1999 NPC Nationals (Bodybuilding)
By -jabber



Interestingly, a couple of us felt the lightweight class was the strongest
class at this show.  With 18 lightweights, 19 middleweights, and 14
heavyweights, this HARDLY looked like female bodybuilding is dying, as some
seem to think.  

Lightweight:

In 18th place was Cinde Porter, in 17th place Rebecca Chynoweth, in 16th
place was Ursula "Suly" Lewis, in 15th place was Karen Howe who finished 2nd
at the Jr. USA's earlier this year in Birmingham, Alabama, in 14th place was
Linda Shepler, in 13th place was Alice Rodriguez, who I remember from
televised shows on ESPN way back from the days of yore (when the shy young
-jabber was kneehigh to an fbb - ha!).

In 12th place was Sonia Howe from Orlando.  She also was at the Jr. USA's in
Birmingham in April, but there, she showed up really out-of-condition.
Here, she was much improved.  In 11th place was Danet Seely, a favorite of
mine.  Always very unassuming unless flexing her biceps (her peaks take a
backseat to no one), she often shows up at various shows looking very
different.  She seemed to have more muscle maturity throughout and her not
making the top 10 is a tribute to simply a good strong class.

In 10th was Christine Wan (who was at the WSE '98), in 9th was Maureen
"Biceps" Davidson, a blonde known for her biceps - now her chest/lats are
quite wide, too - plus she was in great condition - a bit more attention to
symmetry and watch out - again, a strong class prevented this physique from
making top 5.  In 8th was a very symmetrical Tonia Villalobos; if only her
conditioning equals her symmetry...

In 7th was Tera Guzman, in 6th was Mona Caravetti (never heard of her), in
5th was Kerri Crotty (a solid up and comer), in 4th was Lisa James, who's
great conditioning and mass made up for her structural deficiencies.  In 3rd
was Deborah Barnes (who's been around a while).  

Now we get to some REALLY great lightweights.  In 2nd was a young lady, who
although I still think she would've finished 2nd, looked MUCH more
impressive at the evening show than the morning show.  Dee Nesch was simply
incredible looking, AND incredibly attractive on-stage - in her Patriotic
posing suit (red/white/blue with stars).  In 1st was Yaz Boyum sporting more
size, muscle maturity, and symmetry than I've ever seen her with before.  A
very deserving win, IMO.

Middleweight:

In 19th was Alonda L'Moer, in 18th was Christine Parenteau, in 17th was
Arlene Motica, in 16th was Audriene Taylor, in 15th was Linda Raewells, in
14th was Binny Nambiar.  If you're anything like me, you've never heard of
these women before.  And that's good - it means that women are STILL
entering and excelling at this sport.  The Nationals is NOT a starting place
for fbb's...

In lucky 13th place was Karry Quinn, who won the Amateur Middleweight at the
WSE a scant two weeks previously.  In 12th was Sondra Fass, in 11th was Dawn
Riehl, down from her 1st place finish by default at the USA's at the end of
July.  You may recall, she really got 2nd, but since Ms. Mah-Ann Mendoza
(1st on the judges scorecards) didn't show up for the finals, Ms. Riehl won
by default.  In 10th was Jennifer Lupi, who came with her own fan club. :-)

In 9th was Gail Bowles, in 8th was Beth Eisenman, in 7th was Kimberly
Tipton.  Again, if you're like me, there's many names you've not heard of
here before - still a good sign.  Here's a name that's been kicking around
for a while:  In 6th place was veteran Kathryn Conners, who in addition to
being quite symmetrical and impressive, also is getting up there in years,
but looking incredibly young both up close and from afar.  

Now, here's some household names:  In 5th place was Raheemae Mokhtari
(spelling always a bear!).  At the John Sherman Classic in Houston, last
year, I had the good fortune to sit next to her father as her mother was in
the show (and cleaned up in the Master's division).  Her structural
deficiency is she's very short-waisted, a trait she inherited from her
father (he readily admitted/pointed this out).  She's been doing mighty well
and brought forth quite a polished physique to Orlando this weekend.

In 4th was the flexing grandmother, Judy Miller - incredibly thick looking
up close - as many shows as I go to, still and all.  In 3rd was perhaps THE
most attractive female in the show, a young black woman by the name of Kim
Harris.  But she didn't place this high by being attractive.  She brought
forth an impressive, extremely well-balanced physique head to toe, with
thick thighs and a gorgeous dark complexion being only two of her
highlights.  

