The 3rd annual IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Tampa Pro kicks off today and it will be one to remember. Over 100 hardbody men and women will take the stage in hopes of taking home not only bragging rights but also an Olympia qualification. There are a number of competitors making their IFBB Pro debuts and will face off against some seasoned veterans on stage.
The IFBB Pro Prejudging kicks off at high-noon Tampa time and will likely last 2-3 hours. Ticket buying fans will definitely get their money worth at this show. There’s also a NPC event held in conjunction with the pro show and it’s a great opportunity for fans to see both pro and amateur competition on the same stage.
This will mark the first year that the show will be held at the Grand Hyatt Regency Ball Room. The move to hold the event within the hotel will make things much easier for competitors. For more information on the show visit www.pbwproshow.com.
THE HARDBODY BREAKDOWN:
FIGURE
The top five in this line up is anyone’s guess however look for your top three to be Gennifer Strobo, Ann Titone and rookie Mallory Haldeman. Gen and Ann are already qualified for the 2012 Figure Olympia and on paper have to be your leading ladies in the event. Don’t be too shocked if Vegas resident, Mallory Haldeman is in the first call-out and gives both the women a run for their money. She took home top honors at the 2012 NPC JR National Figure Championships and if she can stay relaxed while posing has a chance at taking home another title. Andrea Cantone will look to improve on her Omaha Pro 3rd place finish however it will be a bit more challenging to match or beat it here. Canadian Aleisha Hart will look to collect a few more points in the Olympia Qualification Series. She’s currently tied for 5th with 4 points. Aleisha will need to be at her best ever to take move up in the standings. Tanya Etessam, Kamla Macko and Laurie Schnelle will all be making their pro debuts today. Laurie stands the best chance at joining fellow rookie Haldeman in the top five. Olga Maria Morales Gallardo was 6th at the Cal Pro and has a tremendous upper body, if she can come in full she could be in the top 10 here.
IFBB Figure – Total Purse $6,000
1. Tiffany Archer
2. Stephanie Bambrough
3. Andrea Cantone
4. Clarissa Franshesca Castaneda
5. Tanya Etessam
6. Mallory Haldeman
7. Aleisha Hart
8. Soleivi Hernandez
9. Kamla Macko
10. Olga Maria Morales Gallardo
11. Kiana Phi
12. Tamara Ribeiro-Bailey
13. Laurie Schnelle
14. Gennifer Strobo
15. Ann Titone
BIKINI
The Bikini division will showcase a variety of physiques. You’ll see some women in this line up who pack way too much muscle and others leaving you wondering where the muscle is at. When you look at the lineup as a whole it’s a bit of a cornucopia. Which look will prevail? The one with the most balance. The odds-on favorite has to be Nicole Nagrani. Nicole won this show two years ago, in her pro debut and will look to do so again here. She is the most accomplished competitor in the event. The only other competitor besides Nicole who is qualified for the Olympia is Diana Graham. The two have entirely different physiques however you could see them in the first call-out here. Rookie Adriana Hill has a nice look and could be in the hunt for a top spot in her pro debut. Gemmalyn Crosby will also be making her pro debut. She has a smile that will light up a stage and if her physique is tight on the lower half she could be in the mix. Jemma successfully petitioned for her pro status from her country, the Phillipines. Dayna Maletone has found her groove in the last few shows but has yet to higher than fourth. She could do it here and collect a few more points in the Olympia Series. She currently sits in 5th place with 6 points. The sleeper in this line up is Hungarian competitor Noemi Olah. Noemi is a stunning competitor who will look to return to the Olympia stage. She shocked everyone when she took top honors at the 2010 Detroit Pro, her pro debut. This will be the first time we see her on stage this year and if she can bring a tight lower half look for her to be in the mix. Tamryn Jackson and Agnese Russo are two new names and will be ones to watch what they bring to the stage. The beautiful Marcela Tribin will look to move up from her fifth place finish at the Pittsburgh Pro, where she made her IFBB Pro debut.
