Coaches

Chris Mello - Owner/Coach

As co-founder and trainer of CrossFit Sioux Falls, I have been empowering people through health and fitness since 2001. My passion for fitness began over 10 years ago as a dedicated athlete in the sport of basketball excellng into the collegiate level. I was born and raised in Southern California. My wife Annie and I have just recently moved to Sioux Falls from Los Angeles, CA in October, 2008.

Having the ability to dramatically improve someone’s health and fitness is fascinating to me. I became a personal trainer in 2001 to empower myself with the knowledge and the skills to enhance my physical body and mental capacity. I am a student of fitness and healthy living, and I am continually searching for new ways to improve myself and the ways in which I  can affect people in a positive and supportive way.

I understand that everyone comes from different backgrounds and different ways of living. I feel I can connect with each person and inspire them to live healthier by first, helping them to be aware of their present fitness and health and the choices that they have made. Then, to educate them to make healthier and more positive choices. Lastly, to integrate and take action toward creating permanent habits that are a better personal “fit”.

Crossfit has personally improved my health and fitness dramatically since I started my first “WOD” in Aug of 2007. The Crossfit training methodology provides a training structure and environment for continually improvement. In my opinion it is the most efficient and progressive training program I have ever been a part of in all my years in the fitness industry. 

Qualifications:

CrossFit Level 1 Certified
CrossFit Endurance Certified 
CrossFit Nutrition Certified  
CrossFit Kettlebell Certified
CrossFit Movement and Mobility Certified (June 2010)
CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting Certified (June 2010)
NASM - CPT Certified
American Heart Association CPR and AED Certified

Contact Chris:
Cell: 714-381-1541
Email: chris@crossfitsiouxfalls.com    

Annie Mello - Owner/Coach/Kids Coach

As the first female coach at CrossFit  Sioux Falls, I have been striving to push people to their ultimate goals for the past 7 years. Since I can remember, my life has been involved in and around fitness. I was a gymnast and dancer, and throughout high school I played basketball, tennis, volleyball, and ran track. I also played tennis at the collegiate level.

Making a difference in someone’s life and getting them to their personal goals, has always been what drives me as a fitness coach. There is no better feeling in the world then seeing people make goals for themselves, and then strive to achieve them. Through my fitness journey, I have really focused on getting clients to gain a knowledge about fitness, and make healthy choices for their life. One of my biggest passions is focusing this aspect on our children. This generation of children is going to be the first to die before their parents if we stay on this path. Hearing this is not only shocking, but also an eye opener on how much children need to learn about healthy living! My number one fitness goal is to make fitness a daily habit in people’s lives; to make learned habits routines.

My experience through CrossFit has not only improved my physical goals but also my mental goals, my marriage, relationships with others, and the goals for my future.  I am an advocate for CrossFit and the importance of healthy living. With CrossFit you can obtain goals you never thought possible. Every time you complete a workout, you prove to yourself that you can do something you didn’t think was attainable. CrossFit has not only made a positive impact on my body, it has had a positive impact on my life! The quote I think of every time to drive me on a daily basis with CrossFit is, “Excellence is Earned Not Given”! 

Qualifications:

Cody Burgener - Coach/Olympic Lifting Instructor

At the age of 8, Cody started to compete in weightlifting competitions until the age of 18. At the age of 17, he was the second strongest kid in the nation in the 94 kg class. Cody says, "From the knowledge I gained from my father in the Olympic lifts, I have helped many athletes improve in their sport by teaching them to perform the Olympics lifts."

Cody has been participating in Crossfit for about 4 years now. Crossfit has helped him improve his strength, cardio, and my mental toughness. He believes by combining Crossfit with the Olympic lifts you will not find a better fitness program in the country. "They hit every aspect of fitness." In his opinion, he believes this is the best training he has ever been a part of throughout his fitness career.

 Qualifications:

Contact Cody:
Cell: 760-535-1830
Email: codyb@crossfitsiouxfalls.com 

Casey Mouw - Coach

  
Having been an athlete for most of my life, fitness has been important to me for as long as I can remember. I started wrestling at age 7 and not long after I was also playing football and running track. Between everything, I was in-season for something year-round throughout jr. high and high school. Aside from learning the importance of staying fit and taking care of myself, I also developed a huge passion for coaching and teaching others.

After a fun and successful high school career, I decided that I wanted to pursue wrestling at the college level, so upon graduation I accepted an offer to the U.S. Military at West Point and took off for the East Coast. I learned a lot my freshman year, and even though I decided that being an Army officer wasn’t for me, my love for helping people develop through fitness was reinforced. When I decided to transfer to Augustana and return to the Midwest I had a solid direction; learning as much as possible about all things fitness both for myself and for helping others.

