Coaches

Crystal Matti

I never really considered myself an athlete, let alone athletic. I played basketball in high school, and got into running and strength training when I was in undergrad at Michigan State University #GoGreen. It didn’t take long to realize that basketball wasn’t actually my calling, and I grew tired of trying to map out ‘leg days’ and following half marathon training plans. I saw a friend of mine posting about her crossfit workouts on social media, and it caught my interest. With my friend’s encouragement, I began crossfit in the fall of 2015 and fell in love right away.

Admittedly, I was in over my head with all the new movements and watching those around me crush workouts- but that’s exactly what excited me to keep showing up. About a year into the sport, I got certified to coach and began doing so at Motor City Crossfit. As of now, I’ve been doing crossfit now for about 7 years. Of course, I love hitting PRs (personal records) and acquiring skills I never thought I’d be able to do. That type of progress, however, isn’t what continues to get me into the gym.

Crossfit is so much more than just working out and getting in better physical shape. Crossfit helps me push my limits, provides a healthy amount of challenge and competition, and gives me something to look forward to each day. Above all, it’s brought some amazing people into my life. The community – especially that at Motor City – honestly is what makes crossfit as amazing as it is.

Connor Avery

I have been a member at Motor City Crossfit since the summer of 2015. I played basketball in high school and started Crossfit after getting tired of the traditional weightlifting after college. I began coaching at MCCF in September 2018. I have been working at General Motors since graduating from Michigan State University in 2014. As a die hard Spartan, you can find me at most MSU football games throughout the Fall.

Danielle Worden

I began my journey into CrossFit back in 2017. I was 16 years old with an athletic background; having played soccer and volleyball most of my life but it wasn’t until i joined my powerlifting team in high school did I discover my passion for lifting. Once powerlifting was over that’s when my CrossFit journey really began to blossom. I loved the similarities they had and the confidence they both gave me. The community and support were undeniably different in these two sports compared to all others.

I graduated from Adrian College with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2022. Soon after I received my CrossFit L1 so I could coach the one thing I have loved and lived for so long.

I found MCCF when I was looking for a CrossFit gym after moving back home after college. I have been a part of the MCCF community for about 9 months now and I can honestly say they have the most welcoming and hard-working athletes around. I have been officially coaching for about 2 months now and I couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds for me and our athletes here at MCCF.

Lloyd Burns

I am a husband, dad, New Yorker, and Federal worker who has lived in Michigan since 2016. I was born with an upper body congenital disorder and grew up very active. I was always motivated to participate in sports and show that I could be just as good as anyone. I played multiple sports in high school as well as collegiate football. Afterwards, I still participated in several different recreational sports leagues and lifted weights. In 2013, I decided to try CrossFit while deployed overseas (shoutout to Vulture CrossFit!). It was something new and, at first, a bit intimidating because I had no experience with Olympic weightlifting and I wasn’t sure how to adapt. With the help and encouragement of the incredible coaches and people, I was able to figure it out and I have been hooked ever since.

CrossFit has helped me learn so much about health, fitness, and my physical and mental self. I have also met so many incredible people, all from unique backgrounds but share a vision of a better life through fitness. Further, it has introduced me to other Adaptive Athletes like myself and helped to learn about their own fitness journeys. In January 2019, I became a L1 certified trainer to help others reach their goals. In September 2020, I joined Motor City CrossFit and it has been incredible ever since. Our owners and coaches go above and beyond for the members to ensure they are achieving their fitness goals in improving their overall wellbeing. Not only does the community work hard but it is also a diverse and inclusive group of people. I am happy and proud to be a coach and member of this community.

Justin Brickman

Fitness has always been a staple in my life in some form. Ever since I was a kid I’ve played in
some sort of sport; football, baseball, basketball, track. After high school and through college I
stayed active by lifting at a local gym with the same Monday through Friday routine. I got burned
out with the monotony of it and moved onto running and biking. During that time, I completed 5 half marathons, a marathon, and a duathlon. I enjoyed it but felt like I was missing something and realized it was the lack of strength training that I wanted to incorporate more of.

In March of 2017 I started CrossFit and immediately fell in love with it. A year and a half later I received my L1 and started coaching. This is where I discovered my passion for not only this sport and its methodology but for helping others to thrive and grow. After joining Motor City, I knew this is where I could make my biggest impact and became part owner in January 2022. Let us help you become better both mentally and physically.

Rachel Kroll

My desire to become a superhero started with finding the path towards gaining strength and ability my senior year in high school (2011), and that route was Crossfit. The next stage of my life, from 2011-2016, would revolve around workouts, understanding the programming, getting into mobility, and determining how to make my muscles do what my mind wants them to do. I originally went to college to become a trainer, using my knowledge to help others achieve their goals. I ended up following a different calling in-route to helping others achieve their goals, but I was determined to stay on the path of Crossfit. I now morph into the roles of a teacher, a tutor, a soccer player, and a trainer.

After a slight hiatus due to multiple foot surgeries, I was back on the path of enlightenment. My fitness goals witched from being the top time/weight to being proud of what I accomplished and maintaining a solid base for decades of fitness to come. I switched to Motor City in 2019, obtained my Level 1 Certification in 2021, just in time for my 10 year Crossfit anniversary, and have never looked back. I focus on form, letting it rip when the stars align, and making sure to have time for shenanigans and good vibes!

Allie Zacks

I walked into my first CrossFit gym in 2015 with absolutely no expectation of what I could have been getting into. I became hooked and for the first time in my life I felt like I was athletic. CrossFit moved with me as I moved around the state from Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Lansing,
Royal Oak and even into Virginia. No matter how my life was changing, I knew I had a CrossFit gym close by that I could fall into and find people that lived similar to me. In 2019, I started training Strongman. Strongman is an incredible sport but I found myself missing the community of CrossFit and being pushed by other people and my coaches. In the time I have been at Motor City CrossFit, I have experienced one of the best gym communities that I have ever experienced. From the moment I walked in, it felt like a second family. In 2023, I got my L1 CrossFit Certification and I am looking forward to growing with the MCCF community as an athlete, coach and co-owner!

Pete Nellis

I am currently a Product Manager in Product Marketing at Cadillac HQ and moved to Michigan in November of 2013 from Oswego, New York. After playing college hockey and golf at Clarkson University, I found myself starting to learn much more about explosiveness and full body functionality rather than bicep curls and ab machines. After college, I found Crossfit. I wanted to stay competitive and try something new, this was it. 10 Years later, I continue to use Crossfit to become a stronger human, and more powerful golfer.

I began coaching at MCCF in January of 2014, became owner in May of 2018, and have loved every second of it. When I moved to Michigan I had one friend and no family here. Since beginning coaching and becoming a part of MCCF, MCCF has become my family. Crossfit and MCCF specifically have changed my life and kept me in Michigan. Coaching is all about helping people push past their limits and expectations. It’s amazing to see what putting in work and sticking to a plan can do to change someone. Not only in body composition, but attitude, confidence, and communication. Put in work, stick to the plan, and this stuff works. Whether you’re trying to get stronger, look better on the beach, or be strong enough to play with your kids or grandkids – MCCF has a program that will help you succeed.