Our Aevitas Fitness family is full of the most amazing people! This special addition Aevitas *Weightlifting* Athlete Spotlight segment is all about Kellen Crouse. If you don’t know Kellen yet, this should give you a peek into who he is and why he loves weightlifting so much! Even if you already know him, keep reading – you might learn something that you didn’t know before!
Note: you can check out Kellen’s spotlight, along with a ton of other fun stuff, by following the Aevitas Weightlifting on social media (@aevitasweightlifting)!
Question: When did you start weightlifting?
Kellen: “I discovered weightlifting back in 2014 at my first CrossFit gym in New Jersey. I was awful but the snatch and clean & jerk became my favorite movements right away.”
Q: Why did you choose Aevitas Weightlifting?
Kellen: “Sam lol. He’s been my weightlifting coach since I moved to NY in 2016. I’ve bounced around to a few gyms but I never learned so much or developed so much as a lifter outside these walls.”
Q: Do you have a favorite moment with Aevitas Weightlifting?
Kellen: “There are a couple answers to that. Competing at NAOS1 this year was special, but my favorites are probably the local competitions. I get real goofy when I’m having a good competition day and my coaches feel it. We start trying some new things with numbers and they like to put me against people, like a rivalry. The first time I snatched 91 kilos (200lbs), I was grinning all day. That’s still a favorite too.”
Q: Do you have any goals that you want to hit in 2022?
Kellen: “It’s a stretch, but it’s to qualify for the 2023 Master’s Nationals. It can be done, but I really need to pack some kilos onto my C&J to start lifting with the strong old guys at that level. I’m looking forward to all the squats and all the heavy lift attempts to earn the chance to travel to that one. If I don’t make it, I’ll just have to qualify for 2024.”
Q: What advice would you give to a new lifter looking to join the team?
Kellen: “We do this because it’s fun and because our bodies let us. Always keep that in mind. I don’t hit many PR’s these days, but it feels so good to push for whatever number is big to me. Sometimes you have to shrug off a bad lifting day or a sore joint. Other days you need to go a few pounds over Rx just because it’s fun.”
Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions, Kellen!
If you’re interested in joining the fun with the Aevitas Weightlifting team, or with Aevitas Fitness in general, reach out and we’ll get you started!
