Olive Branch CrossFit

Originally from:  Martinsville, IN

CrossFit experience:  8 years

Certifications:  L1 with plans to complete L2.

Prior athletic experience:  16 years of competitive swimming (favorite event: backstroke).  In high school, I played soccer and volleyball, ran track and field, and was a member of the powerlifting team.

What made you start doing CrossFit?  I really enjoyed weightlifting in high school and especially the way it helped me to gain strength for swimming.  CrossFit provides that same opportunity to enhance athleticism across many sports, and it also lets you build great consistency.  The variety of workouts keeps it interesting, too, which is what hooked me as well as many other CrossFitters.

Favorite CrossFit exercise:  Power clean or squat clean

Least favorite CrossFit exercise:  Anything having to do with handstands.

Short-term goal:  Do double-unders and pull ups at the next Open. (Feb 2021)

Long-term goal:  Continue to build strength as well as manage weight.

What is the best part of Olive Branch CrossFit?  Certainly the people and the community make our gym a special place.  But I also take pride in the equipment quality, facility cleanliness, and everyone’s commitment – management and members – to constantly improving the gym.

What do you enjoy when not in the box?  Trying-out great restaurants with great food, traveling, live music, reading, and watching murder mysteries (thanks Netflix!).

Favorite quote:  “A year from now, you’ll wish you started today.”

Originally from:  Clarkesdale, MS

CrossFit experience:  7 years

Certifications:  First obtained my L1 in 2015 and I plan to complete my L2.

Prior athletic experience:  High school baseball and various sports growing up.

What made you start doing CrossFit?  I had a good friend in Memphis who introduced me to it and it didn’t take long to be hooked.

Favorite CrossFit exercise:  Double Unders

Least favorite CrossFit exercise:  Thrusters and back squats

Short-term goal:  To improve at each facet and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Long-term goal:  Improve performance in the gym.

What is the best part of Olive Branch CrossFit?  The community.  And also seeing others achieve their fitness goals, some of which they never thought possible.

What do you enjoy when not in the box?  Playing music, time at the lake, camping in the Airstream, and Ole Miss football.

Favorite quote:  “Are we gonna do ‘Stonehenge’ tomorrow?” – Derek Smalls from This is Spinal Tap

Originally from:  Apalachicola, FL

CrossFit experience:  6 years

Certifications:  Preparing for L1

Prior athletic experience:  Recreational tennis

What made you start doing CrossFit?  I do much better in a class setting, but was bored with the large commercial gyms.  CrossFit was and remains a great option for me.

Favorite CrossFit exercise:  Assault bike and power clean

Least favorite CrossFit exercise:  Wall balls and… wall balls

Short-term goal:  Showing up and maintaining consistency.

Long-term goal:  Stay my same pant size.

What is the best part of Olive Branch CrossFit?  The vibe at our gym is special.  That is what’s great about OBCF.  Everyone is open and inviting, and really invested in helping others reach their goals and have fun.

What do you enjoy when not in the box?  Spending time at Smith Lake, camping in our Airstream, and following Florida State football.

Favorite quote:  I don’t’ a have favorite quote, but my mom did, “If you’re going to be dumb, you better be tough."

Originally from:  Lawrenceburg, TN

CrossFit experience:  9 years

Certifications:  CrossFit LII.   USA Weightlifting Level I.

Prior athletic experience:  High school wrestling, football, and weightlifting.

What made you start doing CrossFit?  I became addicted to the high intensity workouts and also the ability to legally “throw heavy shit around.”

Favorite CrossFit exercise:  Clean

Least favorite CrossFit exercise:  Wall balls and thrusters

Short-term goal:  Improve at Olympic weightlifting.

What is the best part of Olive Branch CrossFit?  The way members and staff treat each other.  It really is a family away from family where everyone is welcome and helps each other achieve their goals while having fun.

What do you enjoy when not in the box?  Riding mountain bikes, music, and chasing my kids around with their various activities.

Favorite quote:  “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fall.”

Originally from:  Chattanooga, TN

CrossFit experience:  6 years

Certifications:  LI and currently studying for LII

Athletic experience:  High school volleyball.  Currently an avid distance runner, competing in several ultra-marathons and obstacle course races.

What made you start doing CrossFit?  I liked the way CrossFit combined weightlifting and cardio as well as the variety in workouts from day-to-day.  I also really enjoy achieving new PR’s.

Favorite CrossFit exercise:  Power cleans and dead lifts

Least favorite CrossFit exercise:  Burpees

Short-term goal:  Complete my first muscle up

Long-term goal:  Be a really well-rounded athlete with consistent times, movements, and cardio.  I’m also looking forward to attaining my LII Certification and helping others achieve their fitness goals.

What is the best part of Olive Branch CrossFit?  The community which is open and accepting of members at any level of fitness.  I also love that we offer a 5:00 am class I can attend before heading to work.

What do you enjoy when not in the box?  Ultra-running, beach vacations, playing the flute at church, and the University of Tennessee Vols.

Favorite quote:  “I did yesterday what you didn’t, so I can do today what you can’t.” - Mathew Fraser

Originally from:  Olive Branch, MS

CrossFit experience:  4 years

Certifications:  LI and LII

Prior athletic experience:  High school baseball and weightlifting as well as various sports growing up.

What made you start doing CrossFit?  Initially, it was a way for me to work out and get stronger for my high school sports.  But it soon became an obsession for the sport itself.

Favorite CrossFit exercise:  Thrusters and bar muscle ups

Least favorite CrossFit exercise:  Assault bike!!!

Short-term goal:  To help as many people as I can achieve their fitness goals and enhance their passion for CrossFit.

Long-term goal:  I want to be happy in whatever I am doing.  If that is coaching and potentially owning a gym one day, then great!  If it is something else, then that is okay, too!

What is the best part of Olive Branch CrossFit?  The community is the best part.  But there are also pluses to our facility, which is large and wide open and makes is easy to do exercises that require space.  I also like that we have members from all different professions, so it’s a nice way to meet good people who can help with things outside the gym.

What do you enjoy when not in the box?  Anything active.  Running, fishing, and eating out with family and friends.

Favorite quote:  “Work hard and be kind.”