Clean & Jerk: 73kg
Snatch: 59kg
Back Squat: 220lbs
Front Squat: 180lbs
USAW Level 1
USAW for Sport Performance
USAW LWC Referee
American Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid Certified
I grew up playing soccer the moment I could walk and then began swimming competitively around 8 years old. During high school, I suffered 2 major injuries that took me out of sports and another one in my first year of college. Even when I couldn't play sports I loved going to the gym and that helped me get back into soccer to play my 2nd year of college. That was a tough moment for me because I wasn't the same player I once was, and the environment wasn't for me. After that, I continued going to a commercial gym but I still struggled. I miss the competitive edge and the community you get from sports. By Dec. 2017 I signed up for my first CrossFit class. I won't lie I was very nervous but after my first month and meeting so many wonderful people, I was hooked! After a few years, I transitioned into just weightlifting. In 2020, I competed in my first mock-meet and even though I struggled with lifting in front of everyone, I wanted to keep getting better. Every competition after that I grew more and more confident, and I would always learn something new. These are some of my most cherished memories and they make me who I am today! In the summer of 2021, I started my training, to coach, under our Head Weightlifting Coach - Sam Axten. I absolutely love coaching Weightlifting and watching all our athletes grow both physically and mentally.
Two battles that go hand in hand are imposter syndrome and confidence. “I’m not good enough/I will never be good enough or I’m not smart enough/I will never be able to do this”. We all have the inner thoughts that try to bring us down, but it is always important to keep taking one step at a time. That’s why I fell in love with weightlifting, it forced me to make a choice. At my mock-meet, my name was called to lift and I immediately had an anxiety attack. I looked at my couch with tears in my eyes telling him I can’t do this over and over. In weightlifting, you have 1 minute to complete the lift, and he looked at me and said you have to go. That was a major breakthrough for me and the first time I really chose to go against what I kept telling myself. Knowing these thoughts and how powerful they can be has helped me better work with our athletes and help them on their weightlifting journey. I am so proud of every person that has taken a step towards their goals, no matter how big or small that step is.
There is something so special about being able to help others work on their goals and watch them grow. That's what I love about coaching Weightlifting. The best feeling is when you have been working with someone and you see that moment where everything clicks and falls into place. You can just see their eyes light up! I also look forward to speaking with everyone about their day and keeping up with what’s going on outside of the gym. Weightlifting is an outlet in so many different ways and I find it important to understand that every athlete is unique.
