Art Chevalier
*Co-Founder/Co-Owner 2015-2022
Owner 2023-Current
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
CrossFit Weightlifting Level 1
CrossFit Endurance Trainer
CrossFit Spot the Flaw Course
CrossFit Lesson Planning Course
CrossFit Judges Course
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
I grew up here in the Hampton Roads area. I have worked for the federal government for over 20 years providing IT Solutions to our military warfighters. I’ve been pretty active in sports my entire life. I graduated from Old Dominion University and played division baseball for the Monarchs and also for the Florida Institute of Technology Panthers.
I began CrossFit in March of 2011. After months of putting G off, he finally convinced me to come with him at lunch to the Marine Gym and do a WOD. I dont specifically remember the WOD except for one of the movements... hand stand push-ups. I think I finished in like 40 minutes where everyone else was done in less than 20. When it was over I remember gasping for air, while making a sweat angel, and thinking I have to do this again?! I continue to CrossFit because it’s part of life maintenance for me. I've been a gym rat for over 20 years...Some days I would dread having to go to the gym, or do the same video, again and again, for weeks on end. For the last 3.5 years I can honestly say there hasn't been a day where I haven't looked forward to everyone's favorite morning activity...checking to see what today's WOD will be. The challenge + camaraderie + variance + results + other things I forgot = FUN. That's why I keep going.
In my spare time I help coach my 3 boys’ baseball. Yes coaching is a fitness activity. I also enjoy playing indoor and beach volleyball. All of the other usual suspects: running in races, competing in fitness competitions... I do just to prove to myself how much stronger and faster people are than me. I almost forgot moon walking!
My biggest accomplishment in CrossFit I guess it would be competing in 3 team competitions over the last year held by fellow local boxes. Coming from a non-affiliated group of misfits who started almost 4 years ago, G excluded, to holding our own in these Rx competitions was an awesome experience. It's a culmination of what G has taught us and I imagine that makes him most proud of his little group. And now as business partners, we both hope to bring that same energy to Drop Box and the community. Back on track here... CrossFit in general has helped me stay relatively injury free, which in turn keeps me outside playing whatever sport my kids are wanting to play that day.
April Pearce
Head Coach, November 17, 2022 - Current
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
CrossFit Weightlifting Level 1
CrossFit Judges Course
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
The basics:
April Bossons, 28 years old, born in the Philippines, grew up in Norfolk/Virginia Beach. I'm a CrossFit level 1 trainer and a Business Development Specialist for Anthem BCBS Medicaid. I have a degree in mathematics (statistics). Disclaimer- that does not mean I can do any calculation in my head as people tend to think lol but I may or may not be able to provide a formula to help calculate total reps depending on the wod.
My fitness background:
I did softball, gymnastics and track in high school. I've always enjoyed being strong, probably because I have an older brother that taught me not to be a punk Post- high school, I had about a five year period without a regular gym routine. Once I decided I wanted to get into working out, I wasn't getting the results I wanted, so, I took a leap of faith and decided to try CrossFit.
Enter CrossFit:
I've been doing CrossFit for a little over 3 years now and couldn't imagine life without it. I truly believe that CrossFit provides results for a variety of athletes with a variety of goals, and I'm more than excited to help others along their journey! -May 2018
DBCF: April was also Athlete of the Month for April in 2016! Read more about her, click here: <Spotlight>
Kimberly Thurber
Coach
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Gymnastics Trainer
CrossFit Endurance Trainer
CrossFit Judges Course
USAW Sports Performance Coach
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
I am originally from Brooklyn, New York. Growing up I had always love playing sports. Like most New York families I grew up loving baseball. I played field hockey and softball in high school, as well as cheerleading for while but that was short lived because I just loved field hockey and softball more.
Four months after graduation I left for the Navy to travel the world. Transferring to my 3rd Command and deploying to Kuwait was a absolute blessing! That is where I met my first CrossFit coach and absolutely fell in love with the sport and competition of it all. Upon our return to states, I signed up for my Level 1 and fell in love with CrossFit even more.
Soon after I joined my first CrossFit box here locally. I signed up for many competitions and achieved many PRs there, but knew my heart was more into helping others achieve their fitness goals and surpassing what they thought was possible. With that pulling at my heart I had done my best to further my knowledge and continue to do so. After interning for 3-1/2 years, I knew it was time to further my knowledge even more and that’s when I became a member of Drop Box CrossFit.
When Coach G and Coach Art opened up positions in their internship program and then being hired, there was so much emotion behind it because I was finally getting a chance to do what I love… COACH. With that being said I may be a stickler for form but it is always with a vision of the best you possible.
Michael "Twitch" McMahon
Coach
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Judges Course
National Registry and Virginia Paramedic
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR/BLS)
Lots of other EMS certifications that don’t really matter here (haha)
I’ll start with a brief background on myself. I grew up here in Virginia Beach, but actually started CrossFit out in the mountains of western Virginia in 2012 or 2013? I don’t exactly remember. Anyway…I got my start at a gym that is now closed ( ) called CrossFit NRV. Prior to CrossFit I had always been a swimmer and never done anything the really involved weights. Or barbells. Or dry land in general. Heck, I hardly ever ran. But after years of this aquatic fitness regimen I decided it was time for a change. I was in shape and healthy, but I was not exactly a big dude. At 6’ 1” I weighed in at a scrawny 160 lbs. I wanted to put on some muscle not only for looks, but also to help with everyday life and work.
