Team RAW Training Shoots for Third Trip to Carson

May 1, 2012

Stephanie Vincent

"We are stronger mentally and physically this year and even more focused on our goal."

 

During the 2012 CrossFit Open, Team R.A.W. Training showed they are a major force to be reckoned with. R.A.W. sits in 1st place in the Mid Atlantic and 9th place in the world at the close of the Open. 

If R.A.W. makes it to the Games in 2012 it will be their third trip out to California. At the 2010 Games they came in 20th place and at the 2011 Games they took 12th place. “The 2011 Games taught us so much as a team, as athletes, and as coaches,” co-owner of R.A.W. Training and team member Molly Tuman says.

After the experience Tuman says R.A.W. athletes were “hungry and determined to come back and be even better this year.”

There is no doubt that R.A.W. plans on earning a spot to the Games in 2012. Their goal is to be on the top of the podium in July. “We are stronger mentally and physically this year and even more focused on our goal,” Tuman says. 

Team R.A.W. Training will be made up of JT Dahlinger, Nick Cherish, Bruce Barger, Loren Churchin, Bethany Lauster and Tuman. Out of the six on the roster, four qualified to compete as individuals, but opted to go team. Tuman acknowledges her team isn’t the only one stacked with athletes who are good enough to compete individually. She believes the competition will be even harder this year. “It seems that more great athletes are opting for the team competition instead of the individual competition as it increases their chances to compete in California,” she says. 

Like many CrossFit athletes did this Games season, R.A.W. athletes simply built the Open workouts into their regular training schedule. “Our athletes each got one chance … one and done,” says Tuman. “We felt it was a fair way to compete hard and still stay focused on our training.”

Team R.A.W. Training trains together five days a week at 6 a.m. In preparation for Regionals they are adding in some double days, focusing on weaknesses and preparing for the Regional workouts. R.A.W. was really excited when the Regional workouts were announced. “Teams will have to be strong all around and cannot have a weak link if they want to make it out of Regionals,” she says. “[We are] pumped and cannot wait.”

Tuman says R.A.W has a balanced team with solid all around athletes and each member brings different strengths to the team. However the real success of the team comes from the commitment and work ethic each one of them gives every time they walk in the door. Beyond the athletes that will be representing R.A.W in competition lies what Tuman calls the true strength of our team, which she says “comes from the entire group of athletes we train with day in and day out.”