Troy bodybuilder Maurice Harrell took top honors at the All Natural NGA Trojan Classic Bodybuilding Championship at Troy University on Saturday.

On his way to the Overall Contender Championship, Harrell won the open men’s heavyweight title and the title of Mr. Troy. As winner of the Trojan Classic Contender Championship, Harrell received his professional card.

“I had hoped to do good in the Trojan Classic but I never expected to get my pro card,” Harrell said. “What it means to get a pro card is that bodybuilding is no longer a hobby for me. I’m now a professional. I can win prize money, endorse products and get sponsors.”

To earn the overall title, Harrell had to compete against the winners of all the categories.

“All of the winners competed in what is called a pose-down,” he said. “The competition was tough and it was a real honor to be the winner.”

Harrell has been bodybuilding for only a year and he hoped to eventually get his pro card so that he could compete on a different level. But he had no idea it would come this early in his bodybuilding career.

Harrell had planned to take a year off after the Trojan Classic to build up his muscle mass but, with a pro card, he’s ahead of the game.

‘I’d been really training hard for the Trojan Classic since March so I took the weekend off and ate whatever I wanted,” Harrell said, with a smile. “But I’ll be back at the training table on Wednesday because I want to be ready to compete in my first pro championship in Georgia in November.”

Harrell said that he plans to compete in only three to four championships a year.

“It’s just so tough training to compete,” he said. “And, I’ll only compete in all natural events. I’m going to use what God has given me and do the best that I can. I’ve got a chance now and I want to make the best of it.”