VALENCIA — Since ninth grade, Zach Straynick wanted to get into bodybuilding.

In 16 weeks, the 2006 Butler graduate became a viable contender for the Mr. Steel City championship, a bodybuilding event slated for Moon Area High School Sept. 5.

"Zach asked me if he should be worried about the competition," personal trainer Kyle Walters said. "I told him the competition should be worried about him."

Walters works with 40 to 50 clients through the Lakevue Athletic Club, though few are bodybuilders.

"I deal with nutruition, work with high school and college athletes, weight reduction, a variety of things," Walters said. "Bodybuilding is not a sport meant for inclusion or widespread participation.

"It';s for the top 2 percent of people who consider themselves to be fit."

Walters said that people he works with who knew Straynick "pointed him in my direction."

"We were on the same page inmnediately with what we wanted to accomplish," Walters said. "Zach wasn't out to look good on the beach. Hr's been serious about this sport from Day One."

Straynick played baseball in South Butler until 10th grade, but never pursued any sports in high school.

He was attracted to bodybuilding because of the multiple benefits the sport provides.

"You look better, you feel better and it gives you a good physique," Straynick said. "It's healthy for you. I just never knew the right way to go about it."

That's where Walters came in. After working with him 16 weeks, Straynick is entering the 189 pounds and over novice heavyweight division of Mr. Steel City. Novice is for bodybuilders entering their first show.

Straynick is also entering the open heavyweight division, which bodybuilders of any age and experience level can join.

"It's rare that a first-time entrant would look good enough to do the open division as well," Walters said. "This might happen once every five years or so."

Walters estimates 8-10 bodybuilders will be competing in Straynick's division with 60 to 70 total bodybuilders in the show. Winners of each division and weight class advance to the finals, where one overall Mr. Steel City will be crowned.

Because this is a pro qualifier, the overall winner will be eligible to enter professional bodybuilding events.

"I've stuck to my diet and workouts 100 percent," Straynick said. "I know I'll be going on stage at my best. I'll be the best I can be that day."

Whether he wins or not, Straynick said he will continue with the bodybuilding lifestyle. He is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh involved in the health and physical activity program there.

While he describes his works and resistance training as "intense," Straynick said the toughest adjustment to bodybuilding is the diet.

"The diet is a lot of high fibronic carbs very low in protein," he said. "You eat seven or eight meals a day. That's once every two or three hours. It's hard getting used to eating that often."

During the past 16 weeks, Straynick was allowed two "cheat" meals, when he could dine on anything he wanted.

"The first one, I ate a 38-ounce prime rib, two baked potatoes and a loaf of pumpernickel bread in 13 minutes," he said. "Your body is so depleted that as you're eating, you're not getting full."

His second cheat meal was a 12-ounce steak, a sweet potato, baked potato, three loaves of pumpernickel and two garden salads.

Going away to college made his diet easier to stick with, Straynick said.

"When I'm at school, I live in an apartment. I'm buying the groceries. It's all about individual choice," he said.

The biggest choice Straynick made was committing his bodfy to the sport.

"It's rare to see a kid that young make the sacrifices in diet and dedicate his entire lifestyle to succeeding as a bodybuilder," Walters said. "We've gone at it hard for 16 weeks and the difference in his physique and definition are incredible.

"It may pay off for him at Mr. Steel City. Rookie or not, he's got a real shot at this."