POCATELLO — A local bodybuilding team found success recently at a competition in Boise, where several members ranked among the best in the state.

Shannon Mae, one of the members of the team called the Bulldogs, said the competition was the Idaho Cup, which brings together both natural and regular competitors.

The Idaho Cup, organized by Ribic Productions and held Oct. 17-18 at Expo Idaho, is a National Qualifier event where top finishers advance to national competitions.

"Our team had a couple of naturals and one regular," Mae said. "Natural means you can't take any enhancing substances. It can be a little difficult."

The team was formed by coach Brittany Ward, who started it to honor her late coach. Mae joined the team earlier this year.

"I was interested in bodybuilding to navigate my health and fitness and take care of myself," Mae said. "She talked me through the process and said she would be happy to take me on as a client."

The competition has categories for both bikini bodybuilders and fit model bodybuilders. Competitors must make it clear which category they are competing in when they sign up.

Competitors in bodybuilding events are judged through a two-round process. During the prejudging round, athletes perform mandatory poses individually and then are called out in small groups so judges can compare them side by side.

Judges score competitors based on what's called the "total package" — a balance of size, symmetry and muscularity. The prejudging round counts for 100 percent of the score. In the finals round, competitors perform individual 60-second posing routines to music of their choice, and a confirmation round may be held if needed to break ties.

"I was a bikini competitor," Mae said. "I went and won two third-place awards and one second-place award."

Mae said working with Ward was what prepared her for success in the competition. She said another one of her teammates was also successful, and neither of them would have made it without Ward.

"She has a warm presence," Mae said about Ward. "She creates love everywhere she goes. She put a tremendous amount of effort into the team."

Mae said the best part of the competition was all the time spent with the rest of the team. They were all supportive of each other when the competition became difficult.

"Just being able to be with my team, the inspiration that was there," Mae said. "We have a bunch of people who came and supported us."

Ward said the group that made it to the competition was the first group of girls she trained.

"We have guys too, but only girls made it to the Idaho Cup," Ward said.

Ward formed the team to honor her coach, Jack McCormick, after he passed away. He was an inspiration to her when she started bodybuilding, and she wanted to continue his legacy.

"He begged me not to let it die," Ward said. "Now we've got 25 athletes. It's been pretty darn cool."

Getting into bodybuilding was helpful for Ward. It helped her through her weight loss journey and helped her stay healthy, and now she wants to help others the way her coach helped her.

"I lost 217 pounds," Ward said. "It was a big deal to go back to this show because it's the show my coach did. It was really neat to have the girls on the stage."

Ward said she was proud of all the athletes from the team who competed. They all did well in their divisions, and they all got through the difficult parts of the competition.

"Seeing them make it and how ecstatic they were after they came off the stage was amazing," Ward said. "You stand there in front of seven judges, and they judge you about your body."

Ward said the team stayed in an Airbnb together during the competition. The atmosphere in the Airbnb was positive and supportive. She said some of her athletes have struggled with self-confidence, so this was important for them.

"It's not easy to get where they did," Ward said. "We're excited for the next wave of athletes."