradition started that day,” Teper remembers.

Over the years he added other categories to the championship and allowed non-college students to enter as well. He wanted to generate more interest in bodybuilding amongst the youth, recognizing that he could make the event more interesting by widening the range of competitors, he said.

Several PCC students displayed their muscles and won championships in the past. Andre Bueno for example took third place in the teen division and fifth in the collegiate division last year. He promised to compete again this year.

Another PCC student, Sylvia Coreas, who is also a trainer at Gold’s Gym, won the collegiate figure two years ago. Ironman Magazine documented the events in great detail with numerous pictures published in the magazine and on the web, showing the contestants posing in trunks and bikinis.

Last year participants arrived from all over the US, including Ohio, Idaho and Alaska, to reveal their muscles to the judging panel and to the audience. Over 100 oiled and tanned bodies crowded the stage at the prejudging.

“It reaches a point when it is too ugly,” said art student Naomi Plange, when looking at body builders.

Art student Jun Ko commented, “I appreciate their discipline, however I sense some vanity. It seems to be a type of modeling to me. They are often overly concerned [about] how they look.”

“Delicious candy to the eyes,” said Eileen Kenny, nursing student dreamily.

Competitions can be a source of great triumph and achievement, but there are no guarantees, warns Lonnie Teper. Anybody interested competing should call 626-403-1232 or email tepernews@aol.com.

For more information go to www.npcjuniorcal.com.

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