ADAMS TWP — Intentional or otherwise, a group of athletes from different backgrounds were doing more than training to compete in bodybuilding.

They were team building as well.

Heather Truchen is a drug and alcohol counselor in Butler, Carey Carvelli a sixth-grade teacher in the Seneca Valley School District.

Valencia resident Donna Fiore dropped 80 pounds. Natrona Heights resident Lee McIntire, a retired law enforcement officer, dropped 50 pounds.

Worthington resident Jason Smith teaches special education. Kyle Oresick is a Butler County Community College student. Andrew Van Order is a recent Seneca Valley graduate.

The group has two things in common. All are trained by Saxonburg resident Kyle Walters at Snap Fitness in Mars and each competed in the recent Mr./Ms. Cleveland Fitness Contest, an all-natural bodybuilding show.

“Kyle is the glue that brought us together and holds us together,” Fiore said of Walters. “He has a sense of community to him.

“This is a very welcoming environment. This is my gym family.”

It's a successful family at that.

Walters won the overall men's title at the Cleveland show. Carvelli won the overall women's figure title, Truchen the overall women's physique title, Fiore the body transformation title and Van Order the men's teen title. Oresick, now 20, is a former two-time men's teen champion.

“This was the first gym in the area to re-open from the COVID-19 shutdowns,” Walters said. “Some of these people came from other gyms.

“They had similar goals and simply got to know each other.”

Now they often work out and train together.

“When we traveled to Cleveland to compete, they called themselves the Legion of Boom,” Walters said. “This is an individual sport, but they became a team as well.”

Oresick agreed.

“I admit, when I'm in the gym working out, I'm pretty selfish. I'm thinking about me,” he said. “But we all formed a connection quickly.

“Everybody in there has a story to tell. At the competition, it wasn't about any one of us. It was about all of us.”

While Truchen works in Butler, she lives in the North Hills area.

“My other gym was closed, so I started coming here,” said Truchen, 33, a former Kennedy Catholic basketball player. “I've been lifting weights for years, but never thought of pursuing bodybuilding or competing.

“I met Kyle (Walters) here and he started working with me. He took me to the next level, presented me the idea of competing, but applied no pressure that way.”

The Cleveland show was Truchen's first-ever competition.

“I was very surprised I won,” she said. “It was a great experience. I definitely want to do it again.”

Many in the group are looking to compete in a bodybuilding event in May.

McIntire hopes he can be there. He underwent rotator cuff surgery Nov. 13.

“My goal is to be able to compete in May,” McIntire said. “If not, I'll come back for a show in October.

“I used to weigh 232 pounds and was dealing with hypertension. I knew Jason Smith from working security at an elementary school. He told me about the gym and I wanted to get in shape.

“I lost 50 pounds, put on 15 pounds in lean muscle and decided to do a show.”

McIntire finished second in the first-time competitor category and third in the over-60 division.

Smith owns world records in powerlifting — 480-pound bench press, 525-pound squat, 625-pound deadlift, all in the 181-pound division — and comes to the gym three days a week.

He finished second overall at the Cleveland show, his second career bodybuilding show.

“My goal is to get my pro card,” Smith said. “I love working out with this group because we drive each other, hold each other accountable.

“Kyle keeps us on task and this whole team is motivated and dedicated.”

Carvelli, 49, has been a teacher in the Seneca Valley district for 25 years, was a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Passion 15 years ago.

“Competing in bodybuilding was not on my radar,” she said. “But I've always been active and I love competition.

“I come to the gym four or five times a week and just wanted to tone up. When the idea of doing a show was presented to me, I viewed it as a challenge.

“I never thought I'd win at my first show. My goal was to not trip and make a fool of myself,” Carvelli added.

Like the rest, she enjoys feeling part of a team again.

“Definitely, this is my second family,” she said. “Everybody is so supportive and energizing, and it's a great tool to deal with the trying times of COVID. I wouldn't trade this time for anything.”