Milwaukee's longest-standing gym, since 2010.

My earliest coaching experience started in the late 90’s when I coached youth soccer. In 2004 I became a wrestling coach for my high school alma mater in Rhode Island, where I found great pride in supporting the students through their athletic development. In 2011, a professional career opportunity brought me to Florida. Without the surroundings of my peers, I found new physical disciplines in long distance running. Training for marathons exposed me to new mental challenges along with the importance of a healthy diet.

Further advancements in my professional career brought me to Milwaukee, where I found Cream City CrossFit. I was immediately met with a camaraderie between the gym members that brought me back to the team sports in my youth. Further enhanced by the talents of CCCF Coaches, I knew CrossFit would be the conduit to a healthier and happier life. Having others push and support you to dig deeper and perform to the best of your ability was a feeling I long forgotten.

In 2023, I acquired my Level 1 Trainer certification to grow my abilities as an athlete and support the CCCF community that provided such a positive influence on my life.

Physical Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy – University of Wisconsin–Madison Bachelors of Science in Exercise Physiology – Marquette University For services, clinic hours, to schedule an appointment, or other information, visit

Website: crossphysio.com CrossPhysio on Instagram: @crossphysio

I started working out consistently in 2007, and it has been a staple in my life ever since. After organized sports, I continued to exercise, predominately by myself which was not only boring but it led to me developing bad habits that I never realized I had. With the help of the outstanding coaches at Cream City CrossFit I have been able to improve upon those habits and work out more efficiently, safely, and pain-free, all while being challenged to constantly improve.

Cream City does more than teach people how to move well. The gym is a Co-Op and with that brings a sense of community that I think is unmatched by other gyms. As a coach, I strive to help people experience the same positive impact that CrossFit has had on my life.

I started CrossFit in 2017 after my now—husband (Coach Nick) told me that I had spaghetti noodles for arms. During the On-Ramp, the only goal I wrote down was to do one single push-up. Prior to CrossFit, I was a long-distance runner so the only “workout” I knew was solo running. I immediately enjoyed the camaraderie and atmosphere of the classes and the opportunity to push myself outside of my comfort zone physically and mentally on a daily basis… And now I can do more than one push-up!

My favorite thing about Cream City CrossFit is the members and coaches. The sense of community in our gym truly is one of a kind. Since we are a co-op, we really are a gym for the people, and that makes us so special.

I am grateful for the opportunity to coach at Cream City. I hope I can always have a positive impact on our members and help them succeed.

I’ve been doing CrossFit since the early days, and I’m still here because I believe in what it can do for people. For me, CrossFit isn’t about chasing high volume or doing the biggest, sexiest movements just because we can. It’s about getting stronger, moving well, building fitness, and staying capable for as long as possible.

As a coach, I believe anybody can do CrossFit. I like to meet athletes where they are and help them build from there. I put a lot of emphasis on the basics, sound mechanics, and thoughtful progressions. Skip the fundamentals and jump straight to the flashy stuff, and you’re missing the foundation that makes everything else possible.

What I love most about coaching is getting to know the people who walk through our doors and being part of their health and fitness journey. CrossFit has a way of building something that goes far beyond the gym. I’ve watched people become stronger and more confident in ways that show up in the rest of their lives, and honestly, that’s my favorite part.

I’m also a behavior change, mindset, and nutrition coach. I believe one of the biggest things that gets in the way of reaching our goals isn’t knowing what to do. It’s the mental roadblocks and all or nothing thinking that can keep us stuck. My coaching helps people work through those things, recognize the progress they’re making, build confidence in themselves, and keep moving toward becoming the strongest, healthiest version of themselves.

Owner/Coach-in-progress Bar Time Weightlifting Fitness/CrossFit consultant local universities and colleges Reflexive Performance Reset Certified Clinical Athlete Weightlifting Certification USA Weightlifting Level 1 Sports Performance Coach USA Weightlifting Level II Advanced Sports Performance Coach Pendlay Weightlifting Level I and II Attitude Nation Level 1 Weightlifting Strength Specific Weightlifting Bronze Level CrossFit Powerlifting Certification CrossFit Football Certification CrossFit Movement and Mobility Certification CrossFit Olympic Lifting Certification CrossFit Running/Endurance Level I Trainer USAW Club Coach 2 Years Gymnastics Coaching Experience Karate Black Belt Competitive Swimmer/Diver (High School) Ryan has been involved in athletics and training since childhood. He started playing traditional sports like baseball and basketball until he discovered his passion for martial arts when he was 12 years old. He studied Tae Kwon Do and Karate throughout his teenage years, gaining a black belt in the latter by the time he was 18.

During his days at UW-Madison, he would study other arts: Aikido, Kendo, and Ninjitsu, but his passion was reignited when he was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. After graduating, he would later study western boxing and wrestling. In 1997, he competed in his first UFC-style competition and took his division, winning three fights in the same day. Ryan had his last fight in 2001 and maintained a winning record during those years. Knee problems later hindered his efforts to reenter the sport. In 2002, a friend suggested he turn to Olympic Weightlifting to stay in shape. A cursory Internet search on the subject led him to CrossFit and he was soon hooked, both to the workouts and to the web community.

​Ryan’s main goal is to use the tools he has learned to empower the lives of others, whether it be in their daily lives around the house, on the battlefields of foreign

lands, in our city streets upholding the law, or in the pursuit of victory in athletic competition. Over the years he has worked with a broad range of clients including world class endurance athletes, national level UFC/MMA fighters, firefighters/fire science students, soldiers, law-enforcement personnel, high school/collegiate athletes, children and grandparents.

