Bobybuilders flex for contest

While some students continually delay plans to work out and stay in shape, others have been hard at work training for the University's second annual Mr. and Ms. Penn Bodybuilding Contest, scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. today in Irvine Auditorium. Assistant Track Coach Tony Tenisci, who coordinates the event, is excited to have the defending lightweight and heavyweight champions returning to defend their titles this year. Male participants will be divided into lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight divisions, while female competitors fight it out in an open round. Defending lightweight champion Frank Schembri, a College senior, and defending heavyweight champion Craig Green, a Wharton sophomore, have both increased their level of preparation in the final week before the competition. "This last week I've really been killing myself," Green said. "I've gotten to the point where my diet is virtually fat-free, sugar-free, sodium- free." But it takes more than a strict diet to get in shape for the contest, both agree. Schembri and Green both said they spend hours in the gym. "I constantly lift," said Green, who competed in several triathlons last summer. "I'm always in training for something." Tenisci said the size of the contestants will not be the primary factor in the judges' scoring. He added that the "highest scoring criteria" will be in the contestants' performance. He noted that the contestants have been professionally coached on how to pose before the competition. "They're going to show the audience and their friends how capable they are," Tenisci said. There will be 30 males contestants and 10 female participants, he added. Three "guest posers" will perform after the students are finished, including the reigning Natural Physique Committee's Mr. and Ms. Pennsylvania. "They should add a bit of spice at the end of the evening to see the next level," Tenisci said. Tenisci said 700 $5 tickets have been sold thus far, leaving room for body-building afficionados and curious on-lookers to fill Irvine to its 1000-seat capacity. Proceeds from tonight's event will be donated to the women's track program.

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