This month we want to recognize an athlete which is long overdue and who we like to call as one of our OGs. Marcello has been with us since our grand opening and although he started CrossFit in 2014, he has the athletic skills and competitive talent that makes him one of the most watched male athletes at our box. If you have ever checked out our website, Marcello is featured in our promo video!

Literally an Officer and a Gentleman of the United States Navy, Marcello is also one of the most humble and nicest guys you will ever meet. When he initially comes into the gym, he does so quietly but once it's 3,2,1 GO time, the inner beast is unleashed! Our male athletes appreciate competing along and against him because he definitely pushes them to bring out their A game!

Next week, Marcello will be leaving us to continue his military career up north. Wishing him safe travels and many PRs!

Thank you for selecting me as the May Athlete of the Month; it’s a huge honor to be recognized by such an awesome group of individuals like our Drop Box family.
How did I get involved in CrossFit? So my journey into CrossFit began after my Afghanistan deployment in 2014. I’d been a very athletic person all my life; from playing football and wrestling in high school to wrestling at the United States Naval Academy for three years. After my journey with wrestling had come to an end I began focusing on bodybuilding. I was getting bigger and stronger so I decided to continue with the bodybuilding regiment. But, like most people, these workouts would get REALLY BORING REALLY QUICKLY. After a few years I was tired of the same routine. Chest workouts on Monday, Legs on Wednesday, Bi's and Tri's on Friday. I felt like a hamster on a wheel. A few of my friends had been doing CrossFit for awhile and even though I was skeptical about it I figured, what the heck i’ll try it. Little did I know that my first WOD would be the Open Workout 14.5; thrusters and bar facing burpees. I hadn’t felt that tired working out since wrestling in college, but I had felt that kind of accomplishment doing a workout either. After that, I began looking for CrossFit boxes close to where I lived; that’s when I stumbled upon Drop Box CrossFit. Meeting Coach G and Coach Art that first day was amazing. Drop Box had just officially opened, I walked in, talked with both of them for a few minutes then asked if I could participate in the next class. Without hesitation I immediately signed up as a member of Drop Box CrossFit and it’s definitely been one of the best decisions I’ve made.

So why CrossFit? Well the most simple answer I can give people is that there hasn’t been a single workout program that I have tried since wrestling in college that gives me the same kind of feeling of accomplishment. CrossFit makes me feel like an athlete again. Crossfit gets me excited and sometimes a little nerves for workouts to workout. It pumps me up when I deadlift 500lbs , and humbles me when I struggle with 10 handstand push-ups. Also, I feel that with CrossFit I make goals for myself that are actually tangible. There’s no more working out for 2 hours a day to try and gain an inch on my bicep or to lose 3 inches around my waist. Now my goals revolve around the training aspects that got me in the gym originally; wanting to squat this much, wanting to get my 5k time down to this, wanting to do so many handstand push-ups in a row. In doing so I’ve not only seen myself become stronger than I ever was before, I’ve also achieved those physique goals as well.

Why Drop Box? Of all the gyms that I have been to post college wrestling, Drop Box CrossFit is by far and away the tightest knit group of people I have ever seen. The gym as a whole is dedicated to everyone achieving the goals they set for themselves. I remember when I did my first competition and the entire box came out to support and cheer for me on a hot Saturday in May of 2015.

I don’t know of any gym where complete strangers would care about each other that much and show that kind of support. This group of people will always have a special place in my heart, and no matter where I go I will be a Drop Box CrossFit member for life!

Current PRs:
Snatch: 215
C&J: 275
Back Squat: 410
Deadlift: 525

Team Grit RX Team: Marcello, G, Kaleo, & Mike — Team Grit RX Team: Marcello, G, Kaleo, & Mike

Marcello with girlfriend Morgan, GO NAVY!

DBCF: Farewell party for Marcello & Mark at Chick's Oyster Bar

May Spotlight Athlete of the Month- Marcello Frierson!