Emily Wagner – Owner, Level 2, CrossFit Kids 

Thanks so much for taking the time to read our coaching section! Our coaches are amazing here and such a big part of our community! I know you’ll love them! 

My CrossFit journey started back in 2009 where I stepped into a small office that had been converted into a gym to do a free CrossFit intro session. I don’t remember a single movement in the workout, but I will never forget the incredible feeling I had after the workout….What the heck did I just do? I just got my butt kicked and I somehow wanted more! I knew I had just discovered a type of fitness that was challenging, yet completely doable and modifiable AND somehow very FUN! Could this really exist?!

My CrossFit workouts quickly became a passion, as well as my belief in the method, so much that I quit my corporate sales job and decided to go all in and open a CrossFit gym 2 years later. It’s transitioned over the years from solely offering CrossfIt to eventually expanding into other programs that complement the CrossFit method. But no matter the class type, no matter the year, no matter the workout…myy career has always been incredibly rewarding. What an honor it is to be able to improve people’s health and confidence. And it is so much fun to see people set and hit their fitness goals.. But the truly most rewarding part of this job is knowing that I created something that has led to so many lifelong friendships that have formed (including over 20 marriages!) This community of people is incredible and I feel so very blessed to have had all of them in my life to help me and encourage me throughout my CrossFit journey. THANK YOU!

Aaron Hendrix – Level 1

Hello Crossfit Community,

My name is Aaron and I have been utilizing Crossfit for 13 years, I have been coaching for about 6 of those years. I’ve had a wide variety of experiences that have molded me into the Crossfit coach I am today. Most recently I acquired a master’s in education and I feel like what I learned there has helped me become a more rounded coach.

Complex Olympic lifts and other complex movements are my favorite to coach. I especially enjoy helping others with these types of movements. There’s no better feeling than seeing an athlete achieve a goal that you helped them with.

The Crossfit community is a large chunk of why so many of us love it. I’ve spent 13 years not only working out, but making new friends along the way. The Crossfit community is unmatched and I’m thankful to have that in my life.

Hope to see you out on the gym floor.

Bailee Lockman – Level 1

Hi!

I started doing CrossFit at the beginning of 2017 after I moved to Cincinnati. My step-dad had introduced me to a class back in Minnesota and said it would be a great way to meet new people in my new city. I love that CrossFit is a hybrid style training. Being able to train individually, but with a class/people has fueled my competitive background and ADHD brain! ?

Being a coach has been such a wonderful experience over the last year and a half. I love being able to be a friendly face for newcomers, while helping provide insights on new techniques for them as well as veteran members. It’s beyond rewarding to be a part of everyone’s journey wherever they fall on their fitness goals.

Joining this community has been life changing. All of our members have been incredible as I was new to the gym, new to coaching, when I was pregnant, and now with my sweet baby boy, Walker. I couldn’t ask for a better place to be a part of as a coach and member!

Brianna Connock – Level 1

I joined CrossFit SOTO in 2019 after ending my decade-long competitive swimming career. I was no longer doing the sport that quite literally defined me and I had no clue what to do with myself.

My partner and fellow coach Ethan made me come to a class at SOTO, and I instantly fell in love with the friendly competition and the constant variations that the sport provided. After a few years of personal growth, a lot of it in Ethan’s parents’ driveway during the pandemic, I got my L1 so that I could provide what so many coaches provided me when I started: genuine support and a love of fitness.

I love to celebrate athletes and their little wins each day, and if you know me you know I love to lift heavy and inspire others to see how strong they truly are! 

When I’m not coaching or working out, I am working as the Social Media Editor at Cincinnati Magazine or at home with Ethan and our cats, Rhubarb and Fig.

Ethan Wayman – Level 1

I started doing CrossFit my senior year of high school after I stopped playing soccer and so I needed a new way to stay active. My older brother had done CrossFit at ONU and then UC and convinced me to try it out. I quickly fell in love with the sport and subsequently joined the UC CrossFit club my freshman year.

I eventually became the president of the UC CrossFit club and then after I graduated I got my L1 and started to coach. I soon found a new passion in coaching others in the sport that I spent so much time loving myself.