In 2nd was Michelle Ivers, who seems to look younger each year, and has
balanced out her arm-heavy physique to truly be a well-balanced force to be
reckoned with.  If it wasn't for an incredible 1st place finisher.  Uh,
speaking of incredible middleweights, Vilma Caez was it!  Before the show, I
told her, she's going to win.  She politely giggled.  After the show, I told
her, "remember what I said?"  She pondered that...  Like the last time I saw
her, she was wearing a chain that hung from her belly-button, beckoning
folks to yank her chain - LOL.  

Interestingly, she has one fault that's only apparent up close; stretch
marks on her lower abdomen.  Luckily she's brought up her abs so her lower
abs don't appear soft; structurally, she was phenomenal - everywhere.

Heavyweight:

In 14th place was DeAnn Kohler, in 13th was Kathy Booker, in 12th was
Juliana Comprindo - again a bunch of folks this good I'd never heard of -
hmm...  The mind staggers.  In 11th place was Jasmin Johnson, who showed up
way softer than she should (she dialed in her condition for the USA's but
missed it for this show bigtime); but with impressive mass and an attractive
hairstyle.  In 10th was Sylvia Cowan, who I'd met at the North American's in
Detroit earlier this year.  In 9th was Melody Bennett, in 8th was Sandy
Cabrera, a local favorite who I'd never seen in contest shape before.  Like
the Fountain of Youth in reasonably nearby St. Augustine, bodybuilding is
keeping many of these women young.

In 7th was Stacy "I train my thighs SO much, what am I thinking???"
Garonzik.  She has an incredibly thick and muscular upper body and torso -
but her thighs are SO bulgy when viewed from the front, they are incredibly
overpowering.  Plus she has large calves, too.  Stacy, LAY OFF THE HEAVY
SQUATS if you want to place higher.  Being 7th is a tribute to how
incredible her individual body parts are.  But everyone who placed in front
of you had superior symmetry.  Who is her trainer and why hasn't she been
told this?  Dang!

In 6th was someone who probably beats Dee Nesch (2nd in the lightweights)
and Kim Harris (3rd in the middleweights) for the title of the most
attractive female on stage:  Debi Peterson.  Never heard of her?  Note the
spelling of her first name.  If I said Debi "L." Peterson (the way she was
introduced) would that help?  Hell, that was the former Debi Laszewski -
she's just structurally awesome, I really saw no improvement with her - in
fact she may have been better last year at the USA's in Vegas, but she's a
commanding presence nonetheless - and I congratulate Mr. Peterson despite
myself - you lucky MF - ha!

In 5th place was the veteran Annie Rivieccio, always thick with great muscle
maturity, she puts it together so artfully, I dare say she had the most
graceful sweeping physique in the top 5.  Some folks truly were hoping this
would be her show.  If she dialed in condition a bit better (she was good,
but not great as we know she can be), this could've been.

In 4th was a relative unknown, a young black woman by the name of Carol
Quarles, who looked a bit reminiscent of Signa York.  Carol looked very
polished and symmetrical, but a bit slight in the mass department compared
to the other top 5'ers.  She should not've finished ahead of Annie.

In 3rd was Fran Ferraro, the massive New Yorker who squashed the competition
resoundingly a scant 2 weeks ago at the WSE Amateur Event.  She came in not
nearly as good of condition and still finished 3rd.  Somehow I think the
judges saw her physique of two weeks ago - is that muscle memory?  

In 2nd was Renee O'Neill from Alabama.  Never have I seen her in better
symmetrical shape.  She used to be "bottom-heavy" with overpowering thighs
(but NOTHING like Ms. Garonzik), now she's great, head-to-toe symmetry-wise
and she really threatened the eventual winner, 1st place Sharon Robelle, a
local favorite.  With that pesky Denise Hoshor safely out of her hair in the
Pro ranks (remember the North Americans?), Sharon was able to flex her
muscles to win this class.  

Overall:

In the posedown, it looked, to me, to be between Yaz Boyum and Vilma Caez,
with Sharon Robelle a distant 3rd.  Indeed, Vilma won, to the approval of
"most" in attendance.  Except for a few small guffaws, pretty good judging,
IMO.  Jabber saved his vocal chords for another show...