Originally from Nebraska, I was a three-sport letter winner in football, basketball, and track back in the early 80s. I was a recruited walk on for football at the University of Nebraska where I played receiver. I transferred to a smaller college after my freshman year and garnered all-conference honors as a receiver my junior and senior year. Following college, I obtained my Masters in Zoology and then my Ph.D. in Ecology and Systematics. I taught biology/ecology at the University of Cincinnati for over 20 years and recently retired from the University in December of 2014. I have always been active during my lifetime. Staying fit has always been a priority. I participated in every recreational sport imaginable and played recreational basketball at least three to four times a week for 30 years, along with working on the weight machines. I thought I was happy with my health and fitness until a chance happening in 2008. In the fall of 2008, I was able to teach abroad in Costa Rica for five months. However, in doing this I had to give up my basketball (basketball is not very popular in Costa Rica). Since I was in a smaller city, I had to join a local gym that had limited equipment. At that time, a good friend introduced me to CrossFit. She would send me these things called “WODS”, and I would attempt them on my own, using the available equipment. Being initially skeptical, I kept doing the workouts and found that my fitness was slowly changing, and I was improving my cardio and strength. By the time I arrived back in Cincinnati, I was hooked. I forged ahead doing CrossFit on my own at the local YMCA along while continuing to play basketball on a regular basis. I finally realised that my progress with CrossFit had plateaued. I was still happy doing the workouts on my own, but I knew I needed a change. A chance walk into a local “Box” completely changed things. It was like opening a door and saying, “I’m home!” After visiting the Box, I went home and told my wife that I wanted to stop playing basketball, quit the YMCA and join this CrossFit gym. My wife was floored that I would give up basketball to do this, but I took the plunge. Starting out was hard. I spent the first several months correcting all the bad techniques I had developed while doing CrossFit on my own. Here I was, 48 years old, and trying to keep up with people that were half my age. However, I found a community that emits such positive energy that it becomes contagious. You strive to improve because people want you to be better…they want you to do the common, uncommonly well! Finally, I found that my teaching abilities at the university were transferable to CrossFit. I love encouraging others to do well, to improve, to reach that virtuosity that is a hallmark of the understanding of CrossFit. As a result I, along with my wife, obtained my level one certification and other subsequent certifications so that I could pass that passion, that want to improve… to the athletes I coach. Making the games in 2014 was an amazing experience. I found out very quickly just how mentally unprepared I was but was fortunate to have a top 4 finish. This year I worked through several injuries including vertigo and a left hip injury during the masters qualifier so I am happy to be able to go back to the games again in 2015.
Open
Year | Rank Worldwide | Rank by Region | Rank By Country | Rank By Affiliate | ||||
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2024 | 250th Men (60-64) | 98th Men (60-64) North America East | 160th Men (60-64) United States | 1st Men (60-64) CrossFit Fenton | ||||
2023 | 336th Men (55-59) | 128th Men (55-59) North America East | 222nd Men (55-59) United States | 1st Men (55-59) CrossFit Fenton | ||||
2021 | 4th Men (55-59) | 4th Men (55-59) North America | 4th Men (55-59) United States | 1st Men (55-59) CrossFit Steel Place | ||||
2020 | 59th Men (55-59) | – – | 50th Men (55-59) United States | – – | ||||
2019 | 4th Men (55-59) | – – | 2nd Men (55-59) United States | – – | ||||
2018 | 14271st Men | 28th Men (50-54) | 881st Men Central East | 3rd Men (50-54) Central East | 7745th Men United States | 23rd Men (50-54) United States | – – | |
2017 | 14784th Men | 31st Men (50-54) | 899th Men Central East | 2nd Men (50-54) Central East | 8489th Men United States | 24th Men (50-54) United States | – – | |
2015 | 9747th Men | 8th Men (50-54) | 651st Men Central East | 1st Men (50-54) Central East | – – | – – | ||
2014 | 3781st Men | 2nd Men (50-54) | 265th Men Central East | 1st Men (50-54) Central East | – – | – – | ||
2013 | 7221st Men | 58th Men (45-49) | 466th Men Central East | 7th Men (45-49) Central East | – – | – – |
Benchmark Stats
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Back Squat 330 lb Chad1000x -- Clean and Jerk 235 lb Deadlift 475 lb -
Fight Gone Bad -- Filthy 50 23:00 Fran 3:51 Grace 2:55 -
Helen 8:37 L1 Benchmark -- Max Pull-ups 40 Run 5k -- -
Snatch 181 lb Sprint 400m 1:04