Featured Members - Crossfit ABF

Welcome to our Featured Members page, where we highlight members of our family who make ABF more than just a gym.

This page is brought to you by our partners at Jenkins Law, Valor Fitness, and Massage and Wellness Spa

Jenkins Law is one of the Bay Area’s premier law firms. Their specialties are DUI, traffic violations, and criminal defense. KellyAnn and Jim Jenkins are both avid CrossFitters. Read more about Jenkins Law HERE!

Valor Fitness has an outstanding reputation for quality fitness equipment and great prices. Their home is right here in Tampa Bay and the walk-up prices are fantastic. Get directions or check out their inventory HERE!

Massage And Wellness Spa offers a comprehensive and experienced team of Licensed Massage Therapists, Estheticians, and much more. They have two convenient locations and take great care of the ABF family. Book your appointment HERE!

December 2019

Kelly Scanlon discovered ABF through the 6 Week Challenge. And she hasn’t slowed down. She accomplished the challenge (more on that later) and ultimately decided to stick with us (because we’re so magical). Since then, she’s been a force to be reckoned with and uses classes at the gym as an escape! She even inspired (dragged?) countless friends to try out ABF and drink the kool-aid with her. Kelly looooooves dogs, and she’s got a couple of kids that she adores (as any mother would). She definitely has a huge personality and embraces her red-headed-ness more than even our fearless leader. If you don’t know Kelly, you can find her in the evening CrossFit Classes around 4 to 5 times a week.

Click here for Kelly Scanlon’s MoM WOD.

November 2019

Jeff is one of the original, founding members of Crossfit ABF joining way back in 2015. And boy has he come a long way! When he first started, he really didn’t know much about regular exercise and pretty much stayed attached at the hip with Sarah McCallister. Nowadays, Jeff has found his true calling in Crossfit as an incredibly proficient olympic lifter with particularly impressive technique at the Snatch. Those hips snap Waaaaaaaaaay open real quick. He’s not only a lifter. This guy is fit. He has competed in several competitions from Clearwater Beach Brawl, WOD Wars, New Year’s Revolution and most recently in the Pillage of Palm Harbor.

Click here for Jeff Giere’s MoM WOD.

October 2019

Seth joined the gym during the 2019 Open back in February. Crazy time to join, right? Well, somehow we made a great impression on him and he decided to stay. AND, he loved the gym so much he booked a long-term membership. Now that’s dedication! Seth works as a gaffer on most days. Most recently he worked on productions for the Tampa Bay Lightning. They’re pretty badass! He’s also a husband and a self–proclaimed father of 4 cats. They’re adorable too..especially the little black kitten! Seth has also participated in Half-Marathons, OCR and Spartan races. So it’s safe to say this guy LOVES running.

Click here for Seth Floyd’s MoM WOD.

September 2019

Morgan Potter started CrossFit as a student at Florida State University. After receiving her Level 1 Crossfit Certification, she began coaching at a gym in Tallahassee. After a short while, she left and moved to St. Pete for work. That’s when she graced us with her presence and stole all our hearts.

She joined Crossfit ABF as a coach in early 2018. She started off quiet – timid almost. And everyone wanted to know “Who is this girl with the badass Rogue hair?” It didn’t take long before Morgan drank the unicorn-flavored ABF kool-aid and burst out as the awesome coach we now know and love.

Click here for Morgan Potter’s MoM WOD.

August 2019

Introducing August’s featured Members of the Month powered by: Valor Fitness, Jenkins Law & Massage and Wellness Spa! CrossFit ABF is proud to announce Achilles & Dunkin as our August Featured Members of the Month (with honorable mention to Jillian Usher and Tiffany Sharier). These two have shown determination and fierce will to make a real lifestyle change. They came in as part of the 6 week challenge and didn’t miss a beat. They pushed each other from day one to not only complete the challenge but also make amazing transformations (see photos below). Jillian and Tiffany have been known to bribe the coaches with food, but let’s be honest: We keep them around for ALL THE DOGS. You both are a joy to have at the box, and we love your positive attitudes and passion to get better every day. Congratulate Jillian and Tiffany the next time you drop by a 6am class. (And for the rest of us, hope they come out to a Saturday team WOD to meet us mere mortals that have only seen 6am after a long night).
Click here for Achilles & Dunkin’s MoM WOD.

