Angelina Becker

Growing up, I played every sport under the sun. My parents wanted me to try everything and see which sports I like to play. This instilled a love for competition in me at a very young age. At the end of elementary school- beginning of middle school, I decided gymnastics and soccer were the sports I loved the most and wanted to focus on. I went on to win a few state titles in gymnastics and place second at nationals. Around 8th grade, my soccer coach sent my team to an all-girls Olympic style weightlifting gym to do team strength training. I found myself really enjoying the sport of Olympic weightlifting, so I soon started competing. I did that for about three years, then switched to a CrossFit gym the summer before junior year of high school. It rapidly became my safe place, my escape, a time where I could forget about everything going on in my life and just focus on the WOD in front of me.

November of my freshman year of high school, I experienced my first panic attack. For the next four years, I quietly struggled with mental health. Throughout high school, it was a demon I fought every day but did not express to anyone. It was a lot easier to pretend like everything was okay, and I didn't want to "burden" anyone with my problems. During my senior year, I finally got the courage to speak up and ask for help. With the support of my doctors, therapist, and loved ones, I was able to finally work through my thoughts and struggles. I am so happy to say that I am okay now. I of course still have my hard days, but I know they will not last forever. Looking back on that dark time in my life, I now know that it is okay not to be okay. I am grateful that it's a part of my story because I am living proof that things get better. You are loved, you are wanted, and you are never a burden.

Having incredible coaches who provided such a safe space inspired me to become a coach myself. I want to be able to provide that for other people. I want the athletes I get to coach to know that even if they have a bad day, at least they get to spend one hour not thinking about it and enjoy a workout with a coach that cares about them. I am impassioned to serve people who are willing to work hard and want to make themselves 1% better every day.