Articles The Wennerstrom Report Margie Martin and Shannon Courtney Earn Bodybuilding Pro Status at the USA!
Margie Martin and Shannon Courtney Earn Bodybuilding Pro Status at the USA!
By Steve Wennerstrom, IFBB Women's Historian
When it comes to contest promotion, Jon Lindsay is Mr. Consistency, and he has found a surefire way to hone that consistency that dates back many years. In fact, since 2000, which is now 13 years ago, Lindsay has made Las Vegas the home of the NPC USA and everyone knows what to expect in terms of the where, when and how of this huge event. Lindsay sees to that.
Of course, Lindsay has been promoting contests for much longer than the past 13 years, but when the 2013 NPC USA was scheduled for July 26-27 to be staged at the Artemus Ham Hall on the campus of the University of Nevada/Las Vegas, most everyone already knew the drill. It's really become a desert pilgrimage of muscle along with its accompanying fan following. A locust swarm of competitors arrive in Sin City each July with their own personal hopes for success. Be they men and women bodybuilders, figure contestants, seemingly endless lineups of bikini competitors, or men and women from the new physique divisions, it has the feel of a cast of thousands – or least somewhere around a thousand. The bottom line is the contest 'gets done' with a minimum of confusion, anxiety, or misunderstanding. This year would be more of the same, thanks to Mr. Lindsay.
That said, a major conversation on this weekend with regard to the event was the hit women's bodybuilding has taken in terms of entries. For those who have followed women's bodybuilding since 1980 when Rachel McLish won the first U.S. Women's Championship, there has been no shortage of those sounding the death knell for the sport, and every year since it has been the same refrain that women's bodybuilding was dying.
Historically, the NPC USA has had a wide variety of entry numbers– some great, some not so great. During the mid ‘90s (from 1994 to 1999) the total number of entries in women's bodybuilding ranged from 31 to38, and of course at that time we were told the death of the sport was imminent. But almost miraculously, entries rebounded and beginning in 2000 when the USA entries swelled to 53 (three more the NPC Nationals), the majority of years showed a healthier turnout than most years in the 90's. In 2002, 66 contestants squeezed into the four weight classes. But in 2011 - with the coming of the Physique division - numbers began to tumble, and this year reached a rock-bo
ttom total of 19. Whether or not that is a direct result of the Physique parade remains to be seen, but changes could very well be in the wind. Perhaps a future USA with two weight classes and the winner of each class turning pro might be an alternative. Who knows? Nineteen entries is a long way from 66 or 56 or 46.
LIGHTWEIGHTS - And Then There Were Two.
As much of a story as to who won the lightweight class, was also what has happened to the lightweight class. In its history - which for several years now (for the sake of comparison dating back to 1990) has been for competitors weighing less than 114 pounds - the number of entrants has varied from as high as 16 in 2001 to as low as 4 in 1994, '96 and last year. The average number of entries over the past 23 years had been 9. This year it was two, and that's unprecedented. Even disturbing. There are several reasons for this demise and that is another story altogether, but for a national-level contest, especially one with a long and distinguished heritage, it's shocking to say the least.
The two brave souls flexing
against each other here were Patricia Watson and Sandie Dubois. There was little guess work, one of them would be the new USA Lightweight champion.
Getting the judges nod was Patricia Watson. The decision was not a big surprise as she has been a stalwart presence in the LW category since 2002. With both national and international level experience, Watson's well-balanced physique has been good enough to bring her an NPC Armed Forces LW title in 2002, the NPC Junior USA title in 2009, the LW NPC Team Universe crown in 2011, a LW win at the IFBB North Americans, and fifth at the IFBB World Amateur Championships. In fact, since the NPC has seen fit to exclude women's bodybuilding from the Team Universe (the qualifier for the World Amateurs) event schedule, Watson will be the United States' final placer at the world's most prestigious contest for amateur bodybuilders – a contest the USA used to dominate. From Fredricksburg, Virginia, Watson becomes the first Virginian to win the Lightweight class at the NPC USA.
