Ken Schmit demonstrated his own kind of patriotism Thursday night.
The audience at Emens Auditorium raved when Schmit danced on the stage wearing a Speedo with an American flag on it and an Uncle Sam-style top hat.
But Schmit's patriotic demonstration wasn't enough for him to capture the title of Mr. Ball State 2003. Junior Dorian Haywood won the title at the Ball State Bodybuilding Competition. Senior Nikki Warner took the title of Ms. Ball State 2003.
An enthusiastic crowd packed into the lower half of Emens to watch 25 student bodybuilders flex and display their toned muscles.
In addition to the honor of winning, the end of the competition will offer some much-needed rest, Haywood said.
"I'm glad it's over," Haywood said. "No more dieting."
Haywood said he has been training and working out for five years, and four of those years included gymnastics workouts.
Haywood said he became involved in this year's competition because of friends who were involved last year.
Warner could not be located for comment after the event.
The contest contained three categories: women, medium men and tall men.
Thursday's contest began with all the contestants from the three categories performing mandatories. Mandatories are poses, or flexing positions, that the judges call out.
After mandatories, each contestant from the category posed individually to personally selected music. Fans cheered at every muscle flex.
"I liked it," junior Beth Naylor said. "You got to see their personalities (through their performances)."
Many audience members came to support friends who competed, including junior Melanie Cismowski, who said she knew several of the men in the competition.
At the end of individual performances, the contestants in each category lined up on stage where the judges picked out individuals to perform certain poses for further evaluation.
After each category went through this process, the winners were named.
In the women's category, senior Lauren Shaffer won third place. First runner-up was awarded to sophomore Keisha Pedigo, and Warner won the title of Ms. Ball State. Warner won last year's competition, also.
In the medium or short men's category, junior Dornale Alford was awarded third place. Graduate student Josh D. Bokelman won first runner-up and Haywood won Mr. Ball State for the category.
In the tall men category, junior Matthew Weislo won third place and senior Corey Wagoner was awarded first runner-up. Senior Tom Runkle won Mr. Ball State in that category.
L.T. Faison, physical education instructor, organized this year's competition and also served as guest poser. The bodybuilding event has been running for 30 years.
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