MINERSVILLE — Now in its fourth year, “Mr. Anthracite” has become a prized title among bodybuilders in the anthracite coal region.
“It’s a cool title for people to have in this area,” Warren Egebo, organizer of the Mr. Anthracite Natural Bodybuilding Competition, said Wednesday. “It’s a celebration of our coal mining legacy.”
Eleven contestants have already signed up for the annual Mr. Anthracite Natural Bodybuilding Competition on April 9 at the Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St., Pottsville. Egebo said only three of them are returning competitors.
On Wednesday, several contestants were training at Champs Fitness & Sports Center, Minersville.
Returning to the stage this year with his trademark “Featherhawk” is Travis Snyder, 34, of Hegins. He has competed in the show every year with the goal of inspiring others to live healthy.
“Not only do I do it to inspire, but it is also a personal commitment to mind, body and spirit,” Snyder said.
He has been offering advice to new contestants and has been leading posing classes. Snyder offered the following advice to first time competitors: “Be prepared, but don’t overstress. Plan and prepare, but have fun and enjoy it.”
Lionel Santos, 29, of Minersville, is joining the contest for the first time. It will be his second time entering a bodybuilding competition. He participated in the NPC Mid-Atlantic Cup Contest in 2009.
He said the fact that there is drug testing for the Mr. Anthracite competition makes it appealing. Participants must pass a polygraph test prior to the competition.
“It’s an even playing field,” Santos said. “I’m all about natural bodybuilding. I have four kids, so I like being healthy.”
Santos, who lives near Champs, goes there nearly every day. Every Thursday, he brings his four children after picking them up from school.
“I want them to see me on the stage and be able to say ‘That’s my dad,’ ” Santos said. “They’ve seen me lift weights, but they’ve never seen me on stage.”
This year’s competition is the first for Emilio Jack, 25, of Pottsville.
“It’s a challenge,” Jack said.
Jack said his father was a bodybuilder and he said he started training for the competition back in July.
“I’m a little nervous, but excited,” Jack said.
The other contestants already signed up for the event are John Parker, Tower City; Dave Evans, Pottsville; Chadwick Thomas, Minersville; Caleb Shilko, Palmerton; Greg Emiliani, Scranton; Keith Atkinson, Scranton; Dante Picarelli, Shamokin; and Donald Deibler, Pine Grove.
The deadline to register is April 6. All the contestants are also eligible to compete in Egebo’s Mr. Natural Philadelphia Show on May 7.
Sponsored by the National Gym Association, the natural bodybuilding and men’s physique contest was brought back by Warren in 2012 following a 30-year hiatus. It is a pro-qualifier and open to anyone who lives, works or attends school in the five counties making up the anthracite coal region: Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland, Carbon and Schuylkill.
Prejudging for Mr. Anthracite will be at noon and the finals will be at 6 p.m., both at the Majestic. Tickets are $10 for prejudging and $15 for the finals. Advanced tickets are also available by calling Egebo at 215-200-1680. For an entry form and more information, visit www.mrnaturalphilly.com or email klon@epix.net.