Californian Sandie Dubois claimed the runner-up spot. Competing in all of 2012 as a Physique competitor where she placed 7th at the NPC West Coast Classic and 10th at the NPC USA, she moved into the bodybuilding category after a runner-up Physique finish this year at the Musclecontest.com Championships in Los Angeles. In very good overall condition, she also had reason to stand proud by turning 56 years of age this weekend.
MIDDLEWEIGHTS - Bates Joins Elite Group of Texans in MW Class
With just four entries in the middleweight class – an
other all-time low for entries in this class at the NPC USA –Cassie Bates would have been a solid choice for the top spot no matter how many entrants filed out for the first call-out of prejudging. In fact, no call-out was needed. Bates and fellow Texan Jaquita Person-Taylor garnered the lion's share of judging attention, and Bates got the final thumbs-up from the judges.
Of special note was the fact that Bates – from Frisco, Texas, joined an impressive quartet of Texans who had previously won this class at the USA. They included Dinah Anderson ('83), Vickie Gates ('93), Tina Chandler ('06), and Jennifer Sedia who won both the MW and overall USA titles in 2007. All have since competed at the pro level with Gates grabbing three Ms. International crowns in 1999, 2000, and '01.
In winning, Bates made the ultimate step up from her runner-up MW finish at the 2012 NPC Nationals where she placed behind Rene Marvin. Earlier last year Bates also won the MW class at the NPC Ronnie Coleman Classic in her home state.
Second went to Jaquita Person-Taylor from Lewisville, Texas. This 5-2 ½, 27-year-old dazzler displayed a notably different physique from that of Bates and several observers saw her as the potential winner in this class. A third-place finisher in the MW's at this contest last year she had earned the right not to be taken lightly. A former Figur
e competitor in 2010, she quickly added a pair of LW victories at the NPC West Texas Classic and NPC Ronnie Coleman Classic.
Although he seldom misses the mark on assessments, Dave Palumbo wrote in his play-by-play of Taylor, “Lenda Murray's daughter? A big wow factor from a genetic stand point. Super broad shoulders, tiny waist, legs are detailed through and through. She wins the class”. She missed the victory. Cassie Bates poured a cold cup of coffee on the colorful compliments from Palumbo with a more cultivated and thickly-developed physique. With the style and genetics she possesses in her physique, Person-Taylor might find a move to the Physique division advantageous.
Laurel Woodbridge of Stillwell, Kansas, claimed the third-place trophy. Competing right at the 50-year-old mark, Woodbridge brought a very good overall level of muscular development and conditioning. Moving up from the lightweight class in her earlier years as a bodybuilder, Woodbridge placed 7th in the LW class at the 2008 NPC Masters Nationals in the Over-45 division. In 2011 she placed 3rd at the NPC Nationals as a LW. Her move up to the MW has given her a fuller overall muscular look and at the NPC Masters National just prior to this contest, Woodbridge finished 3rd in the Over-35 class, and 6th in the Over-45 group.
Placing fourth was Arizona's Tami Bellon. In her first entry at this event, Bellon had a previous fifth-place MW finish at the 2009 IFBB North American Championships. She also finished 3rd HW at the 2009 NPC Arizona Open. Prior to that, Bellon competed multiple times in the Midwest before moving to Arizona.
LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHTS – Courtney Holds Court in a Field of Three.
“Check out Shannon's Cannons!” came a shout from the audience. That was only the start of a groundswell of fan favoritism directed at Shannon Courtney – one of just three light-heavyweight entrants flexing for the USA title in this class. Pre-contest prognosticators felt strongly she had what it took to win this contest – and not just her class, but the overall title as well. Upon her arrival on stage, it would have been difficult to argue the point, and the heavyweights hadn't even made an appearance yet. Dave Palumbo offered the following in his assessment, “Great legs.....insane thickness and quad separations. Thick, striated delts. Glutes/hams and calves are ridiculous. Fantastic double biceps.....very impressive”.
