The purpose of The Always Forward CrossFit Academy is to create productive, high- impact athletes within the sport of CrossFit. What makes someone an academy athlete is not their ability to perform at the highest level of the sport. It is rather the desire to improve themselves to the greatest extent possible in order to impact the world around them. The academy will serve athletes who seek to compete in CrossFit at the level of a games athlete and also athletes who wish to be competitive at an intermediate level (The CrossFit Open and Quarterfinals).
Our coaching methodology focuses on person first, then the process of CrossFit sport development. We believe that better people make better athletes. Furthermore we believe that better athletes have the opportunity to create a better world by using their abilities for a purpose larger than themselves. The Always Forward CrossFit Academy will serve individuals who are both “athletes first” and seek to create a career from competitive CrossFit and also “craft athletes” who keep other things in their lives prioritized while developing in the Sport of CrossFit as effectively as possible.
Our coaching methodology focuses on person first, then the process of CrossFit sport development. We believe that better people make better athletes. Furthermore we believe that better athletes have the opportunity to create a better world by using their abilities for a purpose larger than themselves. The Always Forward CrossFit Academy will serve individuals who are both “athletes first” and seek to create a career from competitive CrossFit and also “craft athletes” who keep other things in their lives prioritized while developing in the Sport of CrossFit as effectively as possible.
Pursue Co is the official sponsor of the AFCA and it’s athletes.
ALWAYS FORWARD CROSSFIT ACADEMY ATHLETES
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B R O O K L Y N Z A B L O C K IBrooklyn, 22, is a Pursue Athlete who is committed to living a healthy lifestyle, in and out of the gym. Brooklyn is a recent graduate from Carson-Newman University with a Bachelors of Exercise Science. Her commitment to health and fitness led her to getting her CrossFit L2 certification in 2021.
Brooklyn started training at a local CrossFit box five years ago after playing competitive tennis for many years. What once started out as a way to work out, eventually turned into her qualifying for the CrossFit Quarter Finals. Brooklyn now trains to compete locally and at an RX level. Her drive for the sport comes from the fact it is always evolving and constantly varied. Not only that, there is always room to improve. CrossFit has driven Brooklyn to live a healthy lifestyle in and out of the gym. The sport not only has pushed her physically, but has shown her what she is able of accomplishing. Brooklyn wants to be remembered for motivating others to reach their goals and to inspire others to persevere through all areas of lives. |
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D A V I D B U R T O NWhen David is not in the gym, he is likely found somewhere outside hiking or camping.
David has been doing CrossFit for about three years. Besides CrossFit he didn't have a whole lot of experience in other sports. He played baseball until he was 12 years old, did a bit of martial arts for a few months and took ballet classes for about two years. He was never particularly interested in sports such as football, basketball, and soccer. He started CrossFit in late 2018 at Mossy Creek Fitness and instantly fell in love with the community, forming his love for the sport just a bit later. David wakes up every morning and strives to be better than he was the day before, as a training partner, a brother, a son, and a friend. In everything he puts his time and effort into he does it to be the best version of himself that he can be. CrossFit as a sport is something that he can go into and not only push himself to be better but can also help encourage others to be better as well, and that is something that he will always go back for. Long term he wants to compete at the highest level possible in this sport while continuing to do everything he can to help the community around Mossy Creek Fitness to grow. When it comes down to it he wants to bring an eagerness to people to work for something bigger than themselves. Something that will last for years after they’re gone. David wants to be remembered as someone that encouraged everyone to be better than their yesterday. |
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K E L S E Y G R I F F I T HKelsey is a twenty-year-old Pursue Athlete committed to improving her own health throughout CrossFit but also promoting health and wellness among the community. She does so as both a CrossFit Coach at a local CrossFit box and as a Registered Nurse on a Vascular Kidney Transplant Floor and a Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit.
For Kelsey, CrossFit started four years ago as just another form of exercise; however, she quickly became captivated with developing within the sport of CrossFit. Her goal is to become a competitive athlete at the intermediate level within the CrossFit Open, Quarter Finals, and local competitions. What attracts her most to this sport is the challenge it provides of identifying one’s individual weaknesses and focusing on improving these areas to become a well-rounded athlete. She has found that developing the qualities and character traits this requires within the sport has challenged her to become a more well-rounded and sharpened individual outside of the gym as well. Kelsey wants to be remembered for motivating and inspiring those around her to live out their life with vitality. |
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M I C H A E L C O R N E T TMichael Cornett is 31 years old and has served in the United States Air Force for almost eleven years and is currently still serving. Michael has been a personal trainer for over ten years and strength and conditioning coach for a little over five years. He played football, basketball, and baseball when he was young and continued into high school as well as running track. Michael had the chance to play in college but chose to pursue a military career instead. Bodybuilding and powerlifting are also some sports he did in college and into adulthood. Powerlifting lead him to win a couple of competitions.
