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Reardon, Duncan Take Wesley Chapel Honors

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By LARRY BUGG, Tribune correspondent

Published: May 1, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL -- John Castelamare told the crowd one of his super heavyweight contestants was suffering from stage fright.

"He's just a little scared,'' said Castelamare, the head football coach and organizer of the Mr./Ms. Wesley Chapel contest. "He's 260 pounds and he's still scared."

What did the contestant have to be scared of?

Wednesday night, it could have been the catcalls, the screaming, the cries of "I love you," wolf whistles and anything else the boisterous crowd was screaming in the Wesley Chapel High School Center for the Arts.

Or, it might have been that the contestant was scared of walking on stage in his shorts, no top and having to flex in front of his peers.

Whatever it was, that contestant eventually walked on stage and the crowd played a major part in the annual Mr. and Ms. Wesley Chapel High School bodybuilding competition.

There were 20 male contestants and 13 female contestants vying for the coveted Mr. and Ms. Wesley Chapel titles and the large trophies that went with them.

Perhaps the least intimidated contestant was senior Danielle Reardon, who took home her second straight Ms. Wesley Chapel title. Reardon, a cheerleader and female weightlifter, showed plenty of poise and some strength and flexing moves that might have won her an adult female figure contest as well.

Arron Duncan walked away with two trophies. The junior won Mr. Wesley Chapel and he and Jasmine Pleasant won the Pairs title as well.

Reardon, who hopes to cheer for the University of Central Florida next year, had plenty to cheer about.
She was asked what was the best part of winning the title and she said she enjoyed the process of earning the trophy.

"The preparation, working so hard and dieting, working out and winning it,'' said Reardon. "I cheer for three teams."

She said she cried after winning the title again.

"[It's a] relief [to win]," she said. "It feels like you really worked for this and you won it."

There were four other trophies that the girls took home. Cameo Collura, sister of former Ms. Wesley Chapel Carissa Collura, was selected as Ms. Wesley Chapel runner-up. Pleasant was selected for Best Symmetry. Francina Pierre won Best Showmanship. Brianna Madden won for Best Legs.

Duncan stood out from the pack enough to take home the Mr. Wesley Chapel title.

"It feels great,'' said Duncan of his victory. "I have been in the weight room every day trying to do what I got to do."

Duncan, a junior Wesley Chapel High football player, said it was harder to score a touchdown than to flex before his peers.

"I play a safety and running back,'' Duncan said. "I have been trying to keep my grades up, going to church. It's all been coming to me.

"I really was just having fun. I didn't expect it. Coach Able Robinson helped me a lot. I am going to dedicate one of the trophies to him."

Rodney Harden took home the lightweight title. Jeremy Rogue took home the middleweight title.
Hunter Joyer won the heavyweight title. Raymond Nixon took the super heavyweight title.

Nate Ruiz won for best abs.

This was the first time the contest was held in the Center for the Arts after the contest spent eight years in the gym.

Castelamare began the bodybuilding contest at Ridgewood High when he coached there and brought the contest over to Wesley Chapel when he took the head coaching job there.

Castelamare was happy for the large turnout and grateful to Patrick McDermott, the Arts director, for the use of his facility.

"We sure had a pretty good crowd,'' said Castelamare. "Mr. McDermott gave us the opportunity and we are very happy. I know the contestants enjoyed it. Everything went well.

"We had a lot of our athletes and some who weren't. They did a heck of a job. It took them about a month to train. Some were nervous. One said she had a stomachache and was petrified. She was one of the winners.

"You can't do this alone. All the coaches have to help out."

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