The clang of barbells hitting the ground echoes through the open space, as high fives and cheers fill the garage at CrossFit Ironside.
Open since 2013, CrossFit Ironside is a local gym located right across from Lakota East and an affiliate of the branded fitness regimen CrossFit.
Ironside is currently run by husband and wife, Daniel and Melissa Anguiz, who coach high-intensity workouts.
“We do a mixture of weight lifting, bodyweight gymnastic movements, as well as conditioning,” Daniel told Spark.
With around 10,000 affiliated gyms around the world, CrossFit Ironside is one of the 10 locations in Ohio.
Starting in Arizona, Melissa began her CrossFit journey as a personal trainer.
“[Training] was really rewarding to me because I would be training with people, and I loved just being able to see very tangible results,” Melissa told Spark. “Helping others’ health, their longevity, and how they live, extends beyond just the gym.”
With the idea of opening up their own personal training studio, Melissa and Daniel were soon introduced to CrossFit by a friend.
“Melissa went and tried it first, and she just fell in love with it right away,” said Daniel. “She’s the one that got us into it, and then I started doing it after her.”
Shortly after moving closer to family, the two opened one of the few CrossFit affiliates in Ohio and began working with community members.
“When somebody joins [Ironside], we always take them through a 30-day program, and that’s to get them familiar with CrossFit,” said Daniel. “It includes one-on-one sessions as well as some group classes. It’s really important for safety’s sake, that people understand what to do in class.”
Before the 30-day program, there is also another introduction they do with new members called the “No-Sweat Intro”.
“We sit down with them, and for 20 minutes, we talk about what their specific goals are, and it’s very individualized,” said Melissa. “Based on that, we recommend a specific program for them. We also do check-ins, where we look at their goals, revisit them, see if maybe they have new goals, and then celebrate the goals they have accomplished.”
At Ironside, Melissa and Daniel both agree that everything they do is very personalized for each member.
“After every workout, we log in their results, how much weight they lifted, how fast they went, and over time, you can see the great trajectory for getting stronger, faster, and just a great measure for fitness,” said Melissa.
Soon to be a 5-year member, Megan Hill says that CrossFit Ironside is a perfect fit for her.
“I remember walking, really wobbling, away from my first class feeling like I found what I was looking for,” Hill told Spark. “Daniel and Melissa were super helpful in starting me out. They introduced different types of lifts I would see in a workout, and made sure I knew the proper lifting technique for each lift.”
Working with Daniel and Melissa, Hill continues to achieve her specific goals.
“When I first started at Ironside, I was at the point where I wanted to get my body back in shape after pregnancy and toddlers,” said Hill. “Since joining Ironside, staying consistent with workouts, and participating in multiple nutrition workshops, I have lost 40 pounds and gained so much strength and confidence.”
Offering classes to varying ages, another current member of Ironside is East junior Frankie Blessing.
“My dad who has been going for almost 10 years introduced me to CrossFit during COVID when we did at-home workouts,” Blessing told Spark.
Although she is one of the younger members, the community at the gym is Blessing’s favorite aspect of CrossFit.
“All of the supporting people there have truly helped me grow into the person I am today and cheered me on through it all,” said Blessing. “I have met a lot of amazing people through CrossFit, and I feel like I have a whole other family there.”
Hill also feels that she has made lifelong friends at Ironside, and is very grateful for them.
“There is never a day I go to the gym where I don’t know anyone,” said Hill. “Everyone who comes to the gym has made a commitment to better themselves and the members are always supportive of that.”
With such a collaborative community, Daniel explains that this is what makes CrossFit different from a typical gym.
“Usually at a big gym, everybody has their earbuds or their headphones on. They’re not talking to anybody,” said Daniel. “Here, everyone knows each other’s name, they know if you didn’t show up the day before, they know that you did the same workout and that you’re just as sore as they are.”
Having proximity and commitments is where members form bonds and become friends.
“After a workout, the walls really break down, where you just really get to know someone on a deeper level,” said Melissa. “We do a lot of events just to keep things fun and interesting, and people can bring their friends out to those. We’ll also do social events, where people just connect, both on a fitness and social level.”
In addition to its community, CrossFit also stands out from other gyms because of the one-on-one attention and coaching.
“Something that I’m super passionate about is when I see people starting to get results when they trust the process,” said Daniel. “That’s what really fires me up; I love when people see results.”
Hitting her 5-year mark in June, Hill will continue attending classes, as Ironside has become her “feel good” place.
“Ironside isn’t trying to be the biggest and best gym out there,” said Hill. “They want people to feel good when they come to the gym and good when they leave.”
Ironside’s community is not just built around fitness but also trust, encouragement, and shared goals.
“It’s a community of people who encourage each other,” said Hill. “When I have a bad day, I know going to the gym will make it better just because of the people I will see there.”