Each month, Overland Park CrossFit recognizes a member who exemplifies our values and motivates others in the gym. April’s Athlete of the Month is Stephanie Cruz. Stephanie is a 5:30 am regular. She walks in ready to work, and with a smile on. A fun fact about her is that she has a ton of experience with kettlebells(you won’t want to go against her in a workout with kb in it;)). She has also been running for a few months now and has run some of her first races. She was also one of our team captains for the Crossfit Open…this girl is an amazing leader! Her hard work does not go unnoticed. It has been fantastic having her here, and we are excited to have her continue crushing it here at OPCF! Please read below to learn about Stephanie and what he has to say! We could not be more proud to recognize her for our April Athlete of the Month!
How long have you been working out at Overland Park CrossFit?
-I joined in Aug 2022, 4 months after moving here from NY.
What were your thoughts after your first CrossFit workout? Do you remember what it was?
-I was petrified to walk into the gym. After I did an intro session, my first class included thrusters and jumping over the bar. I didn’t know what was happening, but I definitely wanted to go back!
What has been your favorite workout so far?
-Anything kettlebell! Back squats and hang cleans are also my favorites!
What did you want to be when you grew up and where do you work now?
-I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I soon realized I would not be able to save all the animals. After a long and winding road, I am now a Senior Corporate Recruiter for Elevance Health, which is one of the leading health insurance companies.
What do you like to do outside of work?
-Anything with my bulldog, Cece. We go on walks, hikes, swimming, and exploring KC. When I am not with her, I will write poetry, tinker with my plants, go shopping, or hang out with family and friends.
What advice would you give a newbie just starting at OPCF?
-Just go for it. Just try. It might seem scary and that’s okay, you can still try it. You won’t regret it!
What is on your bucket list?
-Solo trip to Puerto Rico!
Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?
-Music! Whether its in class or while working, music is always on around me.
If your pet could talk, what do you think they might say about you?
-If Cece could talk, she would say that I spoil her and always make sure she has tons of treats. She’d also ask you to talk to me about getting her more treats.
What is your favorite random fact?
-I have clairaudient and clairsentient skills. Clairaudience and clairsentience are the abilities to hear and sense things outside of our five senses. I have had many instances where I will hear and sense things in advance of them actually happening.
What is your go-to karaoke song?
-I have yet to actually do karaoke, but I have done quite a few concerts in my car. There is a tie between “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell and “Someone To You” by Banners.