He + his wife began their CrossFit journey two years ago. They were looking for a different way to train than what they had been doing for so many years. This seemed like a great opportunity to be able to push their bodies to another level and show them what they could accomplish. He + his wife attended classes where some movements were familiar while others pushed them out of their comfort zone. After gaining confidence in the classes, he wanted to learn and challenge himself more. So, Mike reached out to some of the coaches about being part of the Always Forward academy. Mike says that being involved in this has pushed his body to new, challenging limits that he didn’t know were possible. A bonus has been the powerful sense of community they have experienced at MCF. Michaels goal for CrossFit is to stay healthy and strong for the rest of his life. He's realized that if he sets his mind to accomplish certain movements and push himself to different capacities, that it is possible. Michael wants to be remembered for his passion for serving others around him inside and outside of the gym. |
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B R Y C E C H A M B E R SBryce is a twenty-two year old Pursue Athlete. Bryce's ambition for CrossFit is derived from the constant battle to build a better him. And is committed to use his experience and knowledge to help lead others to becoming healthier, better people. Bryce actively ensues this lifestyle through his role as a CrossFit coach and Personal Trainer at a local CrossFit box.
Bryce's CrossFit journey is still fairly new, only beginning a little over a year and half ago. Having done prior endurance training, strength training, and competing in OCR racing; CrossFit was right up his alley. Bryce says that what draws him most to CrossFit is the constant variation of exercise modalities. In his words, "CrossFit is one of the most direct ways to face adversity head to head. Overcoming obstacles that exercise throws at you ultimately better suits you to be able to address and overcome the adversity and challenges of day to day life." Bryce's goals in CrossFit are to compete as a Games level athlete, but will tell you that he just wants to be the best that he can. Bryce wants to be known for inspiring others through having a relentless work ethic while always remaining positive and spreading love. |
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L E A H B E L C H E RLeah grew up in Jefferson City and attended college at Carson Newman University, receiving her Bachelors of Arts in communications. Leah is a social media marketer and graphic designer at several local businesses in Jefferson City. While most of her jobs require her to be online, she is mostly just passionate about people. She thrives on finding ways to connect people to one another through whatever means available, digital + physical.
Leah began attending a local CrossFit box nearing the end of college. She played soccer and ran long distance through her teen years and most of college. Her junior year of college she developed an IT Band injury. Unable to run, her roommates introduced her to CrossFit. While intimidated at first, she quickly fell in love with the community and vibe of a CrossFit class. The infinitely scaleable nature of CrossFit produced a unique ability for people of all fitness ranges to join together to prove to themselves that they were capable of doing hard things - instilling this idea of “forward together” into her. Leah enjoys competing locally in the intermediate division + thrives in team comps. She hopes to continue to develop as a competitive intermediate athlete locally. Leah wants to be remembered for bringing joy and light to the people around her by reminding people of who they are and the purpose they bring to this life. |
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P H I L R H O D E SFirst and foremost Phil is a father of four smart, beautiful, playful young children. He enjoys using fitness to play with them most days and other days being outdoors either climbing, biking, hiking, camping or boating.
Phil loves to coach CrossFit because of the changes he sees in others and helping them understand the value of health. Phil has a background in soccer, basketball, wrestling. Phil does CrossFit to be able to run, jump, and crawl into any adventure with his children while competing and challenging himself. Phil wants to be remembered for how he treated others with love and respect, regardless of how they treat him. |
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E T H A N G R I F F I T HEthan is 18 years old and is going into his 4th year of CrossFit. He was born and raised in Jefferson County and has been going to Mossy Creek Fitness since day one.
Ethan is currently a college student and attending Walter State for one more year before he transfers to Tennessee tech. He have been doing sports for as long as he can remember and has played football, basketball, soccer, and baseball, growing up which have allowed him to transition into the athletic side of CrossFit very well. Ethan plans on qualifying for the CrossFit games in 2024 and want to stay competitive in the sport for as long as his body allows. He loves competing and hopes to make it a full time career. While he's training for the CrossFit games he will also be getting a degree in electrical engineering at Tennessee tech. Ethan wants to be remembered as someone who strives to be the best at whatever they put their mind too and encourages others to also be a better version of themselves. |
