Coach Kevin Cherrick
I began CrossFitting in August 2006 and haven’t looked back. I have seen CrossFit change lives. I believe that CrossFit has the potential to reverse the growing obesity epidemic in America (in fact, around the world as there are 1300 CrossFit affiliates world wide).
I grew up in Washington, Texas, Connecticut and Florida before finally graduating high school back in Tacoma, WA. Like many of you, sports were a big part of my youth, playing baseball, soccer and 12 seasons of swim team before settling down to high school football, weightlifting and lacrosse.
I played football and lacrosse at Washington University in St. Louis where I graduated with a double major in Finance and Marketing. I started my career in Phoenix and always kept my workouts steady, but I had lost sight of my goal and how to achieve it. Because I was no longer competing in an organized sport, I didn’t have a coach giving me my workout and telling me what to do. More to the point, I didn’t need to be as strong or as heavy as I was in college but I still wanted to stay in shape.
After 10 years of the same types of workouts (Mondays and Thursdays, chest and arms, Tuesdays/Fridays, legs and back) I was bored but didn’t know what else I should do. That’s when a friend told me about CrossFit. I spent days reading crossfit.com and everything clicked. This is what I was looking for. A broad, general and inclusive fitness, a way to measure my progress, and, most of all, variety! I loved how each day was radically different than the day before it and I loved how quickly I was done! No more 90 minute weightlifting sessions.
Since opening Cactus CrossFit in November 2008, it has been a privilege to see our athlete’s hard work pay off in the changes they see in the mirror, their ever improving performances, and in the community they have created.
Kevin is available for Private Coaching. Email Kevin@CactusCrossFit.com to schedule.
Coach Michael Bann
I began CrossFitting in January of 2010, after recovering from a back injury and CrossFit has strengthened my back beyond what any other program ever did (you could say CrossFit was my physical therapy). I began my training under multiple doctors of physical therapy who doubled as CrossFit coaches and started coaching for them which further enhanced my love for human movement.
That passion then led me a year later to train under Lisa Ray and the coaching staff at CrossFit Flagstaff. I have seen CrossFit save lives, not just change them, by giving people their youth back. No longer is this modality of training just for athletes but for anyone looking to have fantastic results within fitness and life. I firmly believe that appearance is the consequence of fitness, and if you are fit you will not only feel great but look great.
In my free time I love to dance in many styles from ballroom to latin and recently even began training in hip hop and swing, though with a double major and a minor at ASU I find myself lacking much free time. Once graduating from ASU I plan to pursue my Doctor of Physical Therapy and continue my life long pursuit of helping others reach their goals in not just fitness but health and wellness.
Michael is available for Private Coaching. Please email info@cactuscrossfit.com to schedule.
Coach Amanda Houser
I found CrossFit through a personal trainer whom I worked with for a year before walking through the doors at Cactus CrossFit in September 2009. I’ll admit, I was intimidated by the idea of working out in ‘a box’. But I had to try it, I’d heard so much about CrossFit. Within a few workouts, I was hooked! I was able to push myself so much harder in a group setting than in working one on one, and the community feeling is impossible to describe! Training in an environment where you have a coach watching and available the whole time allows me to focus on pushing hard, knowing my coach will watch my form and help me correct if I start screwing up!
After a few years as an athlete, I got CrossFit certified and I love coaching the CF Grit classes! Grit is a program we design that emphasizes longer conditioning workouts for those athletes who love the feeling of being absolutely toasted!
Coach Jenna Houser
Ugh, how do I describe my feelings about CrossFit? I love it, I hate it, I can’t get away from it. The workouts, the coaching, and the community are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and I love being able to help others find themselves in CrossFit the way I did.
While I don’t consider myself competitive, I do enjoy competing in CrossFit competitions. They are so much fun, and everyone, strangers and friends alike, are always so supportive! After a competition, I’m always motivated to keep training hard! Make no mistake, CrossFit is hard work, but results will come for anyone who is willing to commit to the program!
Coach Jon Ruskin
