MAR LIN - New and returning bodybuilders will hit the stage Saturday with the return of the Mr. Anthracite Natural Bodybuilding Competition to the Sovereign Majestic Theater.
Once a fixture in the Coal Region, the natural bodybuilding and men's physique contest was brought back last year after a 30-year hiatus after about three years of planning by Warren Egebo, a promoter with the National Gym Association residing in Hegins.
"It was a great first show last year," Egebo said Thursday. "It had quite a long run and I hope to keep it going."
Sponsored by the NGA, the Mr. Anthractie competition is a pro-qualifier and includes six categories: juniors, novice, open, master's, grandmaster's and men's physique. The event is limited to those living or attending school in the five counties making up the Anthracite Coal Region: Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland, Carbon and Schuylkill.
Don Cotner, Saint Clair, took the title of Mr. Anthracite last year as the overall winner and went on to compete in the Mr. Natural contest in Philadelphia the following month. The same opportunity will be presented to this year's winner.
Cotner will return to this year's event as a "guest poser."
The competition was a new experience for many of the 10 contestants last year. Four of them are returning this year along with 13 newcomers to compete for the title of Mr. Anthracite.
As of Thursday, the returning contestants were Clair Harmon, Hegins; Tim Lebo, Clark's Valley; John Parker Jr., Tower City; and Travis Snyder, Hegins.
"I'll be competing in it till I win it then I'll be back as a guest poser," Snyder, 32, said Thursday. "Staying fit and being healthy has become an important part of my life."
Snyder said the competition gives local residents a goal when they are in the weight room.
"It is the result of all your hard work," Snyder said. "A lot of people don't realize that all the time. Anyone who is putting the time into it is already winning. The return is to feel good and look good."
New to the competition this year are J.D. Blaskiewicz, Avoca; Chris Blazosek, Avoca; Jay Blazosek, Avoca; Marc Carpineta, New Philadelphia; Taylor Charles, Schuylkill Haven; Justin Fiorillo, Pottsville; Matt Huey, Port Carbon; John Krajewski, Troup; Vinnie Laspina, Gordon; Richie Vatz, Schuylkill Haven; Matt Weneck, Pine Grove; Brandon Whipple, Scranton; and Mike Mullen, Carbondale.
It is the first competition for many of them as well.
"I set a goal for myself and I'm trying to reach that goal," Weneck, one of the first-time competitors, said Thursday.
Weneck, 21, has always been in the gym training for sports, but said he wanted to try something new by entering the competition. He said the most difficult part about training for the competition has been learning the poses.
"Memorizing the poses and seeing what works best with my body," Weneck said.
Meanwhile, Huey said the diet has been the hardest part of his training.
Huey, 23, said he lost 40 pounds over the last two months.
He entered the competition after seeing the story about last year's event.
"I saw the story about it last year and I said, 'Wow, that would be really cool,' " Huey said.
Huey, whose grandfather was a coal miner, said Mr. Anthracite is a great tribute to the coal region's history.
"I thought it would be an honor to have that title," Huey said.
The local gyms being represented in the competition includes Anytime Fitness, Schuylkill Haven; Schuylkill YMCA, Pottsville; Champ's Fitness and Sports Center, Minersville; Pap's Gym, Clark's Valley; Extreme Fitness, Saint Clair; and The Station, Tamaqua.
Also on Saturday, a portion of the film "Ivan's Journey" will be shown to the audience. The film follows a bodybuilder's preparation and competition in the 2011 NGA Mr. Natural Philadelphia Bodybuilding Show. The documentary was produced by Agustin Blazquez, Washington, D.C.
Prejudging for Mr. Anthracite will be at noon and the finals will be at 6 p.m., both at the Sovereign Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St., Pottsville. Tickets are $10 for prejudging and $15 for the finals. Advanced tickets are also available by calling Egebo at 215-200-1680.
Participants must pass a polygraph test prior to the competition.
For an entry form and more information, visit www.mrnaturalphilly.com or email klon@epix.net.
People can register for the event until the day of the competition, but must contact Egebo before then to schedule a polygraph test.