2006 Building My Team

 In 2006, bodybuilding and figure were building momentum in my gym & I had the opportunity to help others in competition for the first time. I began training with my friend and now neighbor Josh Phelps as
we were both targeting shows in the same time frame. I also helped my friend Lindsay Rudolph with her first figure show the Tournament of Champions.






I was targeting the NPC Bodyrock once again as a warm-up on July 8th, 2006 followed by the Team Universe held once again at the Tribecca Performing Arts Center in NYC.

Josh & I trained together using a high rep program in efforts to get ripped & I think I took it a little overboard in hindsight. Looking back at the photos, I was really ready 4 weeks out from the Bodyrock at a weight of 125-1/2# (photos to left & right) but continued to get leaner in the weeks leading up to the Bodyrock and sacrificed some size.

I placed 4th this time as a Lightweight in the 2006 Bodyrock 

Me in Center

Wait! Is that 2012 Mr Olympia Phil Heath handing out trophies??

On to the Team Universe four weeks later, I was tied for 5th place and lost the tie-braker landing me out of the top five, a spot I had never been before. I still remember sitting in the audience after placing outside of the top five, utter disappointment and heart-broken, but that's okay because that's what lead me to go back to the drawing board in 2007 & make some moves to improve!

(I am second from left)