July 2019

Introducing July’s featured Member of the Month powered by: Valor Fitness, Jenkins Law & Massage and Wellness Spa! CrossFit ABF is proud to announce Brandi Bryant as our July Featured Member of the Month! After spending two years at another gym, Brandi joined ABF on April 28th, 2019. She came in with a banger of a deadlift and at least one Crossfit competition under her belt. Her team, Snatch Sisters, took 11th place at the stacked Novice division of Valor Games last year. She’s certainly a rising star here at ABF and regularly attends the 5:30pm Crossfit class. You don’t want to miss any of her hilarious posts in the ABF members page, AND she’s the genius behind the ABF doggo bandanas your pets have been rockin’. Don’t worry, you can thank her any time.

Click here for Brandi Bryant’s MoM WOD.

June 2019

Joey Wheeler, one of the very first members at ABF, started in November 2015. He joined with Dan as green as could be. Probably hadn’t even touched or seen a barbell in his entire life. And now… he’s the guy running circles around you all while wearing a weight vest. Joey is a pivotal member of the gym and a huge part of the reason the gym is where it is today. He and Dan forced Ryan to run a Groupon and get the word out on how awesome ABF is to the everyday gym-goer. And together, they coordinated to improve upon the Groupon and expand the gym even more.
Joey stayed consistent hitting the box 5 days a week for the better part of the last three years. He pushes himself in workout even when he says he won’t.
Congratulate and celebrate our Member of the Month, Joey Wheeler, with his very….fitting workout. Click here for Joey’s MoM WOD.

May 2019

Brandon “Kaepernick” Gordon has been a staple of the 7:30am class. After earning his nickname due to frequent periods of rest during a workout, he no longer has to take a knee thanks to consistently pushing himself and his fellow athletes. He’s a perfect example of a person dedicated to improving. Click here for Brandon’s MoM WOD and continue to follow his accomplishments.

April 2019

Eliana, affectionately known as “Brown Bear”, embodies the spirit of a true ABF family member. She’s made a permanent mark on our lives and gym since she joined over three years ago. As evidenced by the name, SwansonDottir shares her love for both fitness and family in everything she does.

Click here for Eliana’s MOM WOD and more about what makes her an amazing part of our community.

March 2019

I dare you to tell Pietro he can’t do something. A switch flips in his mind and the pain receptors must shut off completely. He’s one of those rare people who can push themselves past the threshold of discomfort to get that last rep or squeeze in one more calorie – It’s incredible to watch.

Pietro’s frequently putting in two-a-days. He always comes to class early and stays late to work on his mobility. He’s always been strong and stubborn. Now that his technique is catching up, he’s keeping up with the most competitive athletes in the gym. He has a long way to go to reach his highly set goals but he has that stubborn strong will to get himself to the next level.

Take a look at his before and after pictures on social media and it’s easy to see the results he’s achieved.

Click here for Pietro’s MOM WOD and stay tuned for his story.

February 2019

Kylene embodies the true spirit of a go-getter. She always gives her workouts 100%, rarely misses a night of CrossFit and frequently has questions to make sure she’s doing exactly what the coach is asking. Just look for the “lost puppy look” and a hand in the air and you’re sure to find Kylene. She’s become a staple in the evening class and is clearly passionate about her fitness.

Congratulations Kylene on being the February Member of the Month!

Click here for Kylene’s MOM WOD and stay tuned for his story.

January 2019

CrossFit ABF is proud to announce Adam Swindell as our January’s Featured Member of the Month! Adam “flyboy” Swindell (okay maybe that’s not his real nickname but it totally works) has been with us for just over a year. Work moved him to the other coast for a good portion of 2018 but he stayed in shape and came back to ABF stronger than ever. Recently, a freak calf tear put his training on hold for a couple weeks. He found our local PT friend, finished rehab and has come back strong in December. He’s a staple in the noon class and always pushing his workouts as hard as possible.

Congratulations Adam on being the January Member of the Month!

Click here for Adam’s MOM WOD and stay tuned for his story.

December 2018

CrossFit ABF is proud to announce Becca Wehling as our December Featured Member of the Month. Her eyes lit up as she watched the Rx females compete at Clearwater Beach Brawl, and she mustered up an, “I need to get better at this” attitude. Becca has made an amazing commitment to her fitness in November: She’s found an accountability buddy to encourage her to complete the “bitch work” nearly every day in November, she’s taking her nutrition seriously, and her attendance has dramatically improved. She’s joined the rowing club and now actually enjoys rowing!

Congratulations Becca on being the December Member of the Month!

Click here for Becca’s MOM WOD and stay tuned for her story.

