The sport of Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness continues to grow each year. The ABA 2009 Natural North America Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships held on Saturday, August 1st, 2009 at Bolingbrook High School in Bolingbrook, Illinois was ample evidence of this. Although the number of competitors was less than the previous two years, the quality of the contestants was higher than ever and the judges had their work cut out for them in determining the winners.

The Natural North America Championships is a part of the ABA/INBA organization. All overall winners at this contest are now eligible to compete in the Natural Universe and Natural Olympia Championships later this year. The Natural Olympia will be held on Saturday, October 17th in Queensland, Australia followed by the Natural Universe on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. For more information on these and other ABA/INBA competitions, check out the www.naturalbodybuilding.com website.

The show began with the exciting Fitness competition. The 2009 Natural Illinois Fitness Champ, Stacy Kvernmo, was back onstage to win another title. Stacy is preparing for the Fitness America competition later this year and she looked even better tonight than she did in April when she won the Natural Illinois. Newcomer Shannon Goering was in second place competing in her very first competition. At only 24 years old, the beautiful Shannon showed a lot of potential for Fitness and the best is no doubt ahead for this promising competitor.

The Teenage Men’s division was next on the agenda. Returning Natural North America Champ Kris Carver successfully defended his title by winning a unanimous decision over Wali Khan. Kris was 12 pounds heavier than last year and his added size along with his great symmetry and small waist led him to an easy victory. Wali Khan had impressive size but he needs to be more ripped to take the first place trophy. Yanni Souyoutizidis from West Lafeyette, Indiana showed promise in third place and Drew Milliken was in fourth.

Kris Carver won the Teenage Division for the 2nd year in a row!	Stacy Kvernmo won the Figure division!	John Hansen with the Fitness Open winners - Stacy Kvernmo 1st place and Shannon Goering, 2nd place.

In the Junior Men’s division (for competitors 20-21 years of age), PJ Geldenhuis was the lone competitor. PJ was impressively muscled and ripped in winning the division.

The Masters Women Bodybuilding was up next. Karen Johnson from Hermantown, Minnesota took first place while 57 year old Bobbie Kongsgaard from Romeoville, Illinois won the Grand Masters division. In the overall, 45 year old Karen Johnson won the Masters Women title.

PJ Geldenhuis, Ron DeBry and Thomas Anderson pose off for Best Legs	Karen Johnson won the Masters Women Overall title.

The Masters Men division (40-49 years old) was won by Stan Sayler, also from Hermantown, Minnesota. Stan showed some good thickness in his upper body although he needs to get a lot leaner for his next show. Larry Johnson, husband of Karen, took second place while Jamie Johnson from Davenport, Iowa took third.

In the Grand Masters Men division (50-59 years old), Jeff Weeden was the only competitor. Jeff competed for the first time at the recent Natural Illinois and he is slowly adding size to his lean physique as he continues to improve.

Jeff Weeden, Art Miller and Stan Sayler posedown for Masters Men Overall!	John presents the Overall Masters title to Jeff Weeden

The Ultra Grand Masters division (60-69 years old) was won by popular competitor Art Miller from Bolingbrook, Illinois. Art is impressively thick for 60 years old and he certainly doesn’t look his age. Art is always an audience favorite because of his fun posing routines.

In the spirited Overall Posedown, Art and Stan traded off in-your-face Most Musculars as they rubbed each other’s bald heads. The audience roared their approval although it was the ripped physique of Jeff Weeden that earned the judge’s vote as he won the overall Masters title.

Before the intermission, the 2009 Natural Illinois Women’s Bodybuilding Champion, Jennifer Lynn Abrams, entertained the crowd as the featured Guest Poser. Jennifer has won many titles in several bodybuilding organizations and one look at her incredibly muscular physique explains why. There are few female bodybuilders in the country who carry the size and symmetry that Jennifer does. Hopefully, Jennifer will compete in the Natural Olympia competition soon. With her impressive physique, she will be a favorite in any competition she enters.

Guest Poser Jennifer Abrams poses with her Guards Dave VIgnasse and John Hansen	Jennifer Abrams was a great guest poser at the Natural North America contest.

Jennifer was carried out on the stage by a couple of bodyguards from the movie “300” (yours truly and Natural Bodybuilder Dave Vignasse) as she performed a routine that was inspired by Cleopatra. The audience loved it!

Following the intermission, a Special Presentation was given for some of the Legends of Bodybuilding. 1966 AAU Mr. America Bob Gajda, 1964 Most Muscular Man winner and Powerlifting Champ Bill Seno and 3 Time Mr. Olympia Sergio Oliva were all on hand to be recognized by the audience for their outstanding achievement in the world of Bodybuilding. This was one of the most special moments in the show.

It was especially gratifying to see the great Sergio Oliva in person. Sergio does not attend too many competitions anymore so to see a true legend of the sport in person was a great surprise for everyone. The audience showed their appreciation by giving the three gentlemen a Standing Ovation.