After seeing Courtney run through her compulsory poses it became difficult to figure out whether Shannon's cannons referred to her biceps or her thighs. Both were major contributors to her muscular arsenal. To put it mildly she was prodigious. If the crowd was looking for a WOW factor in women's bodybuilding at this event – here she was, at the tender age of just 21, and with a 2-year-old daughter yet.
So who is she? Where did she come from? A cross country runner in her years before a more serious weight training regimen took over, Courtney competed first in Figure placing 8th at the 2010 NPC Fresno Classic. In 2011 she tried Figure a final time at the NPC Central Valley Classic in California. With the coming of 2012 she moved up to the Physique division and placed 11th at the California Governor's Cup. The speed with which her body was responding created the need
to make another move, this time to the bodybuilding division, and at the NPC Contra Costa (a major national qualifier in Northern California) she placed first. That was enough incentive to give the 2012 USA a shot to see where she fit in nationally. Well, she did fit.
Her placing in the LtHW class was 3rd and the feedback she received was very positive. That was exactly a calendar year ago, and during that time she has continued to hone her physique to a national-level readiness and beyond. Blessed with rare genetics for bodybuilding, her muscle shapes, overall structure, and youth, are all big pluses for a future that can be looked to with annual anticipation by her fast-growing fan base. And so what did she weigh on contest day? 137 pounds. All of which was of the eye-catching variety, and she presented it so well she won her class with little trouble.
Runner-up to Courtney was Californian Pamela Pease-Giannone, followed by Tram Nguyen in third.
With all the attention given to Shannon Courtney's appearance, the size of the class was also a story of note, as well as concern. When the Light-Heavyweight was added in 2004 it was created to relieve the sizes of the MW and HW classes. It worked well as each year at the USA the size of the LtHW class averaged 14 contestants with a high of 20 in 2005. Last year 14 entries occupied the LtHW class. So, three entries this year was a shock, to put it mildly.
Most observers simply said the Physique division has whittled away at the core of women's bodybuilding. But has it? To some extent, yes, as bodybuilders who lacked the size to compete on the national level opted to drop enough size to fit the new criteria for the Physique division. And the Physique division's first year ballooned as Figure competitors who had put on too much muscle to fit the Figure critieria swarmed the Physique division as well.
But the numbers at the NPC USA in Physique read like this: 59 entries in 2011 (in three height classes), 55 entries (in four height classes) in 2012, and 43 entries this year. How many of those competitors are former bodybuilders, and how many are former Figure competitors? More accurately, women's bodybuilding is suffering from competitors experiencing a deteriorating motivational level to continue where amateur level promoters are canceling women's bodybuilding from their shows, bodybuilding has been dropped at the Team Universe, and at the pro level events like the New York Pro, and most recently the announcement that women's bodybuilding would no longer be included at the Ms. International is also less than encouraging news. It's just too much doom and gloom. All the above has contributed to the impact of the numbers game in contest entries as witnessed at this year's USA.
HEAVYWEIGHT – Margie Martin Wins By a Wide Margin
If there was a 'most improved' competitor award in the women's bodybuilding field this year, Californian Margie Martin would be a very strong candidate. The main reason for the notable improvement is rooted in the fact that Martin finished 9th in the light-heavyweight class at the 2012 NPC Nationals. That was eight months ago. And since then she has blossomed into a very good heavyweight with enviable muscle shapes and bodylines on her 5-5, 154-pound frame. Martin's progress is even more impressive considering she placed a distant 11th in the Physique division of the 2011 NPC Los Angeles Championships. Martin gained her first national notice when was selected August 2012 'NPC Athlete of the Month' in women's bodybuilding.
Unlike many past years with regard to the USA heavyweight class, no one was coming in as an odds-on-favorite among the ten entrants. But it didn't take long for Margie Martin to put some muscular distance between herself and the rest of the field. Only eventual runner-up Anne Sheehan mounted a serious challenge and even the final tallies showed Martin scored a unanimous win.
