Each month we spotlight a different CFA athlete who stands out and shows just how awesome they are. What is it that makes up an Athlete of the Month? It may not be the person that finishes the fastest, Rx’s every WOD, or gets a PR every time they walk in the gym. Although we love and celebrate when those things happen, the Athlete of the Month is made up of much more than physical ability. This person shows up, gives their best every time, and then gives a little more. They are hungry to learn and always ready to do the work. They support their fellow classmates and encourage them to reach their goals. This athlete embodies what we believe the CrossFit Austin Community should be about.
Our September Athlete of the Month is Griffin Stuesser! Griffin joined the CFA family at the beginning of the year and has found a solid spot with the 5:30 am “Cash Out Crew!” Not only is he a Texas boy through and through, he was actually one of the rare “born and raised” in Austin! Griffin’s friendly attitude is a warm welcome to those showing up to get the work done before the sun comes up! We, as coaches have really enjoyed his focus and attention to detail as he works to progress and grow as an athlete. We’ve loved being part of the journey with him and celebrating the wins along the way! Griffin, we are honored to have you as our September Athlete of the Month and as an awesome part of this team. Thanks for your all your hard work and we look forward to seeing all you accomplish in the years to come! Congratulations!
State your Name and/or Nickname please: Griffin Stuesser / good friends call me Griff or Stuess!
Words to live by? Control what you can control
What is your fitness background? I grew up always playing sports. In high school, I played Football and Baseball, almost played football in college but decided to go the big university route. Still dabble in some rec league flag-football and softball.
How long have you been CrossFitting? I originally picked up CrossFit in high school while training for football. Took about 7 years off and recently picked it back up in Jan ’21.
Take us back to your first day of CrossFit… How did you feel? How do you compare it to workouts today? It was very…hard. But I knew I was hooked, mainly because of the challenge, the coaches, the other folks in the gym and the atmosphere. I still get humbled daily by workouts but I’ve learned more about my body and when to push and when to ease up, making the workouts extremely fun (and still hard)
What’s your favorite part of CrossFit Austin? My favorite part is easily the coaches and members. I’ve always enjoyed traditional sports and CFA gives me the team atmosphere, the competition and the accountability that I was missing for a long time in my fitness journey.
Current Training Goals/PRs? I have a few goals but the one that stands out is improving my rowing. Focusing on my form and technique.
What advice do you have for folks just starting out in CrossFit? Go at your own pace. What works for some people doesn’t work for others. Listen to your body, ask your coaches questions and just have fun. Fitness shouldn’t be a chore or a thing you have to do, but rather something you look forward to. I’m really thankful for all the attention to detail from the coaches and encouragement from the members.
How do you balance staying focused in your training and in your life? Balancing fitness with your daily life is not easy. But if you commit to making it a priority it will ultimately glue itself into your routine which I think is the key. When I go too long without exercise it has a negative impact on almost all other parts of my life.
What is your cheat meal go-to? I’m born and raised in Austin. I could eat Tex-Mex or BBQ on ANY occasion.
How do you use your fitness outside of the gym? I like to apply fitness in any way I can, it helps me on the golf course, general outdoor activities. It also plays a big role in my mental sharpness at work.
Tell us about a moment you felt most proud of yourself during a workout. My most memorable moment was my first bar muscle-up. I could never do them while I trained in high school and I’ve recently been able to incorporate them in some workouts. It was a very proud moment for me.
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your fitness journey? Early on in CrossFit, I was too focused on competition and “winning a workout”. I’ve now learned there’s a lot more to it. I like to focus now on just competing against myself and trying to get better week over week. At the moment that looks like improving form and strength.
If you could create a WOD and name it for yourself, what would it be? The workout would be called “Whiskey River” (one of my favorite songs). It would likely be an AMRAP involving some sort of barbell cycling and gymnastics movement. Those types of workouts are the most fun for me.
What keeps you going on the days you don’t feel like it? The biggest thing is the people I work out with. They are in there day in and day out, and whether they know it or not their commitment to showing up, holds me accountable. We’re in this together!
What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? I’m a huge football fan (Texas Tech and Dallas Cowboys). I love to hunt, play golf, spend time on the lake and be with friends and family. I also enjoy smoking meats…big BBQ guy!
Tell us something we don’t know about you… I was a very active child and have broken over 10 bones in my lifetime…
Leave the fine folks of CrossFit Austin with some parting words… “What affects an outcome more than anything else is effort and attitude”. – Mike Leach
