Written by Peter McGough
29 July 2012

BPI presents coverage of the 2012 NPC USA CHAMPIONSHIPS

DARRON'S DAY!

THE_MCGOUGH_REPORTTwenty-fours can be a long time in bodybuilding and so it proved on the night of July 29 at these championships staged at the Artemus W. Hall in Las Vegas. The previous day’s prejudging had showcased a parade of 163 competitors in seven weight classes with no one eliciting that real “Wow! Factor”, but a day later several competitors made advances on a par with Charlie Sheen in a singles bar. The fact that NPC and IFBB events now split the judging marks awarded into 50% for prejudging and 50% for the finals means in theory that the old days of “It’s a done deal after the prejudging” are gone, and come-from-behind victories are possible. With the split being in force competitors get two bites of the cherry and the judges a double opportunity to separate their apples or oranges stuff. (Maybe I’ve been using my blackberry too long?) Whatever, pro cards were awarded to all seven weight class winners with light heavyweight Darron Glenn winning the overall; the first non heavyweight or super heavyweight not to win since light heavy Mark Dugdale accomplished that feat in 2004. Class by class here’s how the evening played out.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF ALL COMPETITORS

MCGOUGH_REPORT_INSSUPERHEAVYWEIGHTS: “FRAZIER GOES UP! FRAZIER GOES UP!”

Coming Into this show Max Charles was hotter than 12 bikini girls in a ramped up sauna, but at prejudging it was clear the freak had missed his peak, and left the gate open for Nick Trigili and Stephen Frazier. At the prejudging it seemed that Trigili’s (only 24) shape and balanced mass was in the ascendancy, but by finals night an improved Stephen Frazier (seventh in this contest last year) mounted a charge and finally came home and (if not quite) dry. Frazier has a spectacular physique with massive frame, biceps that seem to have a peak on a peak and groovy thighs. In nailed condition he will be formidable.

HEAVYWEIGHTS: A STAR IS BORN

In his first appearance at the nationals level Virginia’s Aaron Clark became a star. At only 203 pounds (weight limit is 225 pounds) he outmuscled his rivals with an amalgam of rugged and crisp muscle that also contained roundness and balance. At only 23 this is a dude, who -- if he maintains an upward direction – has a big future. In second 2012 Junior Nationals champ Anthony Pasquale has an impressive upper body with legs not of the same standard. In third Robe Youells brought a balanced and classy physique to proceedings and maybe should have got second.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS: DARRON HITS THE BIG TIME

Darron Glenn (who competed as a bantamweight in 2002 and was third at last year’s Nationals in this division) was the clear winner. The possessor of great genetics imbuing great width, a small waist and balanced proportions, he also packed oodles of muscle, albeit not in ripped condition. Runner-up Adam Cohen brought balance and honed muscle to the party and is one to watch out for. The mission for heavily muscled Cory Matthews in third place is to nail condition and then watch out.

MIDDLEWEIGHTS: HEAD TURNER

Scott Turner (6th here last year) looked a winner from the get-go with muscle thickness and balance. The guy’s 40 years old but his physique looks much younger. In second Robert Wichman has a powerful upper body with condition (is this getting repetitive) being the negative. In third Adam Reich has nice flowing lines but condition …. well, you know the rest.

WELTERWEIGHTS: DEWEY GETS HIS DUE

Hurray for winner John Dewey (third here last year) whose gnarly package was the best conditioned of the championships. Defending champ Victor DelCampo was not as cut as last year and only just pipped third placed Brandon Williams who will have better nights.

LIGHTWEIGHTS: HURRICANE HURRINGTON

In his first appearance on the national scene Patrick Hurrington ran welterweight John Dewey close for title of most conditioned athlete of the night. Simply put runner-up Luis Moreno (with no lagging bodyparts and great proportions) would have walked this division if he were in shape. Jerry Foss was a combative third.

BANTAMWEIGHTS: GAME TO GAMET

The pleasing look of Alden Gamet took the first place trophy here with the inspirational George Gibson (he of the atrophied right leg) being runner up but still being one of the NPC’s outstanding champions.

THE BATTLE FOR OVERALL

As the seven champs took the stage to compete for the overall it seemed to these peepers that the decision was between Aaron’s Clark power packed look or Stephen Frazier’s spectacular mass, with my preference for the latter. Eventually Darron Glenn name was called and thus he joined the likes of Flex Wheeler and Phil Heath in the roll call of NPC USA overall champions.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

*In an age when “condition” rules above the requisites of balance and lines, it was remarkable that so few of the 163 athletes on view were in condition. A personal theory is that because condition is the number one commodity they are trying too hard and doing to many manipulations to attain that look. More is not always more, it very often is less.

* Kudos to promoter Jon Lindsay, Jim Manion and the NPC organization, and the athletes of course for putting on a great show. And a special shout out to the backstage crew and emcee Lonnie Teper who from close-up I witnessed making proceedings go like clockwork.

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