26.1 Showdown!
CROSSFIT GAMES OPEN 26.1 — THE BATTLE BEGINS
The lights dim. The music builds. The wall balls are stacked like cannonballs before war.
And three warriors step onto the floor.
This isn’t just another Open workout.
This is 26.1.
A test of lungs.
A test of legs.
A test of grit when the wall ball target starts to blur.
And representing three factions… legends are about to collide.
Sergio — Team Huffle Buff
Sergio steps forward, calm… composed… dangerous.
Representing Team Huffle Buff, he embodies the grind. The blue-collar wizard. The man who doesn’t just train — he works. Rep after rep. Set after set. No shortcuts.
Speed?
He has it.
Endurance?
It’s built into his bones.
But what makes Sergio different is the quiet magic.
Like a house born from loyalty and relentless effort in the halls of Harry Potter, Sergio channels a spell only the disciplined know:
Expecto Repetto.
His wall balls rise like enchanted orbs — smooth, rhythmic, unbroken.
His box step-overs? Methodical. Efficient. Unshaken.
When others start bargaining with the clock…
Sergio tightens his grip and goes to work.
Because Huffle Buff doesn’t fade.
They outlast.
Greg Collins — NWA (Ninjas With Attitude)
Then there’s Greg Collins.
Representing NWA — Ninjas With Attitude.
He enters in jorts. Of course he does.
Because intimidation doesn’t come from compression gear.
It comes from confidence.
His aerodynamic outfit? Questionable.
His engine? Unquestionable.
And somewhere in the crowd sits his loyal companion, Chuck the dog, watching like a silent sensei.
Greg moves like a suburban ninja — calculated, smooth, deceptively fast.
His transitions are razor sharp.
His step-overs? Like he’s gliding across rooftops at midnight.
When the wall balls pile up and shoulders start screaming, Greg leans into the chaos.
Because Ninjas With Attitude don’t panic.
They strike.
Shaun Esch — Mom's Spaghetti
And then…
The veteran.
Shaun Esch.
Representing Mom's Spaghetti.
A previous showdown participant.
Battle-tested. Weathered. Refined.
He’s been here before.
And he learned.
Long levers. Long stride. Long endurance.
When others are gasping at rep 60…
Shaun is just settling into his rhythm.
His height gives him a smooth, efficient wall ball cycle — barely a reach.
His step-overs? Fewer steps. Less wasted motion.
He doesn’t rush.
He hunts.
And as the reps climb and the floor turns into a battlefield of sweat and chalk, experience becomes a weapon.
THE WORKOUT: MONSTROUS WALL BALLS
With the twisted dagger of box step-overs… holding the med ball.
This is not a sprint.
This is not strength alone.
This is shoulder fatigue.
Leg burn.
Heart pounding in your ears.
Wall balls that feel light in round one…
Start to feel like concrete in round three.
Box step-overs that seem simple…
Become mountains.
So the question stands:
Will Sergio’s wizardry and relentless work ethic overpower the field?
Will Greg’s ninja efficiency and jort-fueled aerodynamics slice through the reps?
Or will Shaun’s seasoned engine and length advantage grind them down rep by rep?
Three athletes.
One workout.
Hundreds of wall balls.
Zero mercy.
26.1 doesn’t care who you are.
But when the clock hits zero…
Only one faction claims the floor.
Who will it be?
Nick Carignan
CrossFit 8 Mile