Martin didn't just stumble into the world of bodybuilding, she had seen and met Lee Haney at church when she was 12. When she asked him what she needed to do to become a bodybuilder, a surprised Haney told her to “diet clean and train real hard”. No doubt she followed that basic advice as she grew up in her teen years. Entering the Marines when she was 17, she further learned the meaning of meeting challenges, staying focused and being committed to a goal. Quickly, she rose to the rank of sergeant, and it was a good bet she would move along just as rapidly as a bodybuilder.
By 2007 she entered her first contest and placed fifth, and her career as a bodybuilding competitor was under way. Now at 34, Martin has four children (two girls and two boys) and they love seeing their Mom compete. They also love how people talk about how “buff” their Mom is. Obviously, the judges at the USA loved her buff look as well.
In a comparatively sh
ort period of time, Margie Martin has darted to the pro level, and following her progress as a pro will be well worth watching.
Transplanted Floridian Anne Sheehan did her best to chase down Margie Martin, and with a mega-dense structure that featured 160 pounds on her 5-2 frame, she made an impressive sight on stage. Originally from New Jersey, Sheehan has been competing since 2000. By 2003 she was at the national level, and since that time she has entered the NPC USA on four previous occasions finishing as high as 5th in the HW class in 2004. This year marked her first entry at the USA since 2008 and she was in her career best condition.
More recently, Sheehan won the HW and Overall titles at the 2012 NPC New Jersey, and was 10th in the HW class at last year's NPC Nationals. Clearly, her days of finishing 10th in any class are well behind her. As Dave Palumbo described Sheehan in his play-by-play, “Super thick.....shredded. Great thick delts.....crazy separated quads. Powerful front and rear lat spreads. Should be right up there.” Up there she was, with an undisputed second-place finish.
Placing third was Las Vegas local Victoria Dominquez. A runner-up finisher in this class at last year's USA, Dominquez has become a sure-shot placer in the top five at national level events. Leading up to her outstanding conditioning here, Dominquez placed sixth two years in a row at the IFBB North American in 2010 and '11, and was sixth at the 2010 NPC Nationals, all as a HW. Last year she also finished 5th at the IFBB North Americans and 3rd in the Over 35 class. Third place here was a solid and well-deserved finish.
From Sherman Oaks, California, Susanna Hand placed fourth. Another light-heavyweight from last year – placing 9th in the USA – she moved up to the HW group this year. Hand made notable improvements considering her jump to a top five finish in this division of ten competitors. In 2011, Hand was the NPC Garden State HW champion.
Claiming the fifth-place spot was San Jose's Joella Bernard. A familiar face and physique at the NPC Nationals in each of the past five years, Bernard finished as high as 2nd at the Nationals as LtHW in 2010. Bernard's last entry at the USA was in 2007 when she placed 7th as a HW. Most recognizable about Bernard's physical maturity is that she is a work in progress and she is progressing very well.
Outside the Top Five:
6- Nikki Stadelman, Trent Woods, North Carolina 30
7- Karen Choat, San Angelo, Texas 31
8- Jennifer Gutierrez, Santa Paula, California 41
9- Tarna Alderman, Pendleton, Oregon 44
10- Emilie Wicker, Albuquerque, New Mexico 50
The Posedown
With the four weight class winners decided, the decision judges feel most uncomfortable with is selecting just one as the overall winner. And it's not an easy task. Especially this year. By the official score sheets, three of the four weight class winners (Patricia Watson – LW, Shannon Courtney – LtHW, and Margie Martin – HW) were unanimous winners in their respective classes. Cassie Bates, on the other hand, had a battle royal with her middleweight runner-up Jaquita Person-Taylor winning by a single point 7 to 8.
A large portion of those in the audience assumed that Shannon Courtney was an odds-on-favorite to take home the overall USA title. But the judging panel saw it differently. They went with Margie Martin who was methodical in her approach to getting her muscular qualities shown to their best advantage. It must have been close. One thing is certain, if there was ever a time that it was appropriate to award two pro cards in the women's bodybuilding division, it was this year. Shannon Courtney got the nod for her entrance to the pro ranks gaining the second pro card as the runner-up in the posedown finale.
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