Toward the end of my junior year (spring of ‘09) I knew what I wanted to do, but I still had no clue how I was going to do it. Then I found CrossFit, and the impact on my life was immediate. While my personal level of fitness increased, my knowledge and passion for training others grew by leaps and bounds. I’m finally sure of where I’m going, I thought. I’ve got take some others with me!

So that’s exactly what I try to do. I want to soak up as much as I can every day about strength and conditioning, nutrition, and all things fitness to be the best trainer possible. I believe that improving fitness isn’t just important for the sake of being healthy, but because of the way people can learn about life and become better as a whole. My goal here is to help you as much as possible in any way, so please don’t hesitate to email/call/text me; I’m here for you!

 Qualifications:

CrossFit Level 1 Certified, CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting Certified (June 2010)  
B.S. Fitness Management (2010) 
American Heart Association CPR and AED Certified

Contact Casey:
Cell: 712-441-5665
Email: casey@crossfitsiouxfalls.com 

 

Mary Boomsma

In May my good friend (and current CFSF member), Amber Frerichs, text me and said she thought she found something that I would love…Cross Fit. I gave it a try and my first WOD was 10 rounds 10 squats 20 burpees! I couldn’t walk the whole week and I loved that feeling, I was hooked!

From that first step into the box I found people that were positive and great to be around and without even knowing it my life became better, happier and more positive…Because of all of you! CrossFit has become the platform for a better life for myself. Normally people try to kick you when you are down and the people at Cross Fit Sioux Falls help you up and cheer you on to the next step. Only after being at Cross Fit a month I knew that this is what I wanted in my life. Here is my chance to actually do what I’m passionate about…help people succeed and believe in themselves.

When I attended my Cert in Arizona in December I felt the same camaraderie with all the people there. There were people from Australia, London, Canada among others, all there for the same purpose. The trainers that were there were amazing. I got to meet the 2007 Female winner of the Cross Fit Games Jolie Gentry and the ever famous Josh Everett. (if there are some of you who don’t know who he is look him up you will be amazed) All six trainers were excellent and willing to help. It was great to watch them do WOD’s over their lunch….these are the best of the best and I was in awe of the amount of weight and speed they were capable of. I was sad to be leaving after day 2. I had an amazing time and would do it over and over again! It was well worth it! I’ve never been so proud to be a part of something as I am Cross Fit!

I am now given the opportunity to help you succeed with your goals. I want to take everything that I’ve learned from Chris, Annie and the rest of the staff and be able to train and perform at their level and provide you the knowledge and expertise you all deserve! CrossFit allows you to push yourself to the limit. You can accomplish things that you never thought you could! It gives you the strength not only physically but mentally in your personal and professional life! It’s a great feeling to have so many people around you accomplishing goals that they thought were out of their reach and to be a part of that is a dream of mine.

Another goal I have set for 2011 is to participate in the Cross Fit sectionals in hopes to qualify for the games. When this is accomplished I will continue my education and try for my level 2 Cert in hopes that in my future will be HQ trainer.

My promise to Cross Fit Sioux Falls and it’s members…..to always pick you up when you fall down, encourage you to be the best you can be, be proud of all that you have accomplished in the future and thus far and to achieve your fitness goals that you never thought you could attain! You are stronger than you give yourself credit! Be proud of how far you’ve come!

Qualifications:

CrossFit Level 1 Certified 
CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting Certified (June 2010)
American Heart Association CPR and AED Certified

 

Michael Brownfield

Athletics have always been a large part of my life. Growing up in an active family provided the ability to participate in many different activities. Anything that involved training and spending time in the gym grabbed my attention. During high school I knew that I wanted to further my days of playing football and that led me to the decision to play at the collegiate level.
After my playing career ended I was able to be on staff at my alma mater and coached alongside some of the most gifted people in terms of driving individuals to perform at an extremely high level. The coaching staff had an amazing ability to inspire their players to achieve goals outside of their scope of vision. The competitive nature of the sport and the mental training that accompanied it stayed with me well after my final game was played and coached.

After many years of the traditional gym experience I stumbled across this amazing thing called CrossFit. It sparked the competitive feeling that I knew was still there and offered an outlet to challenge myself physically and mentally. CrossFit has allowed me to achieve things that I thought were impossible and introduced a new sport that I want to play for the rest of my life.

My main goal is to lead by example and introduce as many people to CrossFit as possible because I believe in what it can do for an individual. We all can knock down obstacles and reach higher. If there is anything I can do to help just ask!

Qualifications:

CrossFit Level 1 Certified  
CrossFit Olympic Weightlifiting Certified   (June 2010)
American Heart Association CPR and AED Certified