Will Mars

My fitness journey really took off in middle school. Growing up, I was always a bit "husky" until 7th grade when my best friend convinced me to join the wrestling team. I stuck with it through high school, enduring many seasons of cutting weight, grueling practices, and getting stronger. While I eventually leaned out, I decided to retire from wrestling when I left for college. What I didn’t realize at the time was that all those years of training had instilled in me a deep appreciation for hard work and the importance of movement mechanics.

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During my “retirement” from sports in college, I gained back my "husky" build—about 30 pounds of it, to be exact. When I graduated and moved back home to go to grad school to become a science teacher, my girlfriend (now wife) took one look at me and basically said, "WTF, Will?" Her highly fit and enthusiastic mother chimed in with the same sentiment, which was all the motivation I needed. In the summer of 2016, I joined CrossFit Round Lake, and from the very first workout, I was hooked. The combination of intense effort and technical precision felt like a natural extension of my wrestling background.

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Fast forward to 2024, after the birth of my second child, I realized I was ready for a life change—one that allowed me to do more of what I love. I quit my career of teaching in schools and I made the leap into coaching (and other ventures). Now, I get to teach others to embrace hard work, refine their technique, and achieve goals they never thought possible. Because of my science teacher background, I like to throw in some relevant scientific information into my classes and really help people dial in biomechanics, nutrition, and physiology. I couldn't be happier.