After this Special Presentation was over, it was time to get back to some bodybuilding! The Novice Men’s division attracted the greatest amount of competitors. PJ Geldenhuis took his second first place victory of the night by winning the Short Class. First time competitor Chris Smetana looked ripped and ready in second place. Chris just needs to bring up his legs to do better in the next contest. In third place was Chad Milliken from Bloomington, Illinois.

John poses with some of the Legends of Bodybuilding - Bill Seno, Bob Gajda and Sergio Oliva.	Short Class in the Men's Open - 4th, Jamie Johnson, 3rd, PJ Geldenhuis, 1st, Thomas Anderson, 2nd, Ron DeBry

In the Tall Class of the Novice Men’s contest, another first time competitor, Michael Orwig, won the class by one point over Teenage winner Kris Carver. Michael had impressive arms but he also needs to bring up his wheels for the next show. In third place was Gary LeBeau who was ripped to the bone but needs more width in the upper body and bigger legs to move up the ladder.

Jessica Olson from Texas won the Women's Open Bodybuilding title.

n the overall, PJ Geldenhuis was too complete and too ripped to be denied the title. Originally from South Africa, PJ has only been competing for two years and is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

Next up was the Open Women Bodybuilding division. Jessica Olson from Del Rio, Texas won this division over Masters Women Bodybuilding winner Karen Johnson. Jessica was ripped and ready for this contest with exceptional separation in the quads.

The Bikini Diva girls were popular with the audience. Heather Frystak from Chicago, Illinois received first place votes from all the judges except for one so it was almost a unanimous decision. Heather looked even better than when she won the Model Search division in April at the ABA Natural Illinois. In second place was Samantha Lyle from Indianapolis, Indiana with Jennifer Ericksen from Chicago in third.

In the Masters Figure division, popular Bobbie Kongsgaard from nearby Romeoville, Illinois was only entry. Bobbie looks better than most girls 20 years younger than her so she was a big inspiration to many in the audience.

In the Open Figure division, Brittany Ramsey won her second competition after dominating the field at the ABA Natural Illinois in April. Brittany looked even better tonight than she did for her first victory. Her delts were round and rock hard and she could not be denied the title of Natural North America Figure!

In second place was Jessica Olson, fresh off her Open Women Bodybuilding victory. Third place went to Jennifer Ericksen with Samantha Lyle in fourth.

Bikini Diva Winners - Heather Frystak, 1st, Samantha Lyle, 2nd, Jennifer Ericksen 3rd	57 year old Bobbie Kongsgaard won the Grand Masters Women Bodybuilding.	The popular Brittany Ramsey won the Figure Open title at the Natural North America.	John interviews Brittany after she won the Figure Open division

The audience was waiting for the Big Boys to come out and do battle for the Men’s Open in the Natural North America and they were not disappointed. A “Battle Royale”took place in the Short Class with defending overall 2008 Natural North America winner Thomas Anderson going head to head with the incredible 52 year old Ron DeBry from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Thomas Anderson won the Overall Natural North America Men's Open title for the 2nd year in a row.	52 year old Ron DeBry was in the shape of his life and was one point from winning the contest!	John presents Thomas Anderson with the Victory Sword for winning the Men's Open Division for the 2nd year in a row

Thomas has an incredible physique for someone only 23 years old. I think he is going to be one of the dominating natural bodybuilders in the next few years with his combination of size, symmetry and separation. However, Thomas was pushed hard for the title tonight by Ron, barely winning the class by only one point.

Thomas was about five pounds too heavy and he looked a little soft when standing relaxed. In contrast, Ron was ripped to the bone with freaky vascularity all over his physique and more hardness than Thomas displayed.
Four of the seven judges went with the great shape and proportions of Thomas while the other three judges voted for the hardness of Ron. It was a great battle!

In third place was the impressive physique of PJ Geldenhuis, still beaming after winning the Overall in the Novice division. Jamie Johnson from Davenport, Iowa was in fourth place.

The impressive PJ Geldenhuis won the Overall Novice Men title.	Michael Orwig won 1st Place Tall Class in the Novice and Open Divisions.

In the Tall Class, Michael Orwig won his second first place victory of the night. Michael was competing for the first time and he just wanted to compete once just to try it. After taking home two first place trophies, he quickly reconsidered his decision and is looking forward to stepping onstage again.

In second place was the ripped Gary LeBeau from Waukesha, Wisconsin. Larry Johnson was in third place with Chad Milliken in fourth.

The Bodypart Awards were split between the two best physiques in the contest – Thomas Anderson and Ron DeBry. Thomas won Best Chest, Best Legs and Best Poser while Ron won Best Back, Best Arms, Best Abs and Most Muscular. In the Women’s Division, Overall Winner Jessica Olson also won the Best Poser Award.

For the Overall Men’s Open decision, it looked like David vs. Goliath with 5’3” Thomas Anderson going against six foot Michael Orwig. Thomas had too much thickness and shape going for him and he won the Natural North America in the Men’s Open division unanimously for the second year in a row. Look for Thomas to be a dominating force at the Natural Olympia later this year in Australia!

All the Winners from the 2009 Natural North America Championships