Contestants flexed both muscle and determination in an attempt

to win the title of Mr. EIU and Miss Fitness Saturday night in

the Buzzard Auditorium.

Conrad Praamsma, a senior recreation major, and Stephanie

Livsey, a sophomore journalism major, were the winners of this

year’s competition in which contestants were judged on physical

shape and muscular definition.

“I’m very excited,” Livsey said. “I think I performed just how

I wanted to.”

Livsey said she did a lot of dieting, working out everyday and

mental preparation to prepare for the competition.

“I had a good time up there,” said Praamsma. “I took about a

semester to prepare.”

Praamsma wished to thank his family and friends for their

support as well as the audience.

The women’s division of the competition consisted of three

rounds, including quarter turns, individual routines and a

final quarter turn routine to determine the winner.

Women’s competitors included: Livsey; Angie Patzner, a physical

education graduate student; Jennifer Cowan, a sophomore

business marketing major; Sandy Hussy, a junior dietetics

major; and Chris Marchione, a cardiac rehabilitation and

exercise specialist graduate student.

The men’s division was divided into four categories based upon

weight – Bantam weight, 154 lbs and under; middle weight, 155-

175 lbs; light weight, 176-199 lbs; and heavy weight, 200 lbs

and above.

Men’s competitors consisted of: Praamsma; Jim Di Naso, an

exercise science graduate student; Mace Oropeza, a senior

Spanish major; Brandon Turner, a senior biological sciences

major; Eric Edwards, a junior business major; Todd Javorski, a

junior physical education major; Kofi Lartey, a senior history

major; Justin Morris, a freshman undecided major; Nay Wright, a

sophomore pre-marketing major; Jeff Gerlick, a senior English

philosophy major; and Thaddeus Searcy, a senior business

management major.

Each weight class competed in three rounds, which included a

group symmetry round, group mandatory poses and individual

routines. A winner was selected from each weight class.

The four winners from each weight class, Oropeza, bantam

weight; Morris, middle weight; Praamsma, light weight and

Searcy, heavy weight, were then brought back on stage for a

final round of pose downs that determined the overall contest

winner.

“Bodybuilding is not an exact science,” Praamsma said. “There’s

always something to work on.”

The competition was sponsored by the Campus Recreation Center.