From Small Town PA to Train Denver: Coach Matt’s Journey

From as far back as I can remember, I was always involved in team sports. I grew up a very overweight kid—not the most athletic—but I always enjoyed playing. I was born and raised in a small town in central Pennsylvania, surrounded by Mennonite (not Amish) farms, often passing horse and buggies on my way around town. Out of my group of friends, I was one of the only ones to play sports, since most of them were in bands and more into the music scene.

My true fitness journey started the summer after my junior year of high school, when my mother got the family a membership at a local gym in the hospital. I fumbled my way through getting stronger, with some help from the staff. By my senior year, I was playing football and baseball for my high school and really dove into working out. Being part of a team that bonded together like brothers was life-changing.

I continued to lift weights and learn about fitness throughout college and into early adulthood. In my early 20s, I moved to Pittsburgh, and a few years later I moved to Denver with one of my good friends. I lived the ski bum life, working at Papa John’s (on Mississippi & Havana in Aurora) four days a week and skiing three days a week. During that first stint in Denver, I started to really build a relationship with my now wife, Amanda.

At the time, Amanda was living in New Jersey, so I ended up moving back east to continue our relationship. That’s where my CrossFit adventure began. A friend of mine had opened a CrossFit gym near where I grew up, and after following along on social media, I decided to give it a try. Like many of us, I was hooked. I found the competitiveness I craved, but also the personal growth I needed.

After spending six months living with my sister in central PA, I moved to New Jersey to be with Amanda. We lived together in northern New Jersey for seven years, where I started my career with Trader Joe’s—a job I still have today. While in New Jersey, I also worked at a Reebok store that partnered with a local CrossFit gym and offered discounts to employees. On top of that, I got a sweet discount on Reebok gear.

In 2018, I earned my Level 1 CrossFit Certification. Shortly after, I found a coaching position at CrossFit Cedar Grove, the gym Amanda attended. A few months later, I also started coaching at Empire Fitness, the box I personally attended. I continued to coach for about three years before Amanda and I decided to leave the Northeast and move to Charlotte, NC. In the Carolinas, I continued as an athlete but never found a coaching role.

Colorado was always in our hearts. We had vacationed here often, and even got married here—eloping high in the mountains near Breckenridge. In February 2025, Amanda was laid off from her job. Instead of seeing it as a setback, we saw it as the opportunity to make our dream move. By June 2025, we were back in Colorado.

Shortly after settling in, we searched for a CrossFit affiliate to join. Train was the closest to our home, so we set up an appointment with Abby to check it out. Some might call it fate, others might call it timing, but Train was looking to add a coach to their team right as I was looking to get back into coaching.

What I love most is how closely Train’s values align with my own. This isn’t about ego—it’s about fitness, community, and setting ourselves up to move well for the rest of our lives. Train preaches respect for fellow athletes, and to me, it’s a place where I can become a better person while inspiring others to do the same.

CrossFit has given me mental and physical fortitude over the years, and I want others to see they can achieve it too.