Hey guys! I’m Joe – a local Baltimore and MD native my entire life. I grew up in the Fallston/ Forest Hill area and then went to Calvert Hall for High School (with Tommy). After high school, I went to Salisbury University where I played on the Men’s Lacrosse team and majored in Finance with a Biology minor. I currently work in medical device sales and sell the clinical application of the daVinci surgical robot in local hospitals in the area (Northwest, Sinai, BWMC, Anne Arundel, & Doctors Community). Outside of work, I love playing sports, hunting, or being on a beach.
What led you to try CrossFit?
I had always been interested in the sport of CrossFit and had a few friends that were members of local gyms in the area. I’d stop in occasionally, for partner workouts or drop-ins and always loved it. But my first visit to Titan was on a total whim! I remember being at Brick Bodies in late May of 2024 for my 3rd run/lift of the week and just having zero desire to do another day of the same thing. I was mentally burnt out from the commercial gym scene, so I looked up local CrossFit gyms, grabbed my bag and sprinted over to Titan for Friday at 6:30pm class with Lacee. One workout was all it took; I signed up the following week!
Why do you continue to CrossFit?
I absolutely love the challenge of CrossFit! It’s a sport that takes years to master and even then, you still have to put in the work just to maintain the skills. You can’t just be good at cardio or be a great lifter, you have to be a well rounded athlete to be competitive in the sport. CrossFit has also had a major impact on my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which I consider to be my main sport. The combination of being more explosive and in better cardio shape has really allowed me to be a better BJJ athlete as well.
Describe how your attitude towards health and fitness has evolved since you began your journey.
Since joining Titan, my attitude towards fitness has drastically changed. Fitness has always been a large piece of my life, but after college I found myself having to chase an event (BJJ competition, triathlon, or running event) just to get serious about diet/ training. I lacked that consistency that we all know makes you a better athlete. Joining Titan gave me a daily reason to eat well, train hard, and be consistent.
Share a memorable CrossFit moment that makes you laugh or puts a smile on your face.
There have been a bunch of moments since starting CrossFit that put a smile on my face. I have two that come to mind immediately! The first was last year when I was trying to learn muscle-ups (still learning lol) and Aaron was checking in on my progress each time I was in the gym. I was in the back one day and he asked how they were coming along, I said “I’m so close to getting it”, to which Aaron replied, “close doesn’t mean s**t”. Next try, I got as high as I could, rolled over the bar, held myself there in a muscle up position and started chirping right back at him! Sometimes you just need some healthy encouragement!
The second time was the Hyrox event that a bunch of us did in DC! It was awesome to see so many of us competing and supporting each other at a big event. There was even a group of Titans that came down just to watch and support, which is a testament to the great community we have here.
What are you proud of and why?
One of my proudest achievements was my progress throughout this past summer’s Olympic Weightlifting class with Coach Spin & Coach Nicole. My 1RMs when I started the class were a 115lb snatch and a 170lb clean. I did my best to make as many classes as possible and was consistent with my homework throughout the 8 weeks. At the end of the program, I was able to hit a 160lb snatch and a 220lb clean! Wouldn’t have been possible without their patience and awesome coaching.
What's your advice for other CrossFitters or people looking to start?
The hardest part is getting started! Show up, have fun, and get 1% better each day.
Why the coaches chose Joe as Titan of the month:
Joe has clearly been an athlete his whole life. He’s welcoming, approachable, kind, inquisitive, and hard working. While all of these traits are fabulous, these are not why Joe stands out as Titan of the month. He has an excellent attitude and approaches fitness as a puzzle to be solved. He is always learning, practicing and asking questions, looking for opportunities to grow.
Joe came to us as a skilled Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athlete. He took the Olympic Lifting strength class to focus on his technique and improve his Olympic lifting. He is determined and committed to mastering new movements, and truly enjoys the journey of fitness. He appreciates every skill he conquers before moving onto the next one. The effort and consistent dedication he's put in over the past year has led him to be stronger, faster, more mobile, and an even better athlete than when he started. Joe has led by example and taught all of us what’s possible when you don’t stress about where you are and instead look to where you can go. You tackle what you can, when you can. Eventually the pieces come together. Enjoy the process. Thank you Joe for being part of our community.
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