The people that show up every day are the reason coaching is so rewarding to me. The small consistent progress and the never ending suffering we endure together is the reason I keep doing CrossFit going on almost a decade now!!

Jenn Lehan – Level 1

Awaiting her bio

Jess Gulino – Level 1

Julie Muehlenkamp – Level 1, CrossFit Kids 

Kim Rizzo – Level 1

I started CF in 2017. I’ve been training since I was young; it all started with The Firm workout videos and school gyms, then onto commercial gyms where it was 30 minutes of cardio and 3 sets of the split of the day. I was in pretty great shape. I will never go back to headphones and a commercial gym treadmill!

Starting CF at 37 took it to a whole new level. I couldn’t believe the gains in strength! I never had so much fun in my life. I had great coaches that took the time to break down movements, and taught us new things all the time! To this day, I love how I’m constantly learning to do things I’ve never done before. I instantly loved the camaraderie and the strategies involved, and I love the complex movements! I love great coaches that take the time to show everyone how to do better or how to do something for the first time!

I tell anyone who’s interested in coming but scared, we’re all friends; everyone cheers each other on. Some people are in it to compete, some are here to socialize, we’re all good at some things and bad at others, and no one cares because we’re all in it together! And that’s the best part! #BeastMode to #Sunset and back again!

Mijana Mazur – Level 1

Hi!

My name is Midge and I started doing CrossFit in 2021 as a way to make friends in a new city post-grad. I came to NewCov in 2024 and started coaching in 2025. I’m so deep in the CrossFit Kool-Aid that I started working for CrossFit LLC in 2024.

I cheered in high school and those hype skills translate into my favorite part of coaching: lifting people up and getting excited for athletes is my favorite part of the job.

Mike Callinan – Level 2

Awaiting his bio

Niki Howard:

CF level 2

CF online scaling

CF online lesson planning

CF online spot the flaw

The Conjugate Methods course

Burgner Strength course

PN1 Nutrition cerification

I started crossfit after my neighbor opened up a gym. I was hooked-I loved that the workouts were planned and that there was a strength component. It was different everyday.. I just had to show up and work.I got my son’s and husband involved in doing workouts at home and eventually they saw the benefits too.

I got my level one certification to add to my own growth for the sport.I was asked to join the coaching staff at the gym i attended.. It is so great to see the confidence that members achieve with pushing themselves by doing hard things. The work.in the gym, crosses over into other areas of life. CrossFit doesnt just give you a stronger body it strengthens your mentality.

Everyone’s journey is different, But this is the common experience that helps us connect as a community. I definitely “drank the koolaid”!

Taylor Conaway – Level 2 

Awaiting her reply 

Tim Murray – Level 2

Hello!

My CrossFit journey started in August of 2021 when CrossFit Announced a short stature division on their Adaptive Side. I competed in my first Open in 2022 and fell in love with the community during my first Friday Night Lights and have been hooked ever since.

Helping others has always been something I’ve enjoy, and since I fell in love so much I wanted to give back to the community.

I got my L1 at the end of 2022 and started coaching in 2023. I got my L2 in the spring of 2024 and have been using it ever since.

I enjoy seeing people learn new skills, crush PRs and reach their goals, whatever they may be. Thank you to all of our members for allowing me to help you reach those, whether you’ve only attended one class, or every class I coach. I appreciate you all

Trevor Crumley – Level 1

Hey!

I started doing CrossFit in 2019 with my Dad as a way to keep active between sports in high school. We were always at the 9am class and I fell in love with the atmosphere of CrossFit when it came to meeting new friends to hangout with before and after WODs while pushing each other to be better every day during. CrossFit pushed me to learn new movements and do way more burpees than I signed up for!

I’ve always been interested in coaching and the opportunity came up in June 2025 to help others be fit, happy, and healthy through CrossFit. I love the idea that CrossFit prepares people for their daily lives through functional fitness and seeing people of all ages and backgrounds walk through the door drives me to be a better coach.

I workout to be fit enough to help my grandparents move houses, pick up my little cousins, run the Turkey Trots with my friends, and be there for my friends and family when they need me. I know that everyone works out for different reasons, but I hope to be a great coach so you can meet your own goals.

See you in the gym soon!