CrossFit Athletic Group

Well, seeing as I can’t sleep I thought I’d annoy everyone else in my house by clacking away on the computer. And I couldn’t think of a better thing to address then current events in the Champions Club (which is also most likely the cause of my lack of sleep *sob*). Since I went on junior retreat, I learned that I should let out my feelings and spread my wings. So without further adieu, here is my tribute to the Champions Club graduating class of 2012.

                I’ve already mentioned the events that have brought about the essential demise of Champions Club. Two things have especially struck me. One, as I’m sure you’ve all heard a million times and are sick of, we have a truly amazing community. I won’t bore you with the details but I could go on for days about this program. You all who have actually experienced CrossFit workouts together know there is no simple way to describe how you feel when Mrs. Carey can fully explain the set-up for a deadlift, sharing chocolate milk after workouts, or picking each other off the floor to reveal sweet, sweet sweat angels. I wish everyone could experience this, but under the Invincible Ignorance Theorem they are unwilling to do so. The second, and most pressing matter, is the graduation of our seniors. As of May 20^th, some dark ritual is performed upon you and you are mysteriously no longer part of our family.

                Unfortunately, I have another year in this building that no longer holds anything of relevance to me but asbestos and some of my favorite staff members. I just can’t imagine my day without you guys though. I remember walking into the weight room scared of these guys Jack and Ryan who I couldn’t really tell apart because they always seemed to be together. Now I giggle to myself that I was ever afraid of you. Ryan, you’ve become my competition partner and we’ll get to hang out when ESPN films us for the Games. Of course I couldn’t mention these two without Mikey. The Petersons have been one of the “building families” of CrossFit since day one. But I’m going in order so I have to mention Pip, VomBom, and Mackenzie before I take note of your additions. Pip I’m still not sure if you’re entirely human so I’m not sure how you worked out with us in the first place because it was probably a liability issue… Still, we all followed your wrestling career the way dogs follow (and then attack) Nicole Murley (mentioned below).  VomBom you have had one of the most transforming CrossFit experiences; although I’m sure us girls have made you feel beyond awkward almost every day. It’s even more of a testament then that you kept coming back. Mackenzie, Mackenzie, what do I say about you? Every workout you and I did should have been narrated by Morgan Freeman and shown in slow motion. Even though you beat me in Fran, you’re still a cool cat and make me push myself harder than I have ever imagined I could. Max Aleshire is another old school member. Max was Chris’s first evidence that if you don’t socialize during the warm-up you get way better WOD times. After the first summer ended we finally got some GIRLS (we have since taken over the program). Marian Catalan, who not only is a freak, has proved to be a perfect St. Anne’s kid. Feel free to read into that haha. But in my opinion, Marian is the best runner I have ever had the privilege to run with-that means a lot because I said running was privilege by the way. Jackie Sanocki often frequented the 7^th hour session with Marian, so I have to mention you here. Jackie, you are proof that peer pressure is a good thing! Aly and Christina finally succumbed to the pressure as well thanks to what we call “friendly intimidation”. You guys have become fixtures in the weight room as of late. I was friends with you before CrossFit, but we now have so much more to talk about since our social lives have all dwindled (see Sinagoga Syndrome)! Obviously, I’m biased about these last two because I spend the most time with them. Sydni and Nicole, I have learned so much from you. You both emulate qualities that are imperative not just in workouts, but in everyday crap as well. Sydni, I don’t know what it is about you but I can seriously tell you anything. Nicole, you are an athlete I aspire to be someday. Seriously, your stamina is better than the Harry Potter movies. Your form and ethic stays great until the end. This is as mushy as football players’ abs, but I know I can forever look back on this past year with fondness because of you two. I don’t think we ever would have been this close without this program, and I think that sums up the beauty of Champions Club.

                Even though some of you aren’t as involved as you used to be, you’re always a part of Champions Club. We make bonds that aren’t easily broken. When you go out and make us proud we will be the ones constantly bragging about you, so don’t forget to stay in touch. All of Champions Club gets to be proud mamas of you 13. Of course we feel like we had a hand in raising you, even though we probably largely decreased your maturity level. To those of you that have drunk the Kool-Aid and continue to do so, no pain face now. Keep your heads up but don’t chicken neck. Join the moms and keep coming to sessions, if you’re too far away, come back for the summer. Heck, be that weird kid that brings a medicine ball to college. I have a strange wish that reality would be like High School Musical or Saved by the Bell so you guys could be in high school for a shady number of years, and we’d all ignore the facial hair and spouse. But since this can’t happen and would probably be creepy, all I can say is that we love you. Even Chris.

Prom 2012

Back row: Aly B, Abby (jr.), Emma (jr.), Sydni, Murley, Christina, Jackie, Marian

Front row: Cap'n Jack, Pip, Mikey, Ryan