IFBB Bikini – Total Purse $3,000
1. Sara Picken Brown
2. Christy Cook
3. Gemmalyn Crosby
4. Diana Graham
5. Adriana Hill
6. Michelle Hutton Trasey
7. Tamryn Jackson
8. Dayna Maleton
9. Bernadett Matassa
10. Nicole Nagrani
11. Noemi Olah
12. Agnese Russo
13. Melissa Sayles
14. Marcela Tribin
15. Kristie Winter Trasey
WOMEN’S BODYBUILDING
This is the deepest line-up we’ve seen in women’s bodybuilding in quite some time. One spot to the Ms. Olympia is up for grabs and none of the 27 competitors are currently qualified. Tazzie Columb wasn’t on the initial competitor list (she was mistakenly mentioned as a women’s physique competitor) however is in the show. She has the highest Olympia Series point total of the group so if she misses out on the top spot, she’ll hope to collect a few points for her efforts. Sheila Bleck will look to return to the Olympia stage. She was 6th at the Olympia last year and has to be one of the favorites in this lineup. Debbie Bramwell announced at the media conference this will be her last competition and she’ll leave looking shredded. She has plans to start a family and will retire on a high note. Nancy Lewis is one of the seasoned veterans to the stage and has her sights set on finishing higher than she did at the Chicago pro, 6th. Kim Perez will also look to return to the the big dance in Vegas. She’s coming off a 9th place finish at the 2012 Arnold Classic. Marina Lopez has been competing all year in the Women’s Physique division and has been outside of the top spots. It will be interesting to see what she brings to the bodybuilding as she makes the switch back. This is one of the highest pay day opportunities for the women, so look for the field of competitors to be at the best in hopes of leaving a little richer.
Women’s Bodybuilding – Total Purse $9,500
1. Alicia Alfaro
2. Irene Anderson
3. Rita Bello
4. Sheila Bleck
5. Debbie Bramwell
6. Michelle Brent
7. Beverly DiRenzo
8. Roxanne Edwards
9. Paula Francis
10. Judy Gaillard
11. Colette Guimond
12. Sarah Hayes
13. Mary Ellen Jerumbo
14. Gillian Kovack
15. Janeen Lankowski
16. Lupe Leito
17. Nancy Lewis
18. Marina Lopez
19. Jena Mackey
20. Maryse Manios
21. Robyn Mentgen
22. Emery Miller
23. Kim Perez
24. Drorit Silverman
25. Melody Spetko
26. Beth Wachter
27. Tazzie Columb
WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE
There is no Olympia for this division in its inaugural year so the women are competing mainly for bragging rights. One lucky lady will leave with the title, a little cash and a giant trophy. The division has begun to work itself out and favors women with that are closer to a Figure competitor than that of a bodybuilder. That said, look for the women with the best shape and a nice balance of muscle to prevail. The competitor who could catch the line up sleeping and not seeing her coming is Tycie Coppett. She will be making her pro debut after turning pro at last year’s NPC Nationals. There are the usual suspects in the show like Nola Trimble, Gina Trochiano, Jennifer Robinson and Mikaila Soto. Dayana Cadeau looks like 1/2 the women she was a year ago as she’s completely down-sized her physique from her bodybuilding days. Jen Louwagie will be making her debut after achieving pro status at the 2012 Team Universe. Teresita Morales was second at the New York Pro but packs a great deal more muscle then many of the other competitors. It will be interesting to see how she fares here.
Women’s Physique – Total Purse $3,000
1. Mercedes Bazemore
2. La’Drissa Bonivel
3. Dayana Cadeau
4. Cheryl Cooke
5. Tycie Coppett
6. Laura Davies
7. Melissa DiBernardo
8. Cassandra Floyd
9. Amanda Harris
10. Marlene Koekemoer
11. Lisa Lopez
12. Jen Louwagie
13. Petra Mertl
14. Teresita Morales
15. Tiani Norman
16. Jennifer Robinson
17. Mikaila Soto
18. Antoinette Thompson
19. Nola Trimble
20. Gina Trochiano
If you’re following the action online and participating on twitter use the hashtag #PBWpro. You can follow live play-by-play on Muscle Phone and NPCNEWSonline.
