Plenty of muscles — and a little bit of nerves — were on display Saturday at the Tanglewood Center.

The National Physique Committee (NPC) Elite Physique Championships took place, featuring 84 amateur bodybuilders from the region. The event serves as an NPC national qualifier in four divisions — bodybuilding, bikini, physique and figure.

Some participants were prepping for nationals. Others were experiencing competition for the first time.

“The nationals are next week in Pittsburgh, so a lot of competitors are using this to get ready for that,” NPC promoter Mike Kamdar said. “This is a pretty good field here.”

Bodybuilders came from as far away as Ohio, New Jersey and Virginia to compete. These are amateur competitions, but winners of the nationals in Pittsburgh can receive their pro card.

“I've done 37 shows this year,” Kamdar said. “Butler is a good location for us. We're planning on doing a few more shows here.”

Another NPC show has been scheduled for Tanglewood Dec. 5.

Each competitor received nearly a minute alone on stage to strike various poses as music played.

Harlan's fitness gym in Butler had 13 individuals compete, many for the first time. They included Hannah Wilson, Katie Kent, Christine Mong, Laci Horvath, Joanna Kris Pierce, Judy Kiser, Amber Dufford, Jacob Dufford, James Conklin, Nick Henry, Keith Gary and Ben Cardone.

“This is exciting for Butler,” said Theresa Ivancik, a trainer at Harlan's and a sixth-place finisher at the International Federation of BodyBuilding (IFBB) World Championships last year. “This provides an opportunity for a lot of people to experience an amateur competition who otherwise wouldn't.”

Count Gary, 36, of Butler among them.

Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., he's been working out regularly since he was 24. He only decided to enter bodybuilding competition recently.

“I started out doing pushups and it just grew from there,” Gary said. “To enter this was a no-brainer for me. It's right here, my coach finished sixth in the world ... The opportunity is now and I'm on it.”

Ivancik believes Saturday marked just the beginning for Gary, who comes to the gym four or five days a week.

“He's a natural at this. We want to get him his pro card,” she said.

“I'm always lifting (weights). It's part of my life regimen,” Gary said. “I specifically trained for this for about eight weeks.”

Wilson, 20, graduated from Slippery Rock High School and played softball for the Rockets. She's been lifting weights for three years.

She was the youngest of the Butler contingent competing at the show.

“I'd been thinking about doing a competition,” Wilson said. “With this one coming to Butler, why not? I'm in the best shape of my life.

“Feel good, look good. That's what this is about.”

While Wilson admitted to feeling nervous while in the back prepping for her performance, she said everything “just came together” when she went on stage.

“It's the people. You just feel at home,” she said.

Mong, 53, of Butler, is married and has four children. Competing in the bikini division, she did her first show in Erie last year and placed fourth in her division.

“I did it to check it off my bucket list,” Mong said. “I first started going to the gym just to keep healthy. I never really thought about competing.

“Now I want to do three shows. From there, we'll see how it goes.”

Her children are ages 26, 23, 21 and 16.

“My whole family is so supportive,” Mong said. “My son gave me a big hug before I came here. One of my daughters did my makeup for the show. I took 15 weeks to prepare for the show.

“At first, with the COVID, I wasn't sure ... But this serves as a message to my kids, too. You start something, you need to finish it. Stay committed. I put in the work and I wanted to finish it.”

Mong goes to the gym four or five days a week for a little over an hour each time.

“This is strictly my thing. I go alone,” she said. “It's about staying fit, it's good cardio and it's a way to challenge myself.”

Kiser, 54, of Center Township was the senior of Butler's competitors. She is single and underwent rotator cuff surgery in October of 2018.

She's been going to the Harlan gym since April of 2019.

“I was always interested in bodybuilding and was going to do a show in Erie in May, but it was canceled due to the virus,” she said. “With this one being local, I couldn't pass it up.

“Theresa and Jeff (Harlan) provide a great atmosphere in the gym. Nobody judges you. Watching how hard everybody works out, their commitment ... It inspires me every day.

“I was nervous when I first got here today, but seeing so many Butler people, it was cool. Once you're on stage, the time goes by so quickly, there's no time to be nervous,” she added.

Kiser admitted that doing a show was always on her bucket list.

“Now it may develop into something much more,” she said.