Like EVERYONE else I don’t remember what my first workout was, but I do remember it being awful. I also remember being in terrible, stiff pain for the first couple weeks of CrossFit as well! My body was not happy with this new terrestrial fitness routine. Despite the pain I stuck with it. Eventually the pain subsided and I began to notice changes after about 6 months. I was hooked. So I kept at it and the first thing I looked for when I moved back to Virginia Beach for grad school was a CrossFit gym. That’s how I found Drop Box. Drop Box was the first, and only gym, I visited when I got back home. I loved it from the moment I got there! I immediately felt welcome in the new gym. And the workouts were just as tough as I’d hoped they’d be!
That was back in August of 2015. Since then I’ve seen my lifts increase in weight, my form and technique improve (ask any of the other coaches about this…they’ll agree), and my overall performance has gotten dramatically better. Drop Box also got me hooked on CrossFit Competitions! I missed competitive sports from my time as a swimmer, and CrossFit has allowed me to get back into it. ALL that led to my interest in obtaining my CFL1 in March of 2018 and starting the intern program at DBCF. I had been a swim coach in the past, but coaching CrossFit is so much more challenging and fun. I love seeing my fellow athletes improve and cheering y’all on during all the awful WODs DBCF is kind enough to throw out. Obtaining my L1 has not only allowed me to gain a better understanding of health and fitness, but allowed me to experience a new side to CrossFit that I truly enjoy.
Also, my nickname is Twitch, I’m a paramedic, and I like plants and not wearing shirts.
DBCF: Twitch was also July 2017 Athlete of the Month. Read more about him, click here:<Spotlight>
Tom Quinn
Coach
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
Adaptive Trainer Certificate
CrossFit Judges Course
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
I was born on Long Island, NY before moving to Virginia at the age of 12. I hold a CF-L1 and Adaptive trainer certificates and currently serve as an Assistant Principal for Virginia Beach City Public Schools. I hold a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies, M.S. in Education, and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. I taught at the middle school level for twelve years, and an additional three at the high school level before moving into an administrative role. Outside of the gym and work, I am a proud husband and father of two active kids.
My fitness background was that of a typical kid, before cell phones and social media, which began with baseball and street hockey and later included football, soccer, and even equestrian before focusing on ice hockey during my early teens. In college, I continued my athletics playing ice hockey and later added rugby. Like many athletes after college, I wandered through adult recreation leagues and various gym memberships yet never enjoyed the traditional gym routines. It was not until my late 30’s when my wife gave me a “Living Social” deal as a Father’s day present to try a CrossFit Fundamentals course that I began my journey. While I loved the concept and the course, the vibe of the box and their limited class schedule fell short putting me back at square one. A little over two years later, it took a new job, the need to recover from a badly broken leg, and a good friend to bring me to Drop Box. Several hundred WODs later, the rest is history.
I have been practicing CrossFit for over two years and still find myself excited each time the WOD is posted and the ten-second countdown begins. My love for learning and CrossFit go hand in hand and this journey has led me to do things that had never crossed my mind to even try (i.e.: see handstand walks, muscle-ups). My advice to new athletes is to get comfortable being uncomfortable because that is where you grow. Trust your coaches and the process and know the weight, reps, and intensity will all accelerate in time once you have learned to do the common, uncommonly well.
Know that CrossFit, and life, do not get easier; you simply get better. As you progress through your journey, learn to see what you believe instead of only believing what you see. Simply put, know there is nothing you cannot do in life; there are only things you haven’t done yet! Whatever your personal goals may be and wherever you are in your journey, we will meet you there. Our coaching staff and an amazing community are waiting to cheer you on and watch you redefine your limits!
Julie Paler
Coach
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Weightlifting Level 1
CrossFit Judges Course
Registered Nurse/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR/BLS)
Brianna Abbott
Coach
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
CrossFit Kids
Adaptive Trainer Certificate
CrossFit Anatomy
Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification
CrossFit Judges Course
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
My name is Brianna, most people just call me Bri! I am originally from Los Angeles, CA and life landed me & my dog Murphy in Virginia Beach back in 2016!
In 2013 I was about 70# overweight and decided to make a huge lifestyle change through fitness and nutrition. Living overseas, I didn’t have access to Crossfit so we’d do workouts at the track with body weightmovements, ropes, and tires. I officially started Crossfit once moving back stateside in January of 2016, and have been hooked since.
What drew me in was the amazing community. Outside of the gymwe have so much going on but that one hour a day is where we all have similar intentions, and that’s to get a good workout in and to make ourselves better for tomorrow.
CrossFit led me to realize how much I love oflifting weights. I’m a mediocre olympiclifter so I decided nextbest thing would be powerlifting. I started competing in March 2018 and have competed in local and international meets. I love that I don’t have to chosebetween CrossFit or Powerlifting because both sports can complement one another!
