The NPC USA prejudging is now history and the excitement of the contest was everything it was billed to be. Here's the breakdown of the classes. 

Bantamweight:

Marty Burger dominated this class with great shape and superb conditioning.  Scott Foster of Decatur, IN seems to be a close 2^nd and Rick Brewer of Bellevue, WA 3^rd.

Lightweight:

Joe Pearson of Kennewick, WA dropped down from welterweight at the Jr Nationals and showed up with flawless conditioning.  Pearson should easily take this class. while  Jimmy Nguyen should finish a close 2^nd.

Welterweight:

Last year's lightweight champion, Shavis Higa, showed up with more muscle and comparable conditioning; and, for his efforts, will probably take home the welterweight title.  Victor Delcampo was probably the hardest guy in the class and will most likely finish in 2^nd.  Jerry Aguilar from Laredo, TX should sneak into the 3^rd spot.

Middleweight:

Nathan Detracy, the 2007 Emerald Cup Overall Champ, dropped down from light heavyweight and showed the fruits of his labor by displaying professional-level conditioning on his 176lb physique.  Kam Gallman of Charlotte, NC challenged Nathan all the way and may even find himself on top of the class when all the scores are tabulated tomorrow night.

Light Heavyweight:

Curtis Bryant, who finished 7^th in the heavyweight class at last year's nationals, dominated this class and will most likely upset pre-contest favorite Branden Ray.  While Ray has great legs, tiny waist, and overwhelming shoulders, Bryant's overall package was just too much for Ray to handle.  If Ray brings up his back, he'll definitely be a force to be reckoned with in the future; but for now, Bryant should be a major player when the overall is decided at tomorrow night's finals.

Heavyweight:

The heavyweights came down to a 3-man fight between last year's 2^nd place finisher Brandon Curry, Lee Banks (3^rd at the NPC Nationals), and Michael Liberatore (1^st at the Jr Nationals).  While Curry's upper body reigned supreme, his legs paled in comparison.  Liberatore, on the other hand, has superb legs, pro-level arms, and the best conditioning in the class.  .  With great shape, muscle size, and conditioning Lee Banks, the unsuspected one, challenged Liberatore pose-for-pose.  When all is said and done, this should be the hardest class to decide.  Flex Wheeler, Shawn Ray, and myself feel that Liberatore as the edge in this showdown.

Super Heavyweight:

In one of the weakest super heavyweight classes in recent memory, Sam Nunn and Grigori Atoyan emerged as the front runners; while Kirk Defrancesco seems to be bringing up the 3^rd spot.  If the judges go for symmetry and conditioning, Nunn should take the class.  If they look for sheer mass and density, Atoyan will get the nod.  We'll have to wait till tomorrow night to find out which way the class goes.

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