About Us
MEET OUR
Fully Qualified Instructors
Workhorse Athletics is a fitness organization that specializes in the training methodology called Functional Strength and Preparedness (FSP). Through this training methodology and our community, we bring people from all walks of life together with a unified goal — to Live Better. Whether in or out of the gym, we hold one another accountable to a higher standard of fitness and health. We can accomplish our goal to Live Better by giving our personal best in all things, acting ethically and in ways that benefit humanity, and remaining true to our shared mission.
Ryan Troupe
Owner | Coach
ABOUT RYAN
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, CF-L1
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, CF-L2
CrossFit Football Certified Trainer
After graduating from Lynchburg College and graduating with a degree in Exercise Physiology, I followed my passion and became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. I worked at Velocity Sports Performance for 2 years developing athletes and their performance on the sports field. The athletes I worked with ranged from late elementary school children to professional NFL, MLL, MLS, and MLB athletes.
I was introduced to CrossFit in 2011, and after four months of CrossFit experience, I decided to pursue my CrossFit Level 1 Certificate. I began coaching in early 2012 and I haven’t looked back since. Throughout my four years of CrossFit experience, I have competed in both local and regional competitions and I have been blessed with the opportunity to have competed at the CrossFit Games Mid-Atlantic Regional competition for the last four years, competing individually for two years and on a team for two years.
I coach CrossFit because the lessons I’ve learned from physical training have helped me in every aspect of life’s journey – perseverance, desire, sacrifice, commitment, and most of all, passion. I want to help others find their own path and overcome self-doubt and their perceived limitations. Through health and fitness, all things are possible.
Christina Troupe
Owner | Coach
ABOUT CHRISTINA
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, CF-L1
CrossFit Kids Trainer
I’ve always been into sports and all types of activities like karate, softball, basketball and volleyball. I loved being social and being active. I mostly played volleyball in middle school and high school and eventually found myself as a Libero and Captain playing Division I Volleyball at Towson University from 2001-2005. Upon graduating, I became an active member in the volleyball community playing in leagues and tournaments throughout the Mid-Atlantic. After a while, I found myself bored and not pushing myself as I once had in college – I needed something more.
In 2011, I was introduced to Crossfit and since then my involvement has transitioned over time. I started out as a beginner, moved to being a Regional Team athlete, transitioned into coaching, and then married into gym ownership with my husband Ryan. What started as a way to just “workout ” has turned into a lifestyle.
I love the way Crossfit has built a worldwide community, a community that shares information on having a healthier (physical, emotional and mental) lifestyle and support for one another. I love being a part of that BIG community, but also too, I love being able to share that information and experience with all of those who step into Workhorse Athletics.
Jess Shaker
Coach
ABOUT JESS
Certifications:
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, CF-L1
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, CF-L2
CrossFit Kettlebell Trainer Certified
I have always been an athletic person from playing softball in elementary school all the way throughout my college years and still continue to play on an adult fast pitch league. I’ve achieved my second degree black belt in Tae Known Do, and although I love both very much, they don’t come close to how CrossFit has impacted my life. I started my journey with CrossFit in 2012 and believe by far it was the best decision I have made. CrossFit not only has shown me a healthier life style, but it has made me a better person on a whole while introducing me to some amazing athletes and closest friends. I knew I wanted to expand my knowledge of this fascinating sport which led me to achieve my certifications below. There is nothing more rewarding than coaching and seeing others achieve goals they thought were impossible. I started my journey with CrossFit as a member at Workhorse Athletics and I am honored to continue my journey as a CrossFit Trainer, member and friend to all whom visit/join Workhorse Athletics!
Jay Kanevsky
Coach
ABOUT JAY
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, CF-L1
Crossfit Gymnastics Level 1 Trainer
Crossfit Kids Trainer
My name is Jason Kanevsky, usually go by Jay, and I thought it might be time to share with ya’ll a little info about myself… why you’re seeing my name pop up in TRIIB, as well as inside the classes.
I’m an elementary school teacher by day, CrossFit coach/athlete by morning/night, and hopeful future fiance to a beautiful girlfriend (please let this sentence age well….). I teach elementary school in PWCS as of typing this blurb up, but preparing to teach in FCPS in the fall. I Joined CFWS a little before COVID-19, and was primarily active in the afternoons. I fell in love with your community from Day 1, and the coaching is pretty phenomenal as well. I am planning on being one of the CrossFit Kids coaches as well as coaching adult classes in the near future.
I’ve been a CrossFitter since the Summer of 2014. I graduated college overweight (306lbs) and moved in with a fraternity brother. As I began leading kids summer camp program, my fraternity brother forced me into a CrossFit box. First workout: Fran. It was terrible, and I loved every moment thrustering with a pvc pipe to a wall ball and jumping to a pull up bar (my chin never got close to the bar, 306lb men who are unfit don’t jump that high.) Fell in love since.
I became a coach to start a CrossFit Kids program at a box down here in Virginia about a year after I moved from PA. After that program failed to gain traction I was asked to learn and help coach adults classes and have never looked back. I’ve coached adult classes in three different boxes in NoVa and have constantly enjoyed helping all athletes get better and have the best hour of their life working out. I look forward to help you out too at some point!
Below find some quick facts about myself
Largest Life Success: Losing, at my best, 126lbs.
