Southern Muscle Plus

On The Cover: 2002 NPC Atlantic USA Champions from left to right: Shana Crawford, bodybuilding; Jason Marcus, bodybuilding; and Melissa Froio, Figure. (Cover Photos by Clay Carson and Doc Neely) (Cover Design by John Stevens)	April 2002
	2002 NPC Atlantic USA Southern Muscle Plus at the Arnold Classic 2001 NPC South Florida District More articles are available only in the printed magazine. Pick up a copy at your favorite gym, health club, fitness center or health food store; or to be sure of getting a copy each month, subscriptions are available.

2002 NPC Atlantic USA

..... The first national qualifier in the south for 2002 and the first show of the season in Georgia, the NPC Atlantic Seaboard, was held on February 16, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta under the promotion of Ty Felder, district chairman of Georgia. ..... Thirty-two-year-old Jason Marcus of Decatur, GA was unopposed in the lightheavyweight class and after the final comparisons and posedown was the choice of the judges for the overall title. ..... Shana Crawford, 28, of Atlanta, GA was the only entrant in the middleweight class and the only entrant in the Women’s Division - earning her the overall win. ..... The Figure Division had two entrants and Melissa Froio, 28, of Riverdale, GA was the pick of the judges in both rounds of competition for the overall title. ..... Doug Jerry was the head judge for the event and joining him on the panel were Jeff Allen, Denise Blount, Curtis Winter and Darrell Manson.	Jason Marcus Lightheavyweight Winner Open Overall Champion	Shana Crawford Middleweight Winner Open Overall Champion
	Melissa Froio Fitness Champion

Southern Muscle Plus at the Arnold Classic

..... The Southern Muscle Plus staff enjoyed a great weekend at the Arnold Classic and met many of the stars of our sport and industry. This was our first booth at the Arnold Expo and we met many people and made some new friends and appreciated the words of encouragement on our publication. We have posted some of the photos from the expo and the classic. Complete coverage of the Arnold Weekend is in the current issue.	Team SMP	Boxheads
	Neil, Melissa, and Arnold

2001 NPC South Florida District

..... The 2001 NPC South Florida District Championships took place on November 24 in the Milander Auditorium under the promotion of Sergio and Barbie Pacheco of Physique World Gym.
..... The Women’s Open Division had the Over 30 winner, Debbie Larue, take the lightweight class while Lisette Valdes, a Metro Dade Department of Corrections officer, was the unanimous winner of the middleweight class. Lisette had improved her physique substantially since her class win at the 2000 NPC Southeast Florida and at 123 pounds seemed to have hit her peak right on contest day. Lisette, in a very close decision, took the overall title by one-point over lightweight Debbie Larue.
..... The middleweight class had seven entrants and thirty-five-year old Danny Gutierrez of Miami emerged as the class winner at a bodyweight of 160 pounds.
..... The final comparisons and posedown between the class winners saw Danny Gutierrerz emerge as the overall winner of the South Florida District Championships.

Photos by Peter W. Potter

South Florida Winners

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