Lexie Nuckolls, a junior marketing major, is this year’s Ms. Fitness and Brandon Turner, graduate student in physical education, is Mr. EIU.

The pageant consisted of 10 male and 3 female competitors.

Ms. Fitness Competitors included Sandy Hussey, graduate student in dietetics, Elizabeth Gephart, graduate student in business administration and Nuckolls. Contestants were judged on strength, flexibility, and aerobic fitness.

“I’m really, really excited. It felt really good performing in front of people, it’s exciting,” Nuckolls said.

Hussey said it was her third year participating.

“It’s a real fun pageant. I love it every year,” she said.

The men competed by weight class and were judged on body symmetry, mandatory poses and individual routines.

All judges are certified body building judges selected by Jim Dinasso, a past judge, personal trainer and owner of a fitness club in the square and Ben York, a senior recreation administration major, organizer and master of ceremonies for the competition.

The panel consists of two female judges and three male judges.

The judges selected were Chad Graham, Rex Vaught, Linda Middleton, Daryl Lach and Tonda Perry.

Turner was awarded the trophy in the Bantam (under 140) class.

Chris Herrera, a senior double major in business management and pre-physical therapy was awarded the trophy in the lightweight (140-159) class.

Robert Browning, graduate student in political science, and Christopher Fischer, a junior finance major, also competed.

Thomas Leong, a graduate student in mathematics with teacher certification, was awarded the trophy for the middleweight (160-179) class. Robert Brooks, a sophomore accounting major, and Mike Mantonya, a senior speech communication major competed also.

Raleigh Jennings, a senior science major, was awarded the trophy for the light-heavyweight (180-199) class. Thomas Weathers, a sophomore physics major, and Todd Miller, a senior mathematics major, also competed.

There were no competitors in the heavyweight (200 plus) class.

Competitors not receiving trophies for their weight class were awarded medallions.

Turner was named Mr. EIU 2003 in competition with weight class winners Herrera, Leong and Jennings.

“Basically it’s been a goal of mine since my first show in ’99,” Turner said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s always been a goal of mine and took over four years to do.”

He said it’s been a long road and he is glad to be Mr. EIU.

“It’s my second year competing and I think everybody looked really great out there. We all worked really hard and I think it really paid off,” Leong said.

York said: “Definitely I think there was a good turnout, all competitors got themselves into amazing shape and the audience had a really good time. I think the competitors are having a good time as well. They are all friends, win, lose or draw.”

York said there are also many volunteers behind the scenes who made the evening possible in addition to the judges.

The pageant included performances by Pink Panthers and Jolie and music provided by DJ Lee Michaels.

“This is my third year attending the pageant and I think Brandon really deserved it because he worked hard,” said Lisa Keller, a sophomore marketing major.

Tracy Robinson, a sophomore engineering major said: “It was my first year at the pageant and it was a very good show. Both the guys and girls put up a really good performance.”

Scott Zielke, a junior physical education major said: “The girls are typically self-conscious about their bodies and the fact that they went up there and were in spectacular shape is something everyone could be proud of. It’s a credit to them as individuals.

Justin Vencill, a junior recreation administration major and volunteer at the competition.said: “The performances were incredible and their aesthetic appearance was awesome.”