Favorite CrossFit movement: Clean and Jerk or Kettlebell Swing
Least Favorite CF movement: running or pullups
Favorite Music: EDM or Hard Rock
CF Goal of 2020 (2021, thanks COVID19): Handstand Walk 50m unbroken
Favorite TV show: Rocko’s Modern Life
Favorite Food: all. the. food. minus. mushrooms.
Val Zagursky
Coach
ABOUT VAL
Crossfit Level 1 Trainer, CF-L1
Aerobic Capacity Ambassador
While enrolled in the University of Virginia’s Army ROTC program, I was introduced to the CrossFit methodology in 2009. I had weight lifted and ran track and cross country in high school, so I was excited to learn about a fitness program that incorporated two of my passions. It wasn’t until I was deployed to Afghanistan that I really started doing CrossFit on a regular basis. My company commander was a coach at Kandahar CrossFit and got me hooked. As soon as my unit redeployed in late 2012, I joined a gym near me and that was history!
I left the Army in 2016 and made a complete career shift. After moving to North Carolina with my husband, I started working with kids with autism at an applied behavior analysis (ABA) clinic. I fell in love with ABA and decided that I would go back to school to get my masters to continue working in the field. As we were slated to PCS to Ft. Belvoir, I applied and was accepted into George Mason’s graduate program for Special Education and ABA. My husband and I became members of this gym when we moved to Springfield and haven’t looked back since. I’ve been a member at a few gyms since starting CF in 2012, and none of them compares to Workhorse Athletics. The programming, coaching, professionalism, and community are exceptional.
During my time in grad school, I realized two things: I love learning and helping people learn, and that passion goes hand in hand with functional fitness. During my last semester at GMU, I became a coach at Workhorse Athletics. I learn something daily from my fellow coaches and our members, and I can incorporate my ABA background into coaching. Seeing members connect the dots when learning a new skill or perfecting a familiar movement is what makes coaching exciting for me. I love seeing people learn and succeed in their fitness goals, no matter how big or small.
Megan Weinburgh
Coach
ABOUT MEGAN
M.Ed Student Support-Liberty University
CF-L1
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
NASM Certified Nutrition Coach
Mad Dogg Indoor Spinning Certification
Dragon Door/Strong First Russian Kettlebell Certification
TRX L1
TRX L2
Growing up as a military kid, I moved and changed schools a lot. I loved playing sports not only because it was fun, but it became a way to meet people and create bonds. I played a variety of sports (competitive cheerleading, volleyball, soccer, and one odd season of tennis) all the way through childhood and into young adulthood. I rarely went an entire week without some sort of sport or sport related training. I became an Army wife and mother of 2 boys and now saw fitness as my new sport of choice. Living the nomadic Army life has caused constant changes in my life every few years, but fitness has remained my constant. It has been my coping mechanism throughout various times in my life, and I can think of nothing better!
I began indoor cycling in 2006 and then I found CrossFit later that year and instantly loved the functional fitness way of training. From there grew a fascination with kettlebells, weightlifting, and basically anything that encourages functional body movement. Throughout the years, I have taught indoor cycling, Russian kettlebells, and functional based movement classes. I completed my M.Ed. and taught in the school system for a while, always knowing that teaching fitness was my true passion. Fitness has brought me strength, clarity, and bonds with people that are hard to replicate outside of this environment. I am a lifelong student and firm believer in constantly moving the mind and body forward. It is my goal to help others do the same!
Matt Canny
Coach
ABOUT MATT
Certifications:
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, CF-L1
I grew up playing basketball then switched to rugby in high school and continued playing in college and the military. While I was playing rugby I trained for, Rugby I lifted and ran in addition to rugby practices. After I stopped playing rugby consistently I still lifted weights and ran a little but it wasn’t the same. Some co-workers introduced me to Mountain and Military Athlete which were good programs and very similar to Crossfit but it was hard to do in a normal gym and not really fun. One day we were having dinner with my brother and sister-in-law who both belonged to Crossfit WestSpringfield and they convinced me to give it a try. I loved it right away, it was a great workout with good people and filled the gap that rugby had left. The idea of functional fitness and training for life made a lot of sense to me, so I eventually became a coach. Five years later I still enjoy coaching and being a part of the Crossfit community, especially the Workhorse Athletics community. My favorite WOD is Murph, but I like most of the hero WODs. The fact that hero WODs are not only challenging but also offer a chance for people to remember/recognize people that have sacrificed everything is a truly great part of Crossfit.
Howard Arp
Coach
ABOUT HOWARD
Certifications:
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, CF-L1 CrossFit Kids
My professional career has always motivated me to maintain a level of fitness that allowed me to remain successful. I also spent most of my life playing sports. In 2016, a close friend and CrossFit coach convinced my family to try Workhorse Athletics. After that first community WOD, we were all in. Our “rookie season” demonstrated we had only played with fitness before CrossFit. Each and every day was a challenge made attainable by the support of this phenomenal community. This encouraged me to further my knowledge of CrossFit by obtaining my Level 1 and continuing on with my passion for giving back to the next generation. I received my CFKids certificate and truly enjoy helping our youth institute a mindset that makes fitness a priority in life. Watching these youth learn more about their fitness and how to conquer their fears is the most rewarding experience any coach can have!