Athlete of the Month
Athlete of the Month
All of us who work out here at Mission CrossFit SA train hard. We are all on our own journey in pursuit of a higher level of fitness, health and ultimately, life. It is not an easy journey, but it’s worth it. It requires hard work, sweat, discipline, and perseverance. The journey is filled with challenges, obstacles, and sometimes-even setbacks. And although every person’s road is unique, it is not a solo endeavor. We are in the pursuit of fitness together. Like a team, when a person is knocked down, the group responds by picking them up. Equally as important, when someone succeeds, their accomplishments are enjoyed and celebrated by the whole. To that end, every month, one person will be recognized for their outstanding achievements in fitness, whether they are in or out of the box.
This page is dedicated to that individual who portrays what CrossFit is at Mission CrossFit SA. It is someone who pushes hard, never gives up and wants to accomplish something each day they step foot inside our gym. They are chosen by their peers and lead by example. The athlete doesn’t necessarily lift the most amount of weight, or win every WOD, but instead they have passion and desire for what their individual goal is. Work hard, everyone is always paying attention, and you could be next!
March 2016 Athlete of The Month – Sarah Flores
Congratulations to Sarah Flores for being selected at March’s Athlete of the Month! Sarah joined Mission in 2012 not really knowing what to expect out of coming, but was willing to put her nervousness behind her and give it a go. Needless to say, she quickly went from being hesitant to a staple in our afternoon and now early morning classes! Sarah embodies what it means to be a CrossFitter and truly understands the positive lifestyle changes it can make. She will always have a smile on her face, welcome the newbies to class and never pack up her equipment until the last person is finished. For those reasons and many more, she is certainly deserving of the title “Athlete of the Month.”
Name: Sarah Flores
Started CrossFit: 2012
Favorite WOD: Filthy Fifty & Fight Gone Bad
Least Favorite WOD: Anything with overhead lifts
Favorite Lift: Thrusters and Sled Pushes
Least Favorite Lift: Snatch
Story: I was introduced to CrossFit in 2012. I was 175 lbs. and not in the best shape. I worked out when I could (Zumba) but knew that I needed to do something I just didn’t know what. So myself and some coworkers heard about CrossFit and decided to give it a try. I remember walking into Mission on that first day feeling scared (like I might die), intimidated (CrossFit is for fit people) and nervous (what if I throw up). I couldn’t even do a bar hang for longer than two seconds! Needless to say every Tuesday and Thursday I managed to push past all of that self-doubt and go back for more every week which turned into months which turned into years. I began to love reaching PR’s and being able to see myself grow based upon my own personal determination, dedication and strength. I quickly found out that CrossFit was exactly what I had been missing in my life and it’s what I needed to get me to reach my lifelong fitness goals. My two days a week quickly turned into five days a week and I’ve never looked back. It has become a way of life for me, it’s who I am and I’m proud of it. Fast forward to 2016 I am now 140 lbs. and in the best shape of my life! Just signed up for my first Open! And now I’m Athlete of the Month! What??? Never in a million years would I ever have considered myself an Athlete and look at me now. I can’t thank MCFSA enough and my favorite MCFSA Coach Junior for being there for me every step of the way for four years and counting. “Just one more rep”, Junior always tells me, words to live by.
February 2016 – Athlete of the Month
Name: Brett Bolus
Started CrossFit: February 27, 2013
Favorite WOD: Hero WOD “Josh”
Least Favorite WOD: Diane
Favorite Lift: Any movement with “squat” in it
Least Favorite Lift: Deadlift
Story: I found CrossFit at the start of my second semester in engineering at THE University of Texas at Austin. I hadn’t been active in terms of working out since I had graduated from high school. The more difficult school became, the more I looked for a way to get away from all of the books and stress that being a petroleum engineering major brought about. While waiting for a table at Moonshine in Austin, TX a group of my friends and I wondered next door to CrossFit Central Downtown, which was hosting a competition called The Fittest Games. I remember watching these women throw around weights that I had seen eighteen-year-old boys struggle with. It took me a few weeks to sign up but once I did, I was hooked. Everything about CrossFit fascinated me; the grit, the simplicity, the want to be better than the day before. I can honestly say that without CrossFit, I would not have graduated with my engineering degree and have the life I have today. CrossFit taught me to dig deeper than I ever thought I could. We have all had that moment during a workout where we thought “sweet Jesus, I’m going to die”.. But we don’t. We may throw up, stumble back to the bar, and complain about every rep the people around you are yelling for you to complete but regardless, we keep moving. When school ramped up and the people I started with began to switch majors and drop out, I just kept my head down and continued to put one foot in front of the other. The people I have met and trained with, whether they know it or not, are my place of solace. You all are my home away from home when school, friendships, life and responsibilities overload me. It’s just barbell, an amazing company, and me.
January 2016 Athlete of The Month – Shannon Free
Name: Shannon Free
Started CrossFit: October 2014
Favorite WOD: Any EMOM with barbell or kettlebell work, a good chipper, team WODS
Least Favorite WOD: Anything involving pull-ups or AMRAP
Favorite Lift: Power cleans
Least Favorite Lift: Deadlifts. Always deadlifts.
