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I had so much fun promoting my first bodybuilding and fitness contest last year, I decided to do it again. The 2008 ABA Natural Illinois Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships took place on Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 at Brooks Middle School in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Despite taking place on Easter weekend, 22 athletes showed up to win the first annual Natural Illinois Championships. Many had obviously dieted hard over the holidays in order to present themselves onstage in ripped and ready condition. Even though it was a holiday weekend, I was pleasantly surprised at the large crowd that showed up to support natural bodybuilding. There was a good crowd at the pre-judging but the turnout for the evening show was fantastic. At least three quarters of the auditorium was full and the enthusiastic audience stayed until the very end of the show. The ABA/INBA is one of the biggest Natural, drug-free organizations in the world. They promote bodybuilding and fitness competitions nearly every weekend all over the world, culminating with the Natural Universe and Natural Olympia Championships held in November of each year. For more information, check out the official ABA/INBA website at www.naturalbodybuilding.com. As a drug-free organization, every competitor in the Natural Illinois was required to take a drug-test to ensure that they are natural athletes and did not use anabolic steroids, growth hormone or diuretics to prepare for this show. These bodybuilders and fitness competitors achieved their physiques through hard work at the gym and at the dinner table.
Crystal was even leaner than she was last July for the North America and her excellent routine and physique will go far in the Fitness division in the future as she continues to compete.
  Click To Enlarge. Crystal Juarez
Her shoulders, abs, arms and back were particularly impressive and Crystal would have fared very well in the Women's Bodybuilding division if she would have crossed over to that class as well. Andrea Jones from Bolingbrook took second place with Nicole Wenzel and Shannon Schumpart, both from Chicago, landing in third and fourth place, respectively.
In the overall decision, Diane Steinbronn was too muscular for Janet O'Hara and she was awarded the Overall Masters Championship.
 Click To Enlarge. Mike Curylo
Robert has good development for this category, he just needs to come in even harder as Calabrese was really lean and ripped in this class. In the overall, Mike Curylo had more muscle on his frame to defeat Calabrese for the Overall Masters Men division. Both men were really ripped and lean for the Masters class.
Jeff was ripped to the bone for this contest with striations that went up to the middle of his back and extremely deep and defined abdominals. Frank Musquiz showed good chest and back development in his contest debut for second place. Peter Calabrese gave a good showing, placing third with Wesley Majka in fourth and George Harvey from Merriville, Indiana in fifth. In the tall class, Brent Swanson from Decatur, Illinois won a close tie-breaker over Masters Overall Champ Mike Curylo. Brent was a little thicker than Mike but Mike was leaner so the judges were split in their voting. In third place was Jacques Avery displaying potential plus with his small waist, sweeping lats and big arms. If Jacques gets harder, he's going to be tough to beat because he has the shape to go all the way. For the overall Novice decision, Jeff Lindo won in a unanimous vote by the judges over Tall Class winner Brent Swanson. Jeff was just too hard and ripped to be defeated tonight.
 Click To Enlarge. Diane Steinbronn - Laurie Ellis - Janet O'Hara
 Click To Enlarge. Karen Gorbatenko
In the short class, Jeff Lindo again won a unanimous decision over Frank Musquiz. Peter Calabrese took third followed by Robert Breeding in fourth and Wesley Majka in fifth.
 Click To Enlarge. Jeff Lindo In the tall class, Brent Swanson was in another tie-breaker, this time with Jacques Avery. Brent again won the close decision with Jacques in second place. Edward Szymanski took the third place trophy home followed by Gary LeBeau from Waukesha, Wisconsin in fourth.
The Best Chest award went to the Men's Open runner-up in the short class, Frank Musquiz. Jacques Avery showed his potential by winning the Best Back, Best Arms and Best Poser awards. Jeff Lindo continued his winning ways by winning the Best Legs, Best Abs and Most Muscular trophies. Laurie Ellis won the Best Poser award for the Women's division. In the overall decision, Jeff Lindo again won by a unanimous decision over Tall Class winner Brent Swanson. Jeff has outstanding potential and he should do great in the Natural Olympia and Natural Universe if he can repeat the shredded condition that he displayed tonight.
I would like to thank all the sponsors for supporting natural bodybuilding and fitness. My main sponsor was Optimum Nutrition and ABB. I also wanted to thank Fitness Factory Outlet for providing the equipment for the competitors to pump up with. My other sponsors included JM Steel, Nutrition Discounters, Pride Nutrition and House of Pain.
I'm looking forward to the Natural North America Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships, which will be held on Saturday, August 9th, 2008 at Romeoville High School in Romeoville, Illinois. After last year's outstanding competition, this year should be even bigger and better!
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