The Calm Before The Storm
The Calm Before the Storm
The whiteboard was clean.
Too clean.
At CrossFit 8 Mile, that only meant one thing:
The Open was coming.
Five days.
Five days until the first workout drops. Five days until chalk dust hangs in the air like fog over a battlefield. Five days until friendships are tested, lungs are burned, and legends are written in dry-erase marker.
The gym was quiet… but not asleep.
It was the calm before the storm.
Team: Mom’s Spaghetti 🍝
They call themselves Mom’s Spaghetti, but don’t mistake the weak knees and heavy arms.
This is controlled chaos.
Captained by Beth Mancuso
Leading the charge is “Costco Queen” Lisa Ryan — a bulk-buying barbell beast who treats bumper plates like they’re on clearance.
Victoria “Snatch Yo Lunch” Silverside: silent, surgical, and deadly overhead. If there’s a barbell above shoulder height, she’s already claimed it.
“Mighty” Marwa: small frame, seismic power.
And “Slip Knot” Shaun Esch: the man who can untangle double-unders mid-air and still smile.
They don’t talk much.
They just lift.
And wait.
Team: NWA — Ninjas With Attitude 🥷
Across the gym, in the far corner — where the lighting feels slightly darker — stands the NWA crew.
Ninjas. With. Attitude.
Captained by Chris Yoon,
“Dr. Evil” Jake Centala: master strategist. He’s already reverse-engineered three possible workout scenarios and built a spreadsheet.
“Krazy” Kamm: chaos in human form. If there’s a movement no one expects? He’s thriving.
“Look Out” Lupita Versanzes: because if she’s on the floor, you better clear the runway.
And Jen “King of the” Kastl: composed, relentless, the anchor you never want to race.
They don’t train.
They prepare.
And they’re smiling like they know something you don’t.
Team: Huffle Buff 🟡
Then there’s the reigning energy of the gym: Huffle Buff.
Captained by Mike Jacobs.
Led by last year’s scaled champ, Anna “Crunk” Grunk — who turned “scaled” into “statement.” She’s back. Hungrier.
Kenny “Still Kickin” Morgan: the veteran engine that just won’t stall.
Morgan “Walk This Way” Welke: smooth, steady, and impossible to shake.
And Scott “Whom Shall Not Be Named” Riddle: the wildcard. The mystery. The movement you forget about… until he passes you.
They’re not loud.
They’re not flashy.
They’re just consistent.
And consistency wins wars.
But This Year Is Different.
There’s been a recalibration.
New scoring.
New rules.
Unknown workouts.
No one knows if it’s heavy.
No one knows if it’s a high skill.
No one knows if it’s a 7-minute sprint… or a 25-minute grind.
The whiteboard stays blank.
The tension builds.
Whispers echo between rigs.
Who has the engine?
Who has the grit?
Who breaks when the bar feels heavier than it should?
Who thrives when the clock becomes the enemy?
Five days.
Five days until the first workout drops.
Five days until the calm turns into chaos.
And when it does…
The music will get louder.
The crowd will gather.
The chalk will fly.
And only one team will stand at the top when the final score is tallied.
The storm is coming.
CrossFit 8 Mile —
Are you ready? 🔥
Nick Carignan (the weekly free agent)
