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Move out of the way, Arnold Schwarzennager.
Andrew Risley and Erica Gilkerson proved they have the "top bods" of this year's Mr. and Ms. Ball State competition.
With dueling brothers, flipping gymnasts and a comedic M.C., this variety show of sorts was an entertaining treat for Emens audiences who gathered to support their loved ones who strutted their stuff on the stage. What was more surprising was how the competitors supported each other throughout the process of this competition.
This amicable event was the icing on the much missed cake for Mr. Ball State 2006, Andrew Risley. The 23-year-old exercise science major spent 12 weeks intensely dieting and exercising for his victory.
Risley said he had a hunch as to how well he would fare based on other people's speculation. Now that the competition is over he plans on going back to being his normal self.
"I am not too much fun while I'm dieting," Risley said. "I am going back to being a pig, eat a bunch of slop. Eat as much food as I can."
Ms. Ball State 2006 and 2005, Erica Gilkerson, also claimed to have a positive inclination as to how she would place.
"I had a pretty good feeling about it, I know a girl from last year - Andria, (Andria Shoemaker, second runner up for Ms. Ball State) she's improved a lot, but I still had a pretty good feeling about it," Gilkerson said.
Gilkerson had to deal with technical difficulties at the start of her routine, including her CD not starting on cue. In spite of her very minor set back she was able to pull out all the stops using her gymnastics background to pep up the crowd. Her cheering squad of gymnasts teammates ballyhooed throughout her combination.
But the real show stealer was Patrick Sheahan-Stahl, Graduate Assitant for the women's gymnastics team. Sheahan-Stahl strutted on to the stage with a very stilted, buff boy look. When the music started he did a series of hand springs and cartwheels landing into his poses. To accompany his fluid acrobatic movement was a Cheshire Cat-like smile.
Sheahan-Stahl had the support of his workout buddy, Kyle Cleaver, senior marketing major and first runner up in the tall division for Mr. Ball State. Although Sheahan-Stahl did not place, he said he was very proud of what he did.
Novice competitor Adam Knotts, a 20-year-old sophomore criminal justice major, claimed to also be proud of the shape he was in even though he did not place. Knotts said he had to "wing" his performance because he lacked the experience that some of the other guys had. Knotts plans to continue his bodybuilding efforts.
Returning to this year's competition was Ben Wheat, 23-year-old history and political science major. Wheat came in second place last year in the tall division for Mr. Ball state. His workout buddy Eric Amstutz, senior risk insurance major, helped him prepare for the competition by spraying Pam on him. Wheat said this competiton is a little sibling rivalry because he was sharing the stage with younger brother Andrew Wheat, junior exercise science major. The Wheats seemed to have tied in this battle, neither one having placed.
Brian Watters, sophomore premed major, was totally confident in how he would place, precisely predicting that he would get second place to Risley in the medium class.
Watters plans to take first place for the years to come.
The top three competitors for the women's overall were Andria Shoemaker second runnerup, Lindsay Mallernee, first runnerup with Erica Gilkerson taking first. For the medium class, the overall line up was Peter Ribaudo, second runnerup; Brian watters, first runner up and Andrew Risley, this year's Mr. Ball State.
For the tall division the overall line up was Ryan podell second runnerup, Kyle clever first runner up and Austin Dossey winner of the tall class.
After the competition, spirits were high and everyone wass ready to "pig out"! This fest of amity turned out to be a real crowd pleaser having the biggest turnout in the competition's history. Competitors are now planning their workout strategies for next year's competiton hoping to get better every day.
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