ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

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Athlete of the Month: January 2020

  Manny Jose, January’s athlete of the month, really sets the bar for all other CrossFit 718 members.  Since joining in October 2016, he’s gotten stronger and made tons (kilos?) of new friends. He always lifts their spirits during…

Athlete of the Month: December 2019

Jorge Taveras A little over a year ago, Jorge Taveras’s primary care doctor called him with some unsettling test results. On top of a case of bronchitis, he was diagnosed with high blood pressure, hepatic steatosis (fatty liver), and pre-diabetes.…

Athlete of the Month: November 2019 

Jeff Ball  As this month marks our ninth anniversary, it seems only appropriate to recognize one of our most loyal, longstanding members: Jeff Ball. Jeff has been with CrossFit 718 since before the box technically existed. One of Coach Israel’s…

Athlete of the Month: October 2019

Cheryl Zienkiewicz When she first joined CrossFit 718 in 2016, Cheryl Zienkiewicz hoped to just get through a WOD without passing out... But we could tell she was a badass from the get-go. Not only did Cheryl continue to WOD all throughout…

Athlete of the Month: September 2019 

Alex Gitlin  Seven years ago, Alex Gitlin was playing hockey and dutifully cycling through the same two-hour workouts over and over again. He was in good shape, but his mind and body were restless. Per the recommendation of a friend, he dropped…

Athlete of the Month: August 2019

Crystal Mettel  Crystal initially got into CrossFit for the guys. (Hey, she was single and 24 years old!) Access to a large pool of in-shape dudes was worth the burpees and wall balls. And guess what? It worked! She met her now-husband, Tommy,…

Athlete of the Month: July 2019

Chris Vivion For Chris Vivion, CrossFit isn’t just the most effective workout he’s ever done, it’s a family affair…and a business one, too. He regularly hits the box with Jess, his wife, and their two year-old son. And his 9 a.m. WODs…

Athlete of the Month: May 2019

Patrick Uliano  Patrick "Patty" Uliano is no stranger to the weight room. Before starting CrossFit over six years ago, he was a dedicated bodybuilder. But over time, he stopped seeing the results he wanted. His body may have adapted to the…

Athlete of the Month: April 2019 

Lindsey Conon Six years ago, Linsdey Conon was searching for a more efficient way to work out. Separate “lifting” and “cardio” days didn’t fit in her busy schedule, so she was happy to discover CrossFit. Considering she’s managed…

Athlete of the Month: March 2019 

Kevin Smith  Back in 2014, Kevin Smith discovered CrossFit through ESPN’s broadcast of the Games. The intensity of the WODs and the athletes’ skill level made a lasting impression, and he began researching nearby boxes. Little did he know…

Athlete of the Month: February 2019

Michaela D’Onofrio  If you happened to read our 2018 year in review, Michaela D’Onofrio’s name probably looks familiar. She topped the leaderboard for the most PRs: an impressive 114! And, of all of CrossFit 718’s female athletes,…

Athlete of the Month – January 2019

Jason Tabick  Jason Tabick knows firsthand that a LOT can change in just three years. Since joining CrossFit 718 in September 2015, he’s set new PRs, opened a family business, and married a fellow CrossFitter (yes, they met at the box!).…

Athlete of the Month: December 2018

Joe Burkard Sometimes you have to do something a little crazy to change your life for the better – just ask Joe Burkard. He’d heard people compare CrossFit to an addiction or cult, but he was willing to take the risk if it meant getting…


Athlete of the Month: November 2018

Steven Nelson After a serious illness put exercise and competitive sports on the backburner, Steven Nelson struggled with getting active again and eating right. He knew he needed to make a change, so, shortly after his wife completed the New…

Athlete of the Month: October 2018

Leslie Grisdale  An avid runner, Leslie Grisdale used to jog past CrossFit 718’s open garage door and wonder what was up with all the crazy people throwing medicine balls and swinging kettlebells. Ten months ago, her curiosity got the best…

Athlete of the Month: September 2018

Hollie Harper You may remember Hollie Harper from this inspiring essay she wrote about her CrossFit experience and the importance of making time for oneself. Let us assure you that Hollie doesn’t just write about tackling new challenges and…

Athlete of the Month: August 2018

Katie Mountain For Katie Mountain, CrossFit is a family affair. Her brother owns an affiliate and has always encouraged her to join a box. But it took a cross-country move to inspire her to finally trade in her living room workouts for functional…
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Athlete of the Month – July 2018

Stephanie Lowenthal  When most people are hitting the snooze button for the second time, chances are Stephanie Lowenthal is already in the middle of a set of unbroken butterfly pull-ups. It’s a skill she’s worked hard to achieve in her…

Athlete of the Month – June 2018

Aimee Huang Before joining CrossFit 718 in January of 2016, Aimee Huang was a self-professed “gym hopper.” She knew what she wanted in terms of her health, but she struggled to stay motivated in a typical gym environment. So she jumped…

Athlete of the Month – April 2018 

Fatima Wehidy Fatima Wehidy came to CrossFit 718 looking for a new type of workout and some built-in accountability. She’d never tried CrossFit (or even touched a barbell), so she started from scratch, developing new skills and tracking her…

Athlete of the Month: March 2018

Ben Schaffzin This is a big month for Ben Schaffzin. Not only is he March’s featured athlete of the month, but he’s also turning 18! We’ve known Ben since he was an athlete in our CrossFit Kids class, and it’s been a pleasure to watch…