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   Ever since I can remember, my parents encouraged me and my brother to play sports, eat healthy and push our physical limits. The first time I watched Batman I dropped down and starting doing sit ups. I wanted my abdominals to look just as good as the bat suit. My dad would coach me to do more by using reverse psychology, "You can't do it, you can't do it!" He would pay me $1 for every 100 sit ups. Many nights I would walk away with $3 to $5. He also encouraged healthy eating along with eating everything on my plate including my vegetables. He would say, "Arnold eats his veggies Travis." So I would too.

My mom and dad often jokingly debated whose athletic attributes my brother and I received. My mom played multiple sports from soccer to softball and everything in between. My dad mainly played football and baseball growing up. All bets were settled one day at the baseball fields when my mom kept asking my coach if she could hit. From the outfield I yelled to my step dad, "Let her hit coach, she'll just strike out!" So she grabbed a bat and stepped up to the plate. Waited for her pitch,...swung hard...and SMACK! My mom hit a home run over my head! Now my brother and I thank her for our athleticism. (sorry dad) 

No matter what sports we played my parents were always there. In 2003, they were there when I needed them the most. It was my senior year during football season. At the time, I lived for the Friday night lights. My passion was receiving the kick-offs and trying to make my way for a touchdown. There was no better joy for me than scoring a touchdown during those days. We were playing in Dothan, Alabama and it had been raining all day. The kicker for the opposing team kicked a line drive and when I picked up the soaking wet ball all I could think was, "Don't fumble." As I made my way up field I'm hit and players from both sides surround the football. I kept driving my feet as I was told and suddenly the crowd came to stop and we all fell down. With my all my weight planted on my left foot, my knee was twisted as we went down and, "POP, POP!" My knee down was dislocated 180 degrees.

At the hospital it was confirmed that I tore every ligament in my left knee and tore a nerve. This nerve controls the dorsi flexion in my left foot. (The ability to lift your foot.) Right beside the nerve is an artery. If I would have torn the artery, I might not have my left knee and down. I can remember my dad asking the doctor how long it would take to heal so I could get back on the field. The doctor said, "Your son will never walk without a cane."  For me every day is a blessing because I have my leg and the Lord would not put me through something if he didn't think I could make it through.

After 3 major surgeries including two total knee reconstructions I was bound to a cane and a brace that looked like a prosthetic limb. My step mom would walk with me to help make my leg strong. Months past and one day I decided enough was enough and I put down the cane and never picked it up again. I walked into Gold's Gym and started training. I knew nothing about working out. I thought I knew everything because I played sports all my life and lived in the high school gym. However, I did my research and found ways to help my leg like by doing squats, dead lifts, leg extensions, leg curls and leg presses. During this research I decided to get certified in personal training and became a trainer. Two years later my life would again change forever,...

Like most I found CrossFit online while searching for great workouts. I stumbled across these crazy girls doing something called, "Tababta squats." I was hooked! I started doing CrossFit and didn't even know it was CrossFit. A few months later I started a new job as the Assistant Director of Fitness to Brandon Eiff at Wynlakes Golf and Country Club Fitness Center. There I met Joshua Carter and Wesley Hodges. The four of us fell in love with CrossFit and we all decided to get certified. I knew we had found something special, something unique and different and I knew it was going to change the way everyone looked at fitness.

Because of CrossFit I now know how to squat and dead lift properly. (AND that leg extensions and leg curls are stupid!) Among the many more functional movements. I could now run, jump, play sports, lift heavy and feel alive again being a competitor. So much, that I decided to chase a dream I always wanted. My parents were both in the military and I wanted to follow in their footsteps. I wanted to be an Army Ranger. So at AUM I enrolled in Army R.O.T.C. My dream however would be short lived. I was offered many scholarships in the Army R.O.T.C but when it came time for a physical there is no waiver for drop foot the condition I have due to the dead nerve in my left knee. So even though I could run faster, jump higher, lift more than anyone and max out a PT Test I wasn't accepted.

There I was again completely down and out and didn't know what to do. What was I meant to do in this world?

I did what my parents always told me to do. I started praying! A few weeks later I'm the brand new proud owner of a CrossFit box! I believe 100% with my whole heart that this truly is what the Lord planned for me. Every day’s a blessing! And I am forever grateful for HIM, my parents, and friends and family who have been there for me along the way.

The challenges set in front of me led me to where I am, not the triumphs. You don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something because you can! Saying "I can't" will get you TEN burpees in my box. And we may slip or even fall along the way but it’s not how hard you get knocked down, it's how fast you get back up!

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

CrossFit Level 1 Certified

Speciality Certifications: CF Olympic Lifting, CF Endurance, CF Nutrition, CF Basic Barbell, CF Kid's Coaching and CF Mobility (May 20)

Branch D. Kloess

-Branch, as well as his immediate family, have always had a love of sport and exercise.  Branch played competitive tennis throughout the Southeast during his college years and maintained a U.S.T.A. ranking for many years.  An avid runner and gym rat, Branch, an attorney by profession, discovered CrossFit about 4 years ago and has been hooked ever since.  He absolutely loves Box member’s reactions to reaching a goal or a PR.  “…it’s one of the best feelings in the world to be a part of someone’s success, which comes directly from their hard work and determination.”  Branch currently holds the following CrossFit certifications:

-CrossFit Level I Trainer

-Movement and Mobility

-Olympic Lifting

 Look back soon for Tom Clark!