Mr./Ms. Penn contestants take center stage in Irvine

If only you knew some of the rippling muscles your very own classmates hide under their clothes. Last night, lines of hard, well-oiled bodies -- clad in a rainbow of bikinis, briefs and even a Superman cape -- filled the stage in Irvine Auditorium in the seventh annual Mr. and Ms. Penn Bodybuilding contest. From Wharton undergrads to members of Penn's recreation staff, representatives of a wide spectrum of the Penn community participated in last night's competition, organized by Penn assistant women's track coach Tony Tenisci. "These kids are ready for this show and it's gonna blow your mind," Tenisci said in his opening comments. "This is the finest Penn has. They have one common goal, and that is the pursuit of physical excellence." The contest was divided into five categories: lightweight and middleweight divisions for both women and men plus a heavyweight division for men. Four judges -- World's Gym Head Trainer Vinny Faust, World's Gym Top Philadelphia Trainer Betty Arline, 1991 National NPC Mixed Pairs Champion John Thomas and Penn Recreation Assistant Jennifer Kaina -- determined last night's winners. After all the members of a weight division lined up and rotated in a series of six mandatory poses -- such as side tricep and double front bicep -- they performed individual routines. The judges then decided upon each division's top three competitors, who were given a few additional minutes of freestyle poses before the winner and runner-ups were announced. Individual routines, which were approximately two minutes long, were performed to the contestant's choice of music. Some competitors used props and costumes to spice up their performances. In the lightweight division, Wharton senior Larry Cohen -- who placed third in his weight class -- began his routine dangling a cigar from his mouth and sporting sunglasses and a trench coat, both of which he soon tore off. Heavyweight Ian Blake, a student in the Graduate School of Education, kicked off his routine by releasing pink and white balloons in the air and throwing handfuls of candy into the enthusiastic crowd. College junior Kelly Haberer, a member of the Penn gymnastics team, used a variety of moves in her performance -- including splits, one handed pushups and even a backflip. Her energetic routine earned her both a large standing ovation and the lightweight women's trophy. The contestants' choice of music played an important role in the audience's reaction. Middleweight competitor and College junior Josh Coleman could have passed for an MTV dancer as he performed a series of flips and splits to a medley of Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync, and Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy." Other soundtracks used were the theme songs from Rocky, Star Wars and the James Bond film series, and songs from artists including Madonna and Nine Inch Nails. After the winners from each weight division were announced, the five victors returned to the stage and performed more freestyle poses while the judges determined who would be the next Mr. and Ms. Penn. This year's titles go to Coleman and doctoral candidate Melina Bell. Coleman, a decathlete on the Penn men's track team, finished in third place in last year's competition. This year, he hoped to exceed last year's finish. A number of Coleman's teammates -- including his roommate, Laethe Coleman -- competed this year, also influencing Josh to reenter. "I couldn't let them do it alone," the now-Mr. Penn said. "We all pushed each other." Bell, however, was quite inexperienced in the field of bodybuilding prior to this September. "I was working out in the gym and a bunch of guys said, 'Are you going to be in Ms. Penn?'" she said. "They kind of egged me on." Medical student Richard Scarlett, who placed first in the heavyweight division, noted the strain of balancing training and schoolwork but found "seeing the change" inspiring. "I'd see a little more definition, a little more refinement," he said. "That kept me going. My goal was fitness. I loved the energy I found." Scarlett also holds another title of note, bench pressing 405 pounds last April to win the Biggest Bench on Campus '99 competition. After several weeks of intense training, including a strict diet with almost no carbohydrates and countless hours of weightlifting, Penn's bodybuilders were more than ready to celebrate after the contest. "It was hard with all the dieting, but it feels good to be in the best shape of my life," said Wharton senior Roy Kim, a lightweight. "There are big bags of M&Ms; backstage. I'm going to go eat a cheesesteak or Chinese food now."