NPC Southern States champions, from left to right: Marcus Haley (bodybuilding); Nicole Cabalier (fitness); Dan Riser (fitness); Sherry Michel (bodybuilding). Doris Barrilleaux Photo  January 2001 Alabama State Championships Coast-To-Coast Championships Dixie Championships First Coast Championships 21st Annual Southern States West Tennessee Championships Tom Ryder Retires - Tim Gardner Joins SMP Alabama State Championships ..... The state bodybuilding and fitness championships were held at the Dothan Civic Center and presented by Tim Goodwin, World Gym and Cory Everson's Fitness For Women. ..... A popular, high-profile heavyweight swept to the NPC Alabama State Championships Women's Division title . . . then announced she's probably through competing. .....Teresa Nabors of Albertville, 41, was unopposed in the heavyweight class before earning all the first place votes following the Women's Open final comparisons and posedown. .....“Teresa looked so good that everyone thought she was requalifying to do the Nationals again," said contest scorekeeper and Southern Muscle Plus correspondent Patsy Bennett. “Then she said that she is probably through competing. It's a shame . . . she looks great." .....Middleweight Ron Wedgeworth of Northport, 33, moved through the Men's Open with relative ease. He received nothing but first place votes in his class and for the overall. Teresa Nabors Open Women's Champions Ron Wedgeworth Open Men's Champion Coast-To-Coast Championships ..... The Coast-To-Coast Championships, an NPC steriod-tested event, was presented by Debbie and Vance Milton of Crescent Fitness Center in Dade City and John Schleicher's Superior Sports Productions at the University of South Florida's Special Events Center, Tampa. .....Following 10 years of weight training without ever entering a contest, Minerva Gonzalez of Tampa heeded some advice from her son: " . . . you're 40 now . . . it's now or never!" .....Gonzalez took the challenge to heart. "I've been working out very hard for four hours a day," she said. The effort made 2000 a memorable one for her. .....At 5'1" tall and 116 1/4 pounds, Gonzalez was selected first by all judges in the Coast-To-Coast Championships open lightweight class and for the Women's Division overall. .....The Coast-To-Coast Men's Division went to 175 1/2 pound middleweight Alexis Rhigas, 25, of Boynton Beach. Minverva Gonzales and Alex Rhigas Open Overall Champions Darci Haley Women's Open Champion Dixie Championships ..... The Hillcrest Auditorium in Simpsonville, SC was home for the Dixie Championships, an NPC national qualifier. .....Presented by Sheryl and Duck Stewart, and their business, The Fitness Foundation, Inc., the contest had action in five divisions. The top two finishers in each open weight class qualify for all NPC national events through Dec. 31, 2002. .....The biggest trophy in the Men's Open went home with Kendrick Tyler of Taylors, SC . . . but it wasn't easy. Tyler advanced to the finals following a single point (7 - 8) victory over James Miller of Roanoke, VA. .....Tyler received three first place votes and two seconds, while Miller had two firsts and three seconds. .....With four firsts and a second, Julie Von Freymann had a comfortable six point advantage over the lightweight class runnerup to earn a spot in the finals . . . and, ultimately, the Women's Open overall. Kendrick Tyler Men's Open Champion Julie Von Freymann Women's Open Champion First Coast Championships ..... Before the First Coast Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships, heavyweight Marlon Joyner of Miami hadn't competed since 1992. And, lightweight Linda Wilbanks of Jacksonville had returned to the stage just a week earlier . . . after an absence of 12 years. .....When the show was over, Joyner and Wilbanks had one other thing in common - - they were the 2000 First Coast open division bodybuilding champions. .....Joyner, 5'10" tall and 222 pounds, had a three-point advantage (6 - 9) over runnerup Tim Davis of Jacksonville in the heavyweight class. Then, he had his hands full with lightheavyweight Elton Miller of Florahome. After final comparisons and the posedown, Joyner received three votes, while Miller had two. .....Meanwhile, Wilbanks, 5' tall and 100 pounds, made it look easy - - winning both her class and the overall unanimously. .....Presented by Don and David Bailey and their Bailey's Powerhouse Gyms, the First Coast, an NPC national qualifier, was held at the Florida Theater, downtown Jacksonville. Marlon Joyner and Linda Wilbanks First Coast Open Champions 21st Annual Southern States ..... The 21st anniversary NPC Southern States Bodybuilding Championships proved to be "the year of the heavyweight." .....Marcus Haley of New Smyrna Beach, 27, had to battle 265-pound superheavyweight Joel Stubbs of Hialeah, 33, for the Men's Open title. Haley, who weighed in at 211 pounds, won the heavyweight class unanimously, before topping Stubbs, six votes to three, after final comparisons and the posedown. .....Heavyweight Sherry Michel of Palm Beach Shores led runnerup Yamile Marrero of Hollywood (6 points to 9) to earn a spot in the finals. Then, Michel, 38, earned four of five votes cast for the overall. Lightweight Laura Westbrook of Jensen Beach, 43, received the fifth vote. .....The Southern States, an NPC national qualifier, was presented by Peter W. Potter and his USA Sports Promotions of Florida at the War Memorial Auditorium, Ft. Lauderdale. Marcus Haley Men's Open Champion Sherry Michel Women's Open Champion West Tennessee Championships ..... The NPC West Tennessee Invitational Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, held in Jackson, will always have a special place in Shea Bakeris' memory. .....A lightweight, she won both her class and the open bodybuilding title. And, for good measure, she also took the fitness overall. .....Despite serious competition in his own class, Robert Walker took home both the open lightheavyweight and division's top trophies. Shea Bakeris Bodybuilding and Fitness Champion Shea Bakeris Robert Walker Men's Open Champion Tom Ryder Retires Tim Gardner Joins Southern Muscle Staff ..... Tom Ryder, editor and creator of Florida Muscle News in 1987, has retired. Tom and his partner, Jeannette Peters, began the monthly publication in 1987 and were based in West Palm Beach. At a time in Florida's bodybuilding history when 40 - 50 shows each season were common, Florida Muscle News gave competitors a chance to see their achievements in print and it gave the promoters more exposure and a way to publicize their events. Florida Muscle News changed Florida bodybuilding. .....Said Ryder: "It is just that time in life that I need to slow down. I have a lot of people to thank for the success of the magazine. I started several columns thanking them, but it got too lengthy, so I will do it on a personal basis. I wish everyone continued success. I have confidence that my co-publisher Pete Fancher will make Southern Muscle Plus to the south, what Florida Muscle News was to Florida." .....Said Southern Muscle Plus new editor Pete Fancher: "How does one replace Tom Ryder? After talking with several people and giving it considerable thought - Tim Gardner came to the top each time. Tim is a very welcome addition to Southern Muscle Plus and will take over the advertising department of the magazine as well as doing some interviews and write-ups on events. Tim has been a force in Florida bodybuilding for several years as one of the top trainers in the Tampa Bay area with his Team Body Tech - Tim brings a lot of enthusiasm and energy to our new publication and we look for some very good things to happen. " .....Welcome aboard, Tim!!! Former Editor, Tom Ryder interviewing Etta Timmerman - don't you wish all interviews were like this??? Tom started Florida Muscle News in 1987 and retired this month. Editors Note: This was the only photo we could find of Tom who was very elusive when it came to being photographed. Tim Gardner Co-publisher of Southern Muscle Plus Click Images for Larger View Copyright © 1999 - 2001 Southern Muscle Plus, All Rights Reserved