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Current Olympic Lifting competitor, WI State record holder for snatch (M40-44, 105kg) 2016 Pan Am Masters 3rd place finisher Former MMA fighter with winning record Author of fitness-related articles in both CrossFit Kids Magazine and the Performance Menu online magazines (2007-2012)

In 2018, after many years of lifting to get stronger, and running to run faster, with no real purpose or goal, I was pushed towards CrossFit by a friend. At first I truly didn’t understand the methodology, and the “why” behind any of what I then would have called madness. After a 1 short month, I stopped and went back to my normal regiment. A year later I gave it another go, and before I knew it, going to CrossFit class after my full school day of being a teacher 4 days a week.

Then good old COVID tried to wedge its way into the steady progress I was making as an athlete gearing up to do my first CrossFit open. Thankfully I made good connections at the gym and got to continue my training, and since I had an abundance of free time on my hands, that was the year I took CrossFit from a way to stay fit, to setting goals to push heavier weights, be able to do all movements, and crush any and all Wods possible. The year is now 2021 and I loved CrossFit and everything about it, so I decided to take the L1 course to increase my knowledge of CrossFit, and potentially coach after getting it.

My coaching journey started in December of 2021. I coached twice a week after a full school day for about a year, and continued to coach once a week on top of training for my personal goals. I have since taken CrossFit’s Scaling course, and Programming course to continue my knowledge. I am beyond excited to bring my competitive knowledge, love of CrossFit and goal setting to the Cream City community to only help people hit their goals, and their CrossFit stride.

Growing up as a lifelong athlete, I focused primarily on hockey but also participated in a variety of sports. My passion for physical fitness began in high school, where the weight room became a central part of my routine. However, it wasn’t until my first deployment with the U.S. Air Force that I truly committed to strength training. Stationed in Afghanistan, with limited recreational options beyond work, I found solace in the gym. It was there that I was introduced to CrossFit by a group of Army personnel. While I dabbled in a few WODs, my focus at the time remained on traditional weightlifting.

In 2012, I revisited CrossFit and discovered a deeper appreciation for its intensity and community-driven approach. Since then, I’ve fully embraced the discipline, making it an integral part of my fitness journey. CrossFit has not only enhanced my physical capabilities but also reinforced the mental toughness cultivated through years of competitive sports and military service. Today, it remains a cornerstone of my active lifestyle, embodying the values of perseverance and continuous improvement.

I’ve been a dedicated member of the Cream City CrossFit community since May 2022, joining right before the gym’s big move to our current location. A Bay View resident who grew up in Shorewood, you’ll find me bouncing between morning and evening classes throughout the week, but I’m a guaranteed fixture at Saturday sessions.

My journey to CrossFit began during my high school days as a cross country and track runner. It was during an off-season that fate introduced me to weight lifting and the illustrious barbell. CrossFit became the perfect blend of all my athletic loves: cardio, barbells, and community! There’s nothing like the welcoming and inviting community we’ve built here, and I’m thrilled to come back to it (nearly) every day.

My coaching philosophy centers on consistency and proper scaling. My advice to beginners reflects my own journey: Keep showing up! Scaling is incredibly normal. I attribute a lot of my own success and progress to scaling appropriately, which allowed me to focus on the movements and keep showing up.

My goal is straightforward: to continue growing as a coach with each and every class I lead.

In 2014 I decided to do a Tough Mudder and I felt the best way to prepare for this event would be through CrossFit training. I checked out a few gyms and immediately knew Cream City CrossFit was for me. I decided to join the team because I wanted new members to feel comfortable and I wanted to teach them how to move properly, motivate them to want more, and continue to do their best. I continue to learn everyday and I’m happy to be a CCCF on this journey.

I have been a member at CCCF since 2018 and over the past 7+ years this gym has become a huge part of my life. With the support of the community, coaches, and volunteer board of directors, I have become an Olympic Weightlifting coach, competed in weightlifting, CrossFit, and strongman, learned about nutrition, and most importantly I’ve gained the strength and confidence to try new sports and activities as often as possible.

At CCCF you’ll see me coaching Olympic Weightlifting along with Coach Ryan, in the occasional CrossFit class, and in open gym time training with specialty strongman equipment.

200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (Yoga Alliance-Registered) Fluent in Spanish Cream City CrossFit is more than just another gym. It is a community of people dedicated to fitness. This is what has kept me motivated to continue working out. It is never boring and always challenging! The members are friendly and supportive, and the coaches are attentive and helpful.

Since joining CrossFit in 2013, I am most proud of gaining my Level 1 CF Certification. By coaching CrossFit, I can help members achieve their personal fitness goals. Through CrossFit, athletes learn more about their own strengths and weaknesses. CrossFit is adaptable to every athlete and scalable to every level of fitness.

In 2021, I decided to take the 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training course with Healium Hot Yoga. While continuing to coach CrossFit, I am also able to offer yoga classes to members. I believe that a yoga practice can benefit CrossFitters by working on breathwork, flexibility, coordination, and balance.

My whole life I have loved to be active and outdoors. Growing up I always played sports and being active. Once college came around, I was no longer in sports and tried to go lift weights, but was discouraged as it was on my own and not in a fun environment.

Once I graduated, I found myself in a desk job sitting 10+ hours a day, and then once the workday was over not really doing much after so in reality sitting around for another couple hours until bedtime. I ultimately found myself doing nothing for my health or really doing any physical activity.

Then I found out about CrossFit. CrossFit offers a great community to work out with friends, great coaching, and a focus on being fit in every aspect, and being able to apply this fitness to everyday life. Therefore, I got hooked and have been a regular ever since!