The Westchester County Center at Little Theater in White Plains will be the place to be on July 24 at 6 PM. Not only will there be 23 classes of amateurs on the stage, but also two current pros and one sure-to-be have signed on to guest pose. Jason Artnz, P.J. Braun and Craig Richardson are all scheduled to appear.

Here is the classes: Men’s Open (6 classes), Women’s Open Bodybuilding (3 classes), Novice Men (3 classes), Masters Men 35+ (2 classes), Masters Men 45+, Teen (2 classes), Fitness, Figure (2 classes), Masters Figure 35+, Bikini, Bikini Masters.

In addition to the regular awards, there will also be a presentation for the Steve Stone Best Poser Award.

MuscleSport Mag is a proud sponsor for the second consecutive year for the NPC Empire States.

LOCATION:

Westchester County Center at Little Theater

198 Central Avenue

White Plains, NY

Check In/ Weigh In: 10 AM sharp

Pre-Judging: 12 noon

Finals: 6 PM

TICKETS:

Pre-Judging: $17.50

Finals: $27.50 (assigned seating), $37.50 (VIP seating)

For more information, please visit www.npcempirestates.com.

On July 18, the 39-year-old took home the Light heavyweight and Overall titles at the 2009 NPC Empire States and hopes that will point him in the right direction a week later at the USAs. “It was a lot of good guys, good conditioned guys,” Torres said backstage while happily clutching one of his trophies. “I was using this as a gauge to see if I was going to stay as a light heavyweight or drop down to middleweight for my next show.

“A lot of these guys had great condition,” continued Torres. “They gave me a lot of compliments on my size so maybe I’m not bad for a light heavyweight, especially winning a show of this caliber and at this level in New York, one of the great states in bodybuilding”

Torres weighed in at the Empire States at 190 pounds, but figures to drop down a few the following week. “I don’t believe that I’ll be able to hold that weight at the USAs,” he said. “Those guys are going to be in top shape and at the top of their class. To be able to place in the top 15 – the top rankings – I’m going to have to  drop at least five more pounds and come in at 185 pounds crisp.”

Earlier in the year, Torres’s bodyweight was up to 210 pounds and he felt comfortable not going over that amount. “The heaviest that I’ve ever been is 225, but I didn’t want to gain all that weight and then have to lose it.”

With a top 10 finish in a past Nationals show, Torres has the experience and knows what it takes to make a good showing on stage.

“Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows.”

Times have changed and society has moved on from radio to high definition television, but that simple statement rings true as much now over seven decades later. The main difference is that ‘The Shadow’ is not a vigilante crime fighter, but rather a six-time Mr. Olympia.

England’s Dorian Yates shares the same nickname as the old time radio hero and ruled the bodybuilding world from 1991 to 1997. He still is heavily involved in the sport after retiring with his Temple Gym chain and as a staff writer for Muscular Development magazine. These days Yates has taken on another task in training Jason Arntz, the 37-year-old New Jersey native who has been a regular on the new IFBB 202 circuit.

“I usually do my own dieting and contest preparation for the past 10 or 11 years, ” Arntz said after a guest posing appearance at the NPC Empire States. “Now I’m working with Dorian Yates and I’m going to take a little different approach. If you’re going to learn from somebody it might as well be the best. So we’ll see what we can cook up with him this year.”

Arntz current weight is 220 so it will be fairly easy to make weight come September at the 202 Olympia. “I eat pretty good all year,” he said, so a strict diet for me is the last three or four weeks. But I’ve been dieting for the last three weeks and going to kick it into gear starting on Monday (July 20).”

Since turning pro in 1998, the 5’5″ Arntz has found the terrain difficult against the bigger competition. Oddly enough he had his best finish in his rookie show. Arntz placed fifth at the 1999 Toronto Pro and then had to wait until the 202 division was formed to see anything higher.

At the 2008 New York Pro 202, Arntz finished in the top three and then placed fourth in the first 202 show at the Mr. Olympia. That show was sort of a test run to gauge interest in that division and the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Proving that point is the fact that this year the posedown and placings will be announced on the Olympia stage at the Orleans Arena as opposed to the expo stage, something that Arntz definitely approves of. ”I’m real happy about that,” he said. ”You felt like a second-class Olympian (at the expo).” Being tutored by the great Dorian Yates will definitely make Arntz feel like a first-class citizen, especially if he can win the title this year.

JASON ARNTZ COMPETITION HISTORY

P.J. initially started out in powerlifting and was successful, but decided that his ultimate goal was standing in the winner’s circle on the bodybuilding stage. At 22, he entered his first competition and placed fifth as a novice light heavyweight at the 2003 Atlantic States.

“I was the youngest in the class,” Braun wrote on his official website, www.pjbraun.com. “Success. This felt amazing and I was now addicted to the sport for life.”

Two top-three finishes in a row gave Braun the confidence that he needed to make the commitment to take it to the next step. He took off nearly two years to add some size to his frame and came back at 220 pounds for the 2006 Junior USA, where he finished what he described as a “controversial” fourth. A week later, Braun won the New England Bodybuilding Championships with a heavy heart. “Two days prior to the show, John Stavidris, one of my best friends, had passed away,” wrote Braun. “That winning moment was so surreal. It will live with me forever.”

Since then, Braun has finished 11th at the 2007 IFBB North American Championships and 9th at the same show a year later. He then was victorious at the 2008 NPC Atlantic City Amateur as the super-heavyweight and overall champion.

Braun is also one third of the famous Brat Pack along with Evan Centopani and Guy Cisternino. P.J. is the last one without a pro card, so he is keeping good company and on his way to joining his mates before too long.

This is part of an exclusive series by MuscleSport Mag on the 2009 NPC Empire States for which we are one of the show’s official sponsors. The show will take place on Saturday, July 18 in Suffern, New York.

One of those deserving of a look is Jason Arntz, the 37-year-old Garden State resident. Since turning pro in 1998, he has found the road to be a rough one at the highest of levels in the sport of bodybuilding. Persistence pays off and Arntz has placed in the top six in his last four shows.

He finished in third place at the 2008 IFBB New York Pro 202 and fourth at the 202 Olympia. This year, he has a third place (2009 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro) and fifth place finish (2009 New York Pro).

When he gets in front of the crowd on July 18, it will be a good gauge to see how far along Arntz is in his Olympia preparation. He has the full summer to get ready for Las Vegas and has given no indication that he may be slowing down as he gets closer to 40.

This is part of an exclusive series by MuscleSport Mag on the 2009 NPC Empire States for which we are one of the show’s official sponsors. The show will take place on Saturday, July 18 in Suffern, New York.

Other sponsors include Gaspari Nutrition, Axis Labs, Optimum Nutrition, Labrada Nutrition, American Body Building, Species Nutrition, Rx Muscle, ALR Industries, GNC, Body Well Nutrition, ProTan, USA Bodybuilding, Absolute Cycle, Epic and more. 

The contest will be held one week prior to the NPC USA Championships and include a new Best Poser award named after the late Steve Stone.

Expected to appear are Kevin English, PJ Braun and Jason Arntz.

Be sure to visit their site for more information - www.NPCEmpireStates.com .