WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (EYT) – Throughout his life, Knox native Zach Stiglitz has been active. He played football for the Thiel College Tomcats for three seasons and was even asked to wrestle at the college level, as well. But perhaps his best athletic accomplishment is still on the way as he pursues professional bodybuilding.
As a senior at Thiel, Stiglitz decided to hang up his cleats and became a gym rat. He loved to be active and hit the weight room. But after not having any true goals for a few months, he took a leap of faith after a peer at Thiel encouraged him to enter a local collegiate bodybuilding competition held at Slippery Rock University. After a strong showing, even though he knew little about what he was doing, he was encouraged and, in recent years, has made tremendous strides in the sport.
The year 2022 is when he really took the leap into being serious about competing. Coming out of COVID-19, more competitions were taking place again. For a few years after graduating from college, he went back to training and, along the way, figured out how to become more defined in certain muscle groups and even refined his nutrition. The results have more than spoken for themselves. His second competition was one in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and it would be his last in his home state to date, as he made the move south to Florida. He did this for his career in business, but the move has also been tremendous for his bodybuilding pursuits, as well.
His first competition in Florida happened in November 2023 as he participated in the National Physique Committee (NPC) Ruby Regional Championships. He placed second in Class B and qualified for the national competition the next year. A full year of locking in with training, strict cooking and eating habits, cardio, and even some tanning before the competition had him looking unrecognizable.
“I was just in awe of what I looked like,” Stiglitz said. “I knew after some of those early competitions that I could do this. But I couldn’t even believe it was me after I saw some pictures of what I looked like on stage.”
After narrowly missing his professional bodybuilding “pro card” in late 2024, Stiglitz aimed to achieve the milestone by the end of 2025. This past fall, he secured victories in both the Class B Classic and light heavyweight divisions at the Ruby Championships. However, despite the wins, Stiglitz felt his physique wasn’t at its peak. He ultimately chose to bypass the 2025 Nationals to focus on a more aggressive pursuit in 2026, where he hopes to secure the high national ranking required to turn professional.
“There was a 30-week prep period for these two shows, and I wasn’t responding well towards the end,” Stiglitz noted. “I knew I wouldn’t bring my best look to the stage, so I decided not to participate in nationals this year, held in Texas. I still attended and took some notes on what I need to do for the next year to achieve my goal of turning pro.”
Turning professional in bodybuilding does not mean he will abandon his full-time career, but it allows him to be more recognized and legit in the sport. He will participate in different competitions, can become a certified coach to amateurs, and the monetary opportunities all around pertaining to prize money and sponsorship deals increase drastically. It also means that around five years of locking in and sacrificing became much more worthwhile. In order to get to this point, it’s taken so much work.
From staying consistent in the gym, to meal prepping and sticking to a strict diet, to taking a collection of supplements to aid in his pursuits, and even staying consistent on a step count, bodybuilding is a lifestyle if done right. Every meal, step, drink of water, bite of food, and even activity pursued in free time can have an impact and make a difference.
It’s the behavior today that shapes the look and discipline of tomorrow.
“I have a great coach and support system,” Stiglitz emphasized. “The gym I go to, Busy Body Fitness Center, put my picture on the wall, and I appreciate them all for being supportive and following along with my journey.
“I am also so thankful for my girlfriend (Janelle Toy). I am very scheduled, and this can be very hard on loved ones because we have so much that goes into this. But even when I crash on the couch or have a hard day, she’s there to make sure I finish the day strong and the next day is a better one. I have so much appreciation and love for her.”
Over these last few years, Stiglitz has learned a great deal about himself. What habits he needed to break, what obstacles and inconveniences don’t mean all that much, and how to embrace the “suck” and the routine. In a world that is digitized and shows the glamour of everyone and rarely the ordinary, Stiglitz has found peace in the preparation and the process of trying to be the best version of himself.
“You have no choice but to figure out what kind of person you are from this,” he noted. “If there’s anyone who wants to try bodybuilding, I encourage them to do their research and then jump in. Everyone looks for the ‘perfect’ time to start, but with the obstacles life presents, that ‘perfect’ time will likely never happen. If you dive in and do the right things, this sport can be a beautiful thing.”
The year 2026 is here, and so could be his chance to turn professional and make an even bigger impact in the industry.
Right now, he’s a personal trainer for a few friends and clients, but he could take it up a notch to help bodybuilders in the future, as well. It comes down to another almost year of preparation and work to unlock that pro potential, but he’s as motivated as ever after attending nationals and not taking part this year.
Looking ahead, Stiglitz is optimistic about his chances. Having observed the progress of peers who have already turned professional, he remains driven to continue his own journey and achieve similar success in the industry.
