Like father, like son.

As a star football player at Soddy-Daisy High School and UTC, Robert Smith was known for his physique and strength.

Now the principal at Soddy-Daisy High School, the 53-year-old Smith still sports a solid frame. But it doesn't compare to the one his son, Trey Smith, used recently in winning the Teen-Age Division in the Georgia Body Building Championships.

"People keep telling me you have to have genetics for body building,'' Trey said. "I get those genetics from my dad, and it has really paid off.''

Trey Smith lifted weights with his father while growing up, but didn't get serious about body building until his junior year at Soddy-Daisy High School.

"I always did weight training for football, but starting lifting real hard my junior end,'' said Smith, who played defensive end for the Trojans. "I got intrigued with my physique, and it went on from there. It's addictive. I lift every day now.''

The 18-year-old Smith trains at World's Gym in Hixson. Normally 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Smith weighed in at 211 for his first show — the Georgia Championships.

"I knew had a good chance of winning, but it really didn't hit me until I won,'' Smith said. "Really, winning my first show was a little shocking.''

Smith gives much of the credit for his fast advance in body building circles to World's Gym trainer Jake Thrash, who won the 2000 collegiate nationals.

"Jake has really helped me with my diet and has supported me,'' Smith said. "I had to diet for 12 weeks to get ready for the show.

"It takes a lot of dedication and sacrifice to do well in body building. I have passed up a lot of social connections to do this. You don't have time to do much else because it kind of consumes you. It's pretty much a 24-hour deal. You have to kind of isolate yourself and not get distracted.''

Smith and the overall winners of the Georgia Body Building Championships will be featured in the near future on the cover of Southern Muscle Magazine. He qualified for the nationals, but has decided not to compete there this year.

"I'll still be 18 next year for the competition, so I'm going to train more,'' Smith said. "I've also put football at UTC on hold for now. It would be hard to do the body building and the football.''

Smith was scheduled to be a walk-on this fall at UTC. He will still attend classes at UTC and major in political science.

"I think body building will open up other doors for me,'' Smith said. "Maybe in pro wrestling. You never know who might be at one of these shows. I'd like to get involved and work my way up the ladder.''

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)