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Show Two Friends Too Big To Be Bullied Dave Wlgham Clipper Sports " A JjSl couple of years ago. Rob Hammer and Gene Gregerson were always getting get-ting picked on by the bigger boys. However, you can bet money that neither one of them get much hastle anymore. Last week, the two Woods Cross students carted away about a third of the trophies handed hand-ed out at the Mr. Utah High School body building contest. Gene, just a junior, placed second in the short category, meaning those under 5'9". Rob, who competed in the tall catergory, won this event. In addition to this. Gene won awards for best abdomen and best poser in his class while Rob won best back, best poser in his class, the overall best poser and the most muscular. A total of 34 entrants competed for the awards with 14 in the tall and twenty in the short categories. Students from Granite, Jordan, Jor-dan, Kearns and Clearfield were all there, plus, many others from high schools in the Salt Lake City area. Gene has always been a lifter of sorts. He was heavy with weights in junior high as part of his wrestling conditioning. About 1 12 years ago he joined the Larry Scott Health Club and began body building. "Since then I have gained about 30 lbs., put three inches on my arms and five inches on my chest. When I began at the club I could bench press 160 lbs., now I'm up to 245 lbs," he noted. He had to give up most sports due to an injury in-jury suffered while wrestling. "I dislocated my jaw and the doctors have told me if I injure it again it would have to be wired shut for a long time," he added. Rob began his body building career three years ago. "My dad was always into lifting and then in the seventh and eighth grade bigger kids started picking on me and I took up body building. When I started I could bench about 110 lbs. and now I can do 310. No one picks on me anymore," he joked. He admits to being what he calls an on-and-off lifter. "During the summer months I don't lift. Last year I missed in order to fullfill my basic training in the Army Reserves." Rob joined the reserves for the money and educational benefits, and he's honest about it. "I "don't regret doing it but I wouldn't do it again," he confessed. He is still obligated for one weekend a month plus two weeks in the summer for the next 4 12 years. Training Partners For A Short Time The two have always known each other but it's only been a short time since they became training partners, (which is to say they work out with each other). They work out two hours a day for six days a week. "It's definitely worth it," the both say. "It's fun to see the improvement you make in various areas." Both of them have nothing but high praise for Larry Scott, the owner of the spa. "He's improved the club about 1000-percent," noted Gene. "There are two rooms. One has the universal type weights and another room has the back free bar type weights for the body builders," Rob added. Mr. Scott knows what he's talking about when it comes to body building. In his day he captured the titles of Mr. America, Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia. In all honesty, these two guys actually like to spend that much time in the weight room. "It's fun to lift, it doesn't sound like it would be but once you see the improvement in your own body, you just can't seem to get enough of it. The ego thing is a definite factor," Rob noted. "Seeing yourself grow and the increase in weights that you can lift keep you going all the time. You honestly feel great when you get pumped up having done a great set and pushed yourself to get it up. It's an individual thing but you can see the rewards as you go along," added ad-ded Gene. Both of them have goals for the future and both of them include body building. "I'm going to win it all next year," noted Gene, "That includes in-cludes Mr. Teenage Mountain America." As for Rob he has his sights set on June 5 when he plans to enter Teenage Mr. Salt Lake. "I'll enter to see what happens. I think I can probably proba-bly take that one as well," he admitted. Win high school body building contest. m i - i I MM I V |
