Articles The Wennerstrom Report The NPC Junior Nationals Report: The Polar Opposites of the WPD and WBB
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| FBB winner Kimberly Gerard |
Historically speaking, the NPC Junior Nationals long ago established an impressive contest reputation when it came to producing future stars in bodybuilding. Lee Haney won the first men's title in 1982, and in 1986 the women began what has been a terrific run to date. And again this year on the weekend of June 13-14, Pam Betz and her stalwart crew staged another enormous event for well over 600 contestants in the six divisions offered.
Hosted, as it has been for the past 13 years, at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, the Women's Physique division drew a large field of 55 competitors in four height classes, but perhaps the most compelling fact regarding this event was that only one female bodybuilder entered the contest – a reality that was as big a story as the 55 women who competed for pro status in each of the Physique division height classes. A lingering question now remains… will a women's bodybuilding division be offered at the 2015 Junior Nationals?
And Then There Was One…
For anyone who has followed the women's NPC Junior Nationals since Kelly Riley won the first one in San Diego in 1986, this year's event carried what could only be described as a solemn emptiness. That empty feeling came, primarily, from the fact that only a lone lightweight contestant entered this once flourishing contest. Over the years the Junior Nationals served as a springboard for many competitors who would move on to bigger and better things… much bigger and much better.
Through the late 80s and into the 90s the overall winners at the Junior Nationals missed out on the awarding of pro status. Two in particular had to follow up with a future entry at the IFBB North American Championships and win the overall before securing their pro cards. The two were Lenda Murray and Kim Chizevsky.
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| Overall WPD Winner Rachel Loftis |
Murray won the 1989 Jr. Nats and Chizevsky claimed hers in 1992. Between them, during their pro careers, they would combine to win a total of 12 Ms. Olympia titles. Not bad for a couple of former Junior National winners. Many additional Junior National overall winners as well as some weight class champions went on to become very respectable pro bodybuilders. But that was then.
The women's bodybuilding division of the Junior Nationals has had a good run over the past 28 years, but since 2010, the proverbial clock has been ticking. In 2010, 19 contestants entered the division with lightweight Marina Lopez as the overall champion. In 2011, a dozen competitors took part with Judy Gaillard taking top honors. Then in 2012, the entries dropped to eight as LaDawn McDay won the overall. And last year the entries were cut in half as only four contestants, led by eventual overall winner Kasia Topor, answered the call. You get the picture.
And now, here we are in 2014. With lightweight Kimberly Gerard alone on stage as the women's bodybuilding division's only entrant, it seems almost incomprehensible that the earthmother of all the other women's divisions could collapse so dramatically. For Gerard, she's the overall winner – albeit uncontested – but that is far from her fault. She had no idea what she would be up against as she arrived at the Hyatt Regency check-in. History will show she was the overall NPC Junior National champion, just like Murray and Chizevsky before her.
To get here, Gerard came by way of a runner-up finish at this year's Jay Cutler Desert Classic in Las Vegas. From Yuma, Arizona, Gerard was a true lightweight at 108 pounds – lean and well-defined. She became the second Jr. Nat overall winner from Arizona following Christine Sabo in 2004.
So, what might the future of the Junior National women's bodybuilding division be? Well, the Women's Physique division, with a running start in 2011, appears to be picking up where women's bodybuilding may be leaving off. We'll see in 2015.
Rachel Loftis Claims the Women's Physique Division Overall Crown
As memorable as the 2014 NPC Junior National overall WPD victory is for Rachael Loftis, this year will also be a career high point for Jennifer Robinson. As the inaugural Junior National overall champion in 2011, Robinson kicked off this competitive season by winning the St. Louis Pro Championship – the first pro WPD event of the year – to punch her ticket to Las Vegas for an invite to the Physique Olympia, and you can bet Rachael Loftis would love to follow Robinson's path!
But First, The 'A' Class (Up to 5’2”)
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| 'A' Class Winner Virginia's Jill Vadala |
In a field of 11 contestants – the smallest of the four divisions – it was Virginia's Jill Vadala who put a shiny finish on her 5’2”, 116-pound frame to out-point her challengers. Competing since 1996, Vadala spent time as a Figure competitor before switching to the Women’s Physique division in 2011.
In two previous tries in this Jr. Nat event, Vadala placed second in 2012 and fourth last year. So the third time was her charm. In winning the class Vadala now moves into the pro ranks.
From Woodland Park, Colorado, runner-up Shannan Roskam has competed at the Junior Nationals on four previous occasions and was the runner-up in this division in 2012 as well. A former Figure competitor, her style of physique looks to be far better suited to this division.
The third, fourth and fifth placings went to Alexandria Mossbarger, Michelle Davis, and Amber Holmbeck respectively.
