Jason Mohler

CLAY TWP — Jason Mohler learned from the past.

Now he’s setting himself up for the future.

The Clay Township resident recently earned his pro card by winning the top All-Around Award at the Great Lakes Bodybuilding Competition at Cathedral Prep High School in Erie.

Mohler, 33, has been into bodybuilding for 12 years. His first — and only other — competition was two years ago at the Natural Pittsburgh Championships in Murrysville.

He placed fifth in the Novice division, second in the Open division there. At the Natural Muscle Association-sponsored meet in Erie, Mohler swept everything.

“I only trained 16 weeks for the competition last time,” Mohler said. “This time, I extended that to 22 weeks and it made a difference.”

NMA contestants were from New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. All participants were tested for banned substances.

Mohler won the men’s Novice division, then competed in and captured the Open Light Weight division. From there, he won the overall Open title, beating out winners from the middle, middle heavy and heavyweight divisions.

“There were 13 competitors I was up against,” Mohler said. “Getting the early stage time in the Novice division definitely helped me. I was able to get out the early jitters.

“I became more confident as the competition went on.”

By winning the overall title, Mohler received his NMA pro card and may now enter NMA-sponsored professional competitions.

A former Slippery Rock High School student employed as a computer controls specialist for VA Butler Healthcare, he has no plans in competing as a pro soon.

“It’s hard to say when I’ll compete next,” Mohler said. “It probably won’t be for at least another three years. I plan to try getting pro cards through other organizations then.”

In the meantime, he plans to assist his wife — Moniteau graduate Kristin Baronetski Mohler — in her next bodybuilding venture. She’s been training for nine years and took second place in her division at the Natural Pittsburgh competition in 2013.

“She’s going for her nurse practitioner’s degree at Clarion (University) now and she plans to compete either this year or next,” Mohler said. “My immediate plans are to help her.”

He’s also working on fine-tuning and developing his body further.

“I believe strongly in the reverse dieting technique,” Mohler said. “Slowly increase my caloric intake, increase fat loss. Develop my body more in the process.”

Mohler is the son of Jeff and Laura Mohler of West Sunbury. He and his wife have two children, ages 4 and 1.

“We’ve taken on a lot with this,” Mohler said of bodybuilding. “I’m a little surprised at getting that pro card after only two competitions, but I’ve been pretty dedicated to getting better.”