About Us

Owner/Coach
Kelly Barcol was born November 15, 1968 and raised in Covington, KY; which is directly across the river from Cincinnati.   He has been married to Polly since 1993.  They have one son, Joshua, who is currently living in Jacksonville, FL. Kelly played baseball, basketball, and football from age 7 to 14.  It wasn’t until 10th grade that he found the sport of wrestling, which he would excel in.  Finishing his senior year 5th place and the fastest pin (11sec) in the Kentucky State Championship.  Kelly also made the USA Sombo Team for the 1987 World Cup in Morocco and the 1988 World Championships in Toronto, Canada where he placed 6th in the world and had the fastest win with a 19sec arm bar submission. Kelly graduated from Morehead State University in 1994 where was on the 1992 National Championship Cheer Team as seen on ESPN.  

Coaching Experience
4 years, Assistant coach for Northern KY Wrestling Club;  4 years, Head coach and choreographer for Bourbon Co high school competition cheer team; 3 years, assistant coach cheer team and cheer gymnastic at Roseberg high school; 3 years, cheer gymnastics and cheer teams instructor at C.A.T.S Cheer gym in KY;  2 years, Head coach for Valdosta YMCA All Star Cheer Team and cheer gymnastics instructor; 4 years, assistant for South Georgia Wrestling Club; 2 years, Valwood Jv and Varsity wrestling coach. At forty years old, Kelly found himself gasping for air after pushing some furniture up a small hill during a move.  After going at least ten years with no exercise at all, Kelly made his first appearance at a CrossFit affiliate in the summer of 2009.   Within three months’ time he lost thirty-five pounds and was on his way to being more fit than ever before. Thanks to CrossFit Kelly was able to check MMA cage fighting off of his bucket list.  Winning his first fight in the cage at age 44 at Valdosta’s Winter Heat in February 2013. Kelly is a Level 2 CrossFit Trainer and has been coaching adults and students in CrossFit methodology since 2011. Kelly has a CrossFit Level 1 and CrossFit Level 2 Certificate, CrossFit Level 1 Gymnastics, successful completion of CrossFit Judges course, CrossFit Scaling course, and CrossFit Goal Setting course.

Coach

Gwen Petersohn formally Gwen Cressman born March 23, 1962, in Montgomery, Pennsylvania. Moved to Florida the summer of 82. I grew up in a family of swimmers so it was inevitable that I would also become a swimmer. I participated in many sports throughout my high school years; cross-country, lacrosse, field hockey, swimming and diving and even cheered in junior high (captain, probably because I have a very loudmouth). I excelled in swimming and received a scholarship to Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. At the end of my college swimming, I accumulated All-American status 21 times. I was also a national champion my senior year in the 200-yard individual medley setting a new national record. The most decorated swimmer at Bloomsburg I was inducted into the “Athletic Hall of Fame” in 1998.

In the Fall of 2021, I received “The Legacy Award” from my high school because of my achievements over the years in my respected sports. 

I retired from being an educator in January of 2023 after 37 years in various positions such as Art, ESE, and General Education. I knew at a very young age that I wanted to teach/coach/instruct (probably because I like to tell people what to do). In addition to being an educator for most of my life I was also a Volusia County Lifeguard for 5 years which is where I met my handsome hubby.

I am a published author and illustrator as well as an artist. You can see some of my work at the VJL Gallery on Beach Street in Daytona Beach. 

Let’s get to the good stuff…CrossFit! I am a Level 2 coach with ambitions to get my Level 3 credentials. I LOVE helping people reach their fitness goals. I enjoy working out myself and continue to swim a couple of days a week. You will probably find me in the gym at various times working on my skills and desperately trying to qualify for the CrossFit Games. Heck in 2022 I was 12th in the World in my age group. 

Last but not least, I am happily married to Scott for 34 years and have two grown children: Hallie 30 and Tyler 33. Both are also happily married and Tyler with a son, my grandson named Brody. I have one cat “Frank” and one crazy dog named “Gracie” that I simply adore.