Bodybuilding competition in town

Saturday's NPC Junior USA Championships, an amateur bodybuilding, fitness and figure contest at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, has become a launching point for many bodybuilders aspiring to become professionals.

Just ask Melissa and David Griffin of North Charleston.

Last year, Melissa, who manages ECO Fitness Club, beat 27 other contestants to win the figure contest. Since then, she has become a professional and is preparing for a professional contest in Jacksonville, Fla., this summer.

Her husband, David, a Charleston firefighter based out of the station at Meeting and Wentworth streets, bested nine others to win the lightweight division in last year's contest. Now, the 27-year-old is getting ready for the Junior Nationals in Chicago in five weeks and for the USA Bodybuilding Fitness and Figure Competition, the second biggest of its type in the U.S., in July.

"For me, it (last year's NPC Junior USAs) was my first national contest. It was important because the win got my name out there," says David, a former baseball player at The Citadel.

The contest, which Muscular Development magazine covered, is organized by longtime local bodybuilder and contest promoter Tres Bennett, who says that last year's contest set a record with more than 180 competitors. "2008 looks to set yet another standard with over 210 athletes preregistered," he adds.

While the Griffins won't be competing (they will attend, though), Bennett says other local athletes to look out for include Ashlynn Evans, Ashley Dew, Sharon Vanderhorst and Brooke Kiser. Also appearing are professional bodybuilders Shannon Dey, Flex Lewis and Mike Horn.

Ticket prices for open seating at the prejudging, which starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, are $20. Tickets for reserved seating at the finals, which begin at 7 p.m., are $36 and $51.

Visit npcjrusa.com for more information.

Reach David Quick at dquick@postandcourier.com or 937-5516.