ON THE COVER: 2004 NPC Sunshine Classic Champions, from left to right: Erica Therrien, Fitness; James Bivens and Stephanie Kessler, Bodybuilding; and Leslie Steffano, Figure. Insert Photo - American Classic: 2004 NPC American Classic Champions, from left to right: Angela Maurer, Fitness; Darrell Williams and Tracy Huber, Bodybuilding; and Angela Rosato, Figure. Insert Photo - Wheelchair Nationals: 2004 NPC Wheelchair National Champion Victor Konovalov being congratulated on the left by John Organ and on the left by Juan Hernandez. (Cover Photo by Peter W. Potter) (American Classic Photo by John Sheppard) (Wheelchair National Photo by Bob Leak) (Cover Design by John Stevens)  May 2004 22nd Annual NPC Sunshine Classic 11th Annual 2004 NPC Wheelchair Nationals 2004 NPC Capital City Classic 2004 NPC Northwest Florida District Championships 2004 NPC Atlantic USA 2004 NPC American Classic 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. 22nd Annual NPC Sunshine Classic ..... Florida’s first national qualifying event for 2004, the 22nd Annual NPC Sunshine Classic was held on Saturday, March 20 at the William T. Dwyer Auditorium in Palm Beach Gardens under the promotion of Frank Dalto and his Mother Nature’s Pantry Health Food stores. ..... ..... Veteran competitor James Bivens, 35, of Miami dominated the superheavyweight class with all first place votes and moved into the finals to take a one-point (7 - 8) victory for the overall win. ..... ..... The 2003 NPC Southern States champion Stephanie Kessler, 34, of Key Largo took the lightheavyweight class, a new division for women in qualifiers and national competition, by a unanimous decision and collected all first place votes from the judges for the overall win. ..... ..... The Fitness Division drew just two entrants and it was thirty-year-old Erica Therrien of Palm City taking all three rounds of the competition with a total of 18 points to take the overall for her first fitness contest. ..... ..... The Figure Division was divided into four height classes with a total of 30 entrants. ..... ..... Class C, over 5’4” up to and including 5’6”, had a total of six entries and it was Leslie Stefano, 35, of Miami taking a unanimous decision in the two rounds of competition for a total of 10 points to take the class win. ..... ..... Leslie moved into the final comparisons and was the choice of the judges for the overall win. (Photo by Peter W. Potter) 2004 NPC Sunshine Classic Champions, from left to right: Stephanie Kessler, Bodybuilding; Erica Therrien, Fitness; Leslie Steffano, Figure; and James Bivens, Bodybuilding. 11th Annual 2004 NPC Wheelchair Nationals ..... The 11th Annual NPC Wheelchair Nationals were held in conjunction with the 22nd Annual NPC Sunshine Classic in Palm Beach Gardens on March 20 at the William T. Dwyer Auditorium under the promotion of Frank Dalto and his Mother Nature’s Pantry Health Food stores. ..... ..... Three-time NPC Wheelchair National Champion Victor Konovalov, 42, of Walnut Creek, CA made a strong come-back by taking the heavyweight class by a unanimous decision. ..... ..... Victor moved into the finals against some of the strongest competition ever in this prestigious event and emerged with all first place votes from the judges to claim a fourth NPC Wheelchair National title. Photo by Bob Leak Victor Konovalov 2004 NPC Wheelchair National Champion 2004 NPC Capital City Classic ..... The 2004 NPC Capital City Classic was held at the Leon County Civic Center on April 3 in Tallahassee under the promotion of Adam and Monique Odgen and D & A Nutrition Center. ..... ..... Thirty-six-year-old Richie Izzo of Thomasville, GA took all first place votes in the lightweight class for the win and moved into the final comparisons and pose down and took a 3-point (6 - 9) decision for the overall title. ..... ..... Fifty-two-year-old Melba Davila of Miami was unopposed in the heavyweight class and was the only competitor in the women’s open division and was declared the overall winner. ..... ..... The Fitness Division had three entries and it was Gina Crum, 29, of Tallahassee taking a three-round total of 20 points to take the win. ..... ..... The Figure Division was divided into four height classes with a total of 9 entrants. ..... ..... Rebecca Ibbs, 30, of Land O’Lakes was making her first contest appearance and took all first place votes in both rounds of competition to take the Class C, over 5’4” and up to and including 5’6”, win. ..... ..... Rebecca moved into the finals and was the pick of the judges for the overall win. Photo by Pete Fancher 2004 NPC Capital City Classic Champions, from left to right: Gina Crum, Fitness; Richie Izzo and Melba Davila, Bodybuilding; and Rebecca Ibbs, Figure. 2004 NPC Northwest Florida District Championships ..... The 2004 NPC Northwest Florida District Championships were held in conjunction with the Capital City and Tallahassee Championships on April 3 at the Leon County Civic Center under the promotion of Adam and Monique Odgen and their D & A Nutrition Health Food store. ..... ..... Eighteen-year-old John Southerland of Tallahassee was making his first contest appearance and was unopposed in the heavyweight class. ..... ..... John was the sole competitor for the District Championships and was declared the overall winner. Photo by Pete Fancher John Southerland Northwest District Florida Champion 2004 NPC Atlantic USA ..... Georgia’s first national qualifier for 2004, the NPC Atlantic USA was held on March 20 at Meadow Creek High School Auditorium in Norcross under the promotion of Georgia State Chairman Ty “Ropeman” Felder. ..... ..... Twenty-six-year-old Robert Lyons of Acworth, who was in his first bodybuilding competition, took the majority of first place votes from the judges for the lightweight class win and after the final comparisons and pose down was the choice of the judges for the overall title. ..... ..... Tammi Tucker, 36, of Florence, SC was unopposed in the heavyweight class and took the overall title by a unanimous decision. ..... ..... The Figure Division was divided into four height classes and it was first time competitor Denise Steele, 36, of Woodstock taking Class D, over 5’6”, by a unanimous decision. ..... ..... Denise moved into the finals and was the pick of the judges for the overall win. Photos by Doc Neely Robert Lyons Atlantic USA Champion Tammi Tucker Atlantic USA Champion Denise Steele Atlantic USA Figure Champion 2004 NPC American Classic ..... The 2004 NPC American Classic, the first national qualifier for 2004 in Alabama, was held on March 20 at the Alabama Theater in Birmingham under the promotion of Charlie Lindsey. ..... ..... Thirty-three-year-old Darrell Williams of Mobile took the lightheavyweight class by a unanimous decision and after the final comparisons and pose down took all first place votes for the overall win. ..... ..... Tracy Huber, 41, of Nashville, TN was unopposed in the heavyweight class and after the final comparisons took the overall title by a unanimous decision. ..... ..... Twenty-two-year-old Angela Maurer of Notasulga was making her first contest appearance and took a three round total of 19 points for the win. ..... ..... The Figure Division was divided into two height classes and Angela Rosato, 38, of Catawa, GA, the winner of the women’s open middleweight bodybuilding, took a two round total of 19 points to take the tall class win. ..... ..... Angela moved into the finals to take the overall win by a unanimous decision. Photo by John Sheppard - American Sports Video 2004 NPC American Classic Champions, from left to right: Angela Maurer, Fitness; Darrell Williams and Tracy Huber, Bodybuilding; and Angela Rosato, Figure. Click Images for Larger View Copyright © 1999 - 2004 Southern Muscle Plus, All Rights Reserved