Story: I was initially hesitant to try CrossFit because I was intimidated by its intensity. I began toying with the idea of trying out some classes my junior year of college but didn’t gain the courage until October of my senior year. Any efforts on my own to maintain my fitness and rehabilitate a knee injury from high school ended in me being unable to keep myself accountable, and I always ended up disappointed. To combat these feelings, I took to eating poor quality food in large quantities and lost sight of any goals I may have had. The game changed in October, however, when I tried my first class and became instantly hooked. I loved the team environment and how accepting everyone was of the new girl. It took a few months, but I rooted myself into that first community and gained not only muscle mass but self-confidence and better eating habits as well. Moving to Texas was terrifying, but finding a new box to call home was first on my list of things to do. Mission was the first box I visited, and Coach Meagan gave my family and I a tour of the gym. I liked what I saw and loved it even more when I came to my first class. I started out with the 5:30am class, then moved to the 6:30pm (Best:30) class after a few months. CrossFit is continuing to teach me to see my body as a machine that is capable of much when I give it the respect and care it deserves. I no longer view my body as something I have to fight against but something with which I can work. I’ve found a home at Mission, and I couldn’t be more thankful for this beautiful, strong, courageous community. Thank you for making Texas feel like home and for always pushing me to be better.
December 2015 Athlete of The Month – Kim Rydel
Congratulations to Kim Rydel for being selected at December’s Athlete of the Month! Kim has been a staple member at Mission since she joined Mission in early 2012. She came from a strong running background and slowly progressed with CrossFit over the last four years. She has pushed and challenged herself every day, which can be seen in what she does during WOD’s. We love having her apart of our community not only for what she has accomplished, but also the person she is. For those reasons and many more, she is certainly deserving of the title “Athlete of the Month.”
November 2015 Athlete of the Month – Laura Jones
Congratulations to Laura Jones for being selected at November’s Athlete of the Month! Since she joined Mission just four months ago, she has improved ten fold and continuously works at her weaknesses. She is driven, competitive and always willing to learn and do what it takes. We love coaching her in class and cannot wait to see how much more she grows with us at Mission. For that reason and many more, she is certainly deserving of the title “Athlete of the Month.”
Name: Laura Jones
Started CrossFit: July 2015
Favorite WOD: Endurance Wednesday’s
Least Favorite WOD: Anything with Ring Dips
Favorite Lift: Power Clean
Least Favorite Lift: Overhead Squat
Story: My CrossFit journey started four months ago at 8 weeks postpartum. I have always considered myself to be athletic. I was a cheerleader in high school and college, played soccer and have always enjoyed running. Although I ran throughout my pregnancy, I knew that I was going to have to step up my workouts to get back to where I wanted to be. My husband has been working out at Mission for over two years and encouraged me to give it a try. I will admit, I was intimidated at first, but have always given everything I do 110% and believe hard work always pays off. I like the competitive atmosphere, the challenging workouts, having something my husband and I can do together, and most importantly the excellent training I have received from the coaches at Mission. Just recently, we completed “Grace” in a Barbell for Boobs event in my hometown. With a little over 3 months experience, I used the scaled weight and finished under the capped time! Our daughter is now almost 6 months old and I can honestly say that I am in the best shape of my life and strive to set a good example for our family. I am able to do this by going into every workout with a positive attitude, setting goals, and working hard to be the best I can be. There is nothing more rewarding than finishing a tough WOD with the support of your fellow CrossFitters and coaches. I am happy to be a part of Mission CrossFit!
October 2015 Athlete of the Month – Dan Lanfear
Congratulations to Dan Lanfear! He has been voted by the coaches as this month’s Athlete of the Month! Dan has been a member for over 3 years and in that time has changed his life dramatically. After a medical set back, he has worked harder than ever and the results speak for themselves. Since the day he joined Mission, he has been a dedicated hard-worker and we cannot wait to see what else Dan will accomplish in the future. For that reason and many more, he is certainly deserving of the title “Athlete of the Month.”
Name: Dan Lanfear
Started CrossFit: 2012
Favorite WOD: Grace
Least Favorite WOD: Fran
Favorite Lift: Clean
Least Favorite Lift: Overhead Squat
Story: I’ve always considered myself to be in decent physical shape—I played college baseball, ran marathons, swam, etc. But when I came to CrossFit almost 3 years ago, I’d slipped into a sedentary slump for 5-6 years, and was really out of shape—and somewhat in denial about the effects of getting older. CrossFit gave me an environment where I could get a great workout with encouragement from others, but still scale the workouts to be compatible with my age and fitness level. About one year after joining I was having trouble breathing, and eventually found out that I had pulmonary emboli. After being hospitalized, my doctors encouraged me to get right back into CrossFit. I took their advice, was careful to scale the workouts, wore a heart rate monitor to make sure I didn’t get too revved up—and through the help of coaches like Julianne (the noon class rocks!), I’ve upped my strength (I’m not sure I’ve ever been this strong) and improved my endurance dramatically. Mission CrossFit has really been a life changer! Thanks to Drew and his coaches, and the inspiration provided by my new CrossFit friends!