The 'B' Class (5’2” to 5’4”)
Taking this class handily, was homestater Kimberly Baum. From Oswego, Illinois, Baum was, with little question, the strongest female in the contest – period.
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| 'B' Class Winner Kimberly Baum |
Accomplished at strength feats of various kinds including deadlifting the back end of an automobile, she transformed the muscular strength capability into a pleasing visual that was balanced and proportionate and just what the judges were looking for in the largest field of the division with 17 contestants. For non-believers of her strength prowess, check her out on YouTube for validation of her feats.
If there was a 'most improved' award to be considered, Mississippi's Selena Smith would get more than a few votes. A winner at the NPC Southern Classic earlier in the year, Smith pulled herself up from an unheralded 13th place finish at the NPC Nationals last year. With more attention to her weak points and concentrating on a balanced overall look, she can move to the top spot at this event.
Finishing third was Lana Spratte from Parker, Colorado, followed by Tina Triquero of Springboro, Ohio in fourth, and Laura Payne of Odessa, Texas in fifth.
The 'C' Class (5’4” and up to and including 5’6”)
Fourteen contestants took to the stage in this division, and as the first call-out of prejudging brought five competitors forward, it was pretty much over when Rachael Loftis was moved to the center. From that point on she continued to present herself as a dazzling example of the idyllic Women’s Physique competitor at this contest level.
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| Class C and overall winner Rachel Loftis |
From Lakewood, Colorado, Loftis is another of the many former Figure competitors who have transitioned into a Physique division – and it suits her perfectly. After forgettable placings as a Figure competitor at both the NPC Team Universe ad NPC Nationals in 2012 and 2013, her overall victory at the 2013 NPC Colorado in the Physique division marked the turnaround in her future competitive efforts.
Of particular notice in how Loftis presented herself during the competition, she brought with her the countenance and carriage of a Figure competitor and blended it beautifully with the added muscle she needed to be competitive in a division that demanded a higher level of muscle volume and shape. In short, she made no mistakes, and at national-level events, many times those who can avoid errors – even simple ones – in the preparation for the stage, end up moving to the pro level.
Further evidence of her quality continued in the posedown for the overall as she was selected the best of the best. Loftis becomes the fourth overall Junior National Physique champion following Jennifer Robinson in 2011, Lauren Lessnau in 2012, and Erica Blockman last year.
Finishing second to Loftis was Alyson Dallas of Springfield, Missouri, with third going to LaQuita Sanders from Jackson Mississippi. The fourth spot went to homestater Danielle Dixon from Creve Loeur, Illinois, and rounding out the top five was Jennifer Underwood-Kallas of Wadsworth, Ohio.
The 'D' Class (Over 5’6”)
If there was a crowd crazy moment during the Women’s Physique division, it came when the final two contestants of the 'big girl class' were left to be announced among the top five and both had Illinois roots. In a field that consisted of 13 contestants with an infinite variety of physiques to be compared, both Natalie Wolfe and Kasia Topor were in the mix with the duo being moved to the middle of a six-competitor first call-out. From there the battle was on.
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| The crowd went crazy for Natalie Wolfe |
For most fans and followers from Illinois and the Chicago area, Natalie Wolfe is better remembered as Natalie Ariel who was a top bodybuilder in 2010 and 2011 placing fourth at the IFBB North American Championships – first as a light-heavyweight and then as a heavyweight. She also placed third (LHW) at the NPC USA in 2010. So, clearly she had the muscular cultivation to hang in this class with little trouble and showed dramatic triceps, quads, calves, and abs.
At 5’7” she carried the needed level of muscle to fit the division, and in dropping down from her bodybuilding look, she avoided looking angular which can often happen with taller competitors. Her combination of everything she brought to the stage worked well, and in the end was good enough to out-point her rival – Kasia Topor. The victory moves her into the pro ranks where her height and muscular level should fit in as the pro division continues to evolve.
Chasing Wolfe was Kasia Topor from New Lenox, lllinois. A capable challenger to Wolfe, Topor had Figure experience in the past, but she moved successfully into the bodybuilding ranks when she won the overall title at the NPC Junior Nationals last year and finished the season by placing seventh at the NPC Nationals. Topor appears to be the type of competitor who has the ability to float between the Physique and Bodybuilding divisions with relative ease… a blessing that could extend her competitive career considerably.
At 5’8 ½”, 155 pounds, Washington's Brie Eubanks made an imposing figure in the lineup, but fit in well with a physique that was complete and good enough to earn a third-place finish. A former Figure competitor who was simply too muscular, her transition to the Physique class has been solid. A winner at the 2012 NPC Emerald Cup and a fourth-placer at the 2013 NPC USA – both in the Physique division – it could be said that the evolution of the Physique division will catch up to her in the future.
Fourth went to LeeAnn Friemoth from East Troy, Wisconsin, with Christine Moyer of Reynoldsburg, Ohio taking fifth.
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