I was born and raised, corn fed and hardy, in rural Ohio. Other than a brief stint as a middle school football lineman, I rarely dabbled in anything close to athleticism. I went away to upstate New York for college, but after two years, mental health struggles, and a dwindling GPA, I dropped out and moved back in with my parents.
That summer I began healing myself in the mountains of Virginia, working on an Americorps Trail Crew building hiking trails in the Goerge Washington and Jefferson National Forest. I started that summer weighing in at 297 lbs and barely able to hike a mile. By the end of the summer, I was swinging a pick for hours on end and had lost 60+ lbs. It was there I learned how much nature and physical activity are both mentally and physically healing. As I moved around the country to various jobs and restarted my educational path, I continued to prioritize hiking, and eventually started running as a way to increase my fitness for hiking. One thing led to another and suddenly I was training for half marathons.
I came to Crossfit and Swarm in October of 2021. I had recently moved to the area and, upon completing my second half marathon, I wanted to find a good option for exercise during the off season and get in better shape for my wedding the following year. I had always been intrigued by Crossfit and decided to give it a try.
Crossfit has done more for me than just increasing my fitness. I am more dedicated and disciplined than ever before. I care about things like nutrition and rest. As a coach, I want to share that joy, strength, and resiliency with others. I strive to help folks become the best versions of themselves, no matter where they are starting.
