At the urging of her track coach, College junior Lorie Roth agreed to participate in the University's first Mr. and Ms. Penn Bodybuilding Contest three years ago. Though she was unsuccessful in her first attempt, Roth achieved her goal last year and will defend it at the third annual contest tonight. More than 30 students who have been working out and training for several months will compete in tonight's bodybuilding competition, which will be held at 7 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium. Eleven women and 21 men are expected to compete. Interest in the event has increased dramatically since its inception, and organizers expect this year's festivities to attract more than 1,000 students. Assistant Women's Track Coach Tony Tenisci noted that the event is especially unique for an Ivy League school. "We need to showcase young people who take an active interest in developing not only their bodies but their minds as well," Tenisci said. Defending champions Craig Green and Roth said they expect tough competition tonight. Green, a Wharton sophomore, said he has difficulty predicting his competition because of the layers of clothing his potential competitors wear in the cold weather. "The competition level from the first and second years has increased a great deal in the numbers and quality of people," Green added. "It definitely makes my job tougher." Green said he has prepared with a strict training and diet regimen. Throughout the past year, he has run triathalons and lifted weights nearly every day. "You're supposed to take days off, but I don't like to," Green said, adding that eliminating nearly all fat and sodium from his diet is even more difficult than his physical training. Furthermore, he said he never consumes alcohol. Roth also said she found her diet limiting. "The part I like the least is the dieting, because I like to eat pizza and ice cream," said Roth, who began seriously training in November by lifting weights four times a week. Female bodybuilders often face a stereotype of being masculine and muscular, Roth said. But she explained that many of the female participants are members of the women's track team -- and quite slight. "When I tell people that I do this, people look at me funny because they assume I should look bigger," Roth said. Tonight's competition will involve a series of required poses that exhibit the back, abdomen, both sides and a full frontal view of the body. Then, the participants perform a freestyle routine to music of their choice. According to Tenisci, six judges from the Philadelphia area, most of whom are affiliated with the University, will score the required poses, but will put more weight on the freestyle routine. After the competition, the Natural Physique Committee's reigning Mr. and Ms. Pennsylvania will perform in order to give patrons an idea of professional bodybuilding competitions. Tickets cost $5 and are available on Locust Walk and at Weightman Hall. All proceeds will go toward the women's track team.
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