CrossFit Athletic Group

Every Summer around this time a couple gut punches come my way in the form of our high school kids heading away to college. This one is more like a kangaroo kick to the gut. Today marked the last workout at the Champions Club for Jessica Suchta before heading off to the University of Findlay to begin her college soccer career.

Jessica's CrossFit career started with the Summer 2018 Rookies at the 10 am session.

It was clear very early on that Jessica had that blend of strength, endurance, and coordination that could make her excel at CrossFit. In fact, it was one workout in particular that I remember talking to her after, explaining how she had the ability to go to "that place" and it's a standard I'd be holding her to going forward. After that day, I'm not sure I saw Jessica again until the next Summer.

The early story of Jessica's time here was marked by inconsistency: Summer 2018 saw her at 56% with no participation during the school year, and Summer 2019 was 36%, again with no participation during the school year. The turning point for her came during spring 2020; Jessica was one of my first calls early on during the lockdown, but her family was playing things pretty safe, and rightfully so. I would check in with her every few weeks to make sure she was keeping up on her fitness (she wasn't) and hoping the time would come where she could come to our park workouts. Finally she got the green light, did a workout with Dillon, Madison, and Makenna at Dorchester,and showed that her version of being "out of shape" was still in really good shape.

"I'll text you tonight Jessica, let you know the location for tomorrow," I said as she walked to her car.

"Tomorrow?" she asked."You want me to come two days in a row?"

"Every day!"

It only took asking her once, and she was money after that, even showing up at Exchange when I forgot to text her. Over a year later and now she's leaving the Champions Club with workout records, a 150-lb. clean, 21 pull-ups in a row, and an impact on the gym that will last a long time.

Jessica, thank you so much for calling the Champions Club your home for the last 3 years, and especially over the last year and some change; you have truly been a Superstar! I can't wait to see you shine on the college soccer field. See you at Christmas!