November 2018

CrossFit ABF is proud to announce Fawn Le as Novembers Featured Member of the Month. Fawn’s story starts out with a bit of trepidation. Like many others, she started her CrossFit journey with a free trial. She quickly realized CrossFit wasn’t for her and enrolled in our Bootcamp classes. A few month’s later 3-days-a-week Bootcamp turned into CrossFit and Bootcamp 5 days a week. Now Fawn’s and annual member, she participates in all the gym’s events and frequently brings in goodies for her CrossFit buddies. Fawn’s well known as one of our strongest ladies. In addition to her strength, she’s taken on our nutrition club and is showing serious progress keeping a journal of her diet. Click here for Fawn’s MOM WOD and stay tuned for her story.

October 2018

CrossFit ABF is proud to announce AJ De Los Santos as October’s Member of the Month. Since January of 2016, AJ’s been getting faster, stronger and slightly more attentive. AJ wasn’t aware of how strong he was coming into the gym, having a full conversation about how “heavy” the weight was while he was squatting a couple hundred pounds. He’s since made serious progress with technique. Often the subject of what a lift should look like, AJ’s received praise on his form from boxes he’s dropped into while traveling. AJ’s an avid competitor and has truly embraced how CrossFit is changing his life.

Click Here to view AJ’s story and our MOM WOD “AJ”

August 2018

Say hello to the one and only Acro Yogi, CrossFitting Superstar, Member of the Month – Evie! You might’ve noticed her constantly doing hand stands around the ABF floor. Not only is she extremely talented at CrossFit, but… Continue Reading

July 2018

It’s not often that your mother calls your gym to buy you a membership for your birthday. Unless, of course, you’re Stevie Scarlett. A cornerstone of the 6 AM class, Stevie has taken gym dedication to a new level. From daily Bitch Work sessions since she first started to being a “bad influence” on Daria Orlova, Stevie has shown that her positive mindset is a force to be reckoned with. Get to know July’s Member of the Month, Stevie Scarlett.

June 2018

Simply put, Chad Welch is a go-getter.

A member for a little over a year, Chad is relentless about CrossFit-ing five days a week. On top of rigorous hours in the gym, he’s even taken up spinning and has competed in several races with his brother, Chris. There may not be a more passionate person in the gym, either. Just take a look around. Those fans on the wall, the axle bar, rainbow pipes, the wall-ball target and even the cool platform we borrowed from Valor? Be sure to thank Chad for all of it.

If there’s someone that deserves to cement his legacy in CrossFit ABF’s Member of the Month pillar, it’s Chad Welch. Get to know June’s MOM with this quick interview!

May 2018

You don’t have to hang out at CrossFit ABF very long before noticing there are only a couple kinds of apparel brands for our members.

Some wear No Bull Shoes. Most have the – hometown favorite – Unicorn Tee Shirt.

But, are you really a member if you don’t own a shirt with a massive avocado on the front?

April 2018

Step into a 7:30 PM class at CrossFit ABF and you’re likely to hear squeaky screams from Kristel Lugo. Kristel, like several of her 7:30 compatriots, hasn’t been a CrossFit devotee for long, but that hasn’t stopped her from progressing quickly. Continue Reading

March 2018

While most of CrossFit ABF’s athletes are a little too loud at times, you can always count the quiet, steady demeanor of Daria Orlova.

Continue Reading!

February 2018

Member of the Month (MOM) Kaycee Cholak wasn’t looking for a second family, but she found one at CrossFit ABF.

Down the Rabbit Hole…

Kaycee’s journey down the CrossFit rabbit hole began when she realized she wasn’t seeing the results she wanted from weightlifting.

“My first attempt at CrossFit was three years ago,” Kaycee says. “I did a few trial classes at a different box in St. Pete. I liked it, but I couldn’t afford it at the time. ”

January 2018

This month we’re featuring the incredibly active, Chris Welch. Chris is a guy who’s truly dedicated to his fitness. He’s participates in an abundance of activities and challenges himself daily to improve his health. Check out some of the ways Chris is changing his life… Continue Reading

December 2017:

This month we’re featuring the sweet and innocent Sarah Markussen, affectionately known as “Wass”. Sarah is one of our first members and certainly one of the most well known. Give a squeaky, “oh my gosh”, and anyone will know… Read More

November 2017:

This month we’re featuring the one and only, Robert Swanson. Not only did Robert crush our latest nutrition challenge by dropping 11lbs and 2% body fat in just 4 weeks, but he’s a pretty cool guy as well.

You’ll most frequently find Robert at the 6:30 PM class after his afternoon nap. He’s occasionally sleepy but… Read More