Quick study: 2005 NPC Teen Nationals winner Gerald Williams came to California for a photo shoot—and a lesson about bodybuilding from some of the best in the business

Flex, Dec, 2005 by Greg Merritt

School is in session. This syllabus is for a college-level seminar titled "Gerald Williams and the Future of Teen Bodybuilding." The course has the following objectives.

* Address the state of teen competitive bodybuilding.

* Introduce Gerald Williams, winner of the 2005 NPC Teen Nationals.

* Outline Williams' adventures in Los Angeles after winning the contest.

* Present advice from current pros who were themselves successful teen competitors.

Gym attendance is required. Anyone under 25 can learn about maximizing youthful potential, and everyone should take notes on bodybuilding's future.

HISTORY | NPC Teen Nationals

Since its inception in 1982, five winners of the NPC Teen Nationals have gone on to earn IFBB pro status: Franco Santoriello (1984), Shawn Ray (1985), Shane DiMora (1986), Branch Warren (1993) and Craig Richardson (1994).

Current pros Jay Cutler, Capriese Murray, Chris Cormier, Bob Cicherillo, Rodney St. Cloud, Mat DuVall, Mike Morris, Frank Roberson, Aaron Maddron and Jeff Willet each won his class or placed high in the Teen Nationals. Still, no veteran of the contest since the 1994 edition has even come close to joining the professional ranks.

STUDY QUESTION | Why are there so few great young bodybuilders today?

Phil Heath winning the USA Championships at 25 and in his first attempt at a pro card is the exception. In general, bodybuilders go pro later today than they did a generation ago. Only one competitor in the 2005 Mr. Olympia was under 30. The primary reason for this is it simply takes time to build a pro-level physique.

The two things young bodybuilders need most are consistency and patience. Of the 15 physique prodigies listed in the "History" section, only four turned pro before they were 25; most required more than eight years (Cicherillo needed 15). Give the kids time to grow up; it's likely we'll be hearing from recent teen champs in the years ahead.

PREDICTION | The 2005 Teen Nationals champ, Gerald Williams, will be a top pro prospect before turning 25. His strong points--legs and back--are typically teen weak points, and the further he climbs in bodybuilding, the more those two bodyparts determine who goes home with the biggest trophy.

BIOGRAPHY | GERALD WILLIAMS

* Born February 18, 1986 Grew up on the edge of Oakland ("the hood") and Berkeley ("hippie town"), California.

* An only child raised by a single parent His mother is Stephanie Williams, an accountant.

* Athletic kid He studied karate and played soccer for a United States youth team that toured Europe.

* First competed in bodybuilding shows at 17 His contest resume includes the 2003 Contra Costa Championships (teen, second), 2003 California Championships (teen, fifth), 2004 Los Angeles (novice heavyweight, fifth), 2004 Teen Nationals (heavyweight, third), 2005 California Championships (teen, first) and 2005 Teen Nationals (light heavyweight and overall, first).

* Currently a sophomore at Morehouse College in Atlanta (the nation's number-one predominantly African-American college), majoring in psychology. Plans to pursue master's degree.

* Plays bass guitar in the Morehouse College Jazz Ensemble.

* Tattoo on forearm: OVERCOME.

FOCUS ON JAZZ | As a member of the Morehouse jazz band, Williams has performed at prestigious venues throughout the country.

At a Ray Charles benefit at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, he shared a stage with such luminaries as Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight and Gerald Levert.

"I've only been playing bass for five years," Williams says. "It's relaxing and a convenient way to make money. The downside is that sometimes a gig at a jazz club ends at three in the morning, and that's not going to be good when you're preparing for a [bodybuilding] show. I have to make sure I have all the right bodybuilding food at the gigs."

FOCUS ON BODYBUILDING | "My sophomore year in high school, I thought, I don't really want to play sports anymore. Football is just an excuse to work out, so why not just focus on bodybuilding?"

Only nine months after he started physique training, Williams competed in his first contest. "I had no idea what to do or what to expect. I didn't know what they'd have there, so I brought two 30-pound dumbbells with me (to pump up with)." He laughs. "I was hooked from the start. My first goal from the time I started was to win the Teen Nationals, so to accomplish it is amazing."

FOCUS ON BOTH | Let's call Gerald Williams "Jazz" for his musical ability, but also for the harmony of his bodyparts coming together like the riffing of an ensemble.

STUDY QUESTION | How does bodybuilding fit into college life? With great difficulty. Beer, pizza and 3 AM partying do not constitute the best recipe for bodybuilding gains. Neither are around-the-clock studying, inferior gym equipment and dorm food the best ingredients. Going from 245 in the offseason to less than 200 onstage, Williams dieted for 15 weeks for the California Championships and an additional eight weeks for the Teen Nationals.