As a coach, I love to see how excited people get when they hit a movement for their first time or hit a PR. It is the most rewarding feeling in the world. Walking into a new gym can be intimidating but I promise, once you do, you’ll wish you’d started sooner!
JC Collins
Coach
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Weightlifting Level 1
CrossFit Judges Course
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
About me
I grew up in VB (kindergarten to high school: PAHS 1991). I spent a few years in college before joining the Navy (D.C., San Diego, and Bahrain) for 3 years. I left the Navy and I finished college in 2000. After college I lived and worked in Houston, Charlottesville and Northern Virginia. In 2017, I made a permanent move back to VB to be closer to my family.
Why Crossfit
Throughout my life I have been physically active in some way. In school and college I participated in various sports (baseball, football, wrestling, basketball, etc) at some level. In the military, I focused on general PT and weight training. But as time went by and life happened, I drifted away from working out and took up recreational and competitive softball. Eventually I stopped playing softball and joined a globo gym for gainz but not the free pizza. When work moved me to Northern VA, working out stopped. I became sedentary sitting at a desk.
Despite positive feedback and encouragement from close friends to try crossfit, I never walked into a box. It wasn’t until the winter of 2017 that I realized I was not heading in a healthy direction. I found it difficult to help care for my dad who had hemiplegia due to a stroke. I weighed 235+ lbs and struggled to lift/hold my 180 lbs father. I knew I needed to do something.
My DBCF Journey
I stopped by DBCF one day looking for Art and talked to Coach Stephanie for a few minutes. I hung out to watch the class start warm-ups and prep for the WOD. CrossFit definitely got my attention and I signed up for an intro class with Coach G the very next Saturday.
I will never forget that intro class, February 10, 2018. Art popped in as G was putting/pushing me through the intro WOD. It was on this day that I developed an extreme dislike for the AAB and literally left my feelings of exhaustion and disgust in the parking lot afterwards. But I didn’t die!!! After fundamentals the following week, my DBCF journey has been continuous and rewarding!!! Most importantly, as a Drop Box Coach, I want to guide, inspire and assist athletes on their individual journeys of self discovery and growth!
JC was also 2019 January Spotlight Athlete of the Month Click here to read more about him: <Spotlight>
Dave Hunter
Coach
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Weightlifting Level 1
CrossFit Judges Course
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
I’m originally from Syracuse, New York where I grew up playing lacrosse. I was recruited to play lax by the United States Naval Academy (USNA) and graduated from Annapolis back in 2003. After serving five years in the Navy, I completed my commitment on the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) as a Nuclear Surface Warfare Officer and planted my roots here in Virginia Beach. Since then I have been supporting the Navy in one capacity or another as a Consultant for various Navy organizations.
Having played sports in high school and at the collegiate level, strength training has always been a big part of my life. I have always gravitated towards using dumbbells and the barbell when I work out, however I admit some of the compound lifting movements that I love now, like Dead Lifts and Cleans, weren’t always my favorites in college.
Prior to drinking the CrossFit Kool-Aid, I was a typical “Average Joe’s” type lifter that would program chest days, leg days (Never Skip Leg Days BTW), Back, Shoulders, etc. in my workouts. If I’m being totally honest, I initially didn’t know much about CrossFit, nor did I understand it. My awesome wife who was a Drop Box Athlete a few years before I became one, brought me to a few “Friday Night Lights” WODs that Drop Box hosts during CrossFit Opens. The atmosphere, music, energy, but most importantly… sense of community instantly hooked me. The environment was electric, and I loved seeing Mothers, Current and Retired Services Members, Fathers, Doctors, Nurses, Teachers, Police Officers, Older Athletes and Young Bucks all working out together and cheering each other on. It was intoxicating and I wanted to be part of it.
Drop Box is the first CrossFit gym I ever WOD’d at, and I’ve been a member since June 2018. After building some great relationships, experiencing some fun times and hitting a few PRs along the way, I was inspired so much by the coaching staff that I wanted to become part of it. I love coaching the daily classes and Masters Class we host once a month.
A few last things about myself… I can say I’ve got an amazing wife, daughter and son that supported me in my journey to earn my CF-L1 (without that support I wouldn’t be part of the Coaching Staff). I’m not one of the fastest athletes at the gym, but I like moving heavy weight and pride myself on helping others do the same if I can. I love the sense of family and community I feel when step foot through those gym doors and still get excited every time I drive to Drop Box to coach. It’s an honor to able to coach the DBCF athletes and for me, one of the most rewarding experiences of being in front of the class is being able to see the hard work that everyone puts in and seeing the smiles and excitement when they either lift something or do something they didn’t think they could do.
I look forward to seeing you during hopefully one of the best hours of your day!
Dave was June 2019 Athlete Spotlight of the Month. Read more about him, Click here: <Spotlight>
Gil Bantay
Coach
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Judges Course
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Basics:
Gil Bantay, born in the Philippines and lived most of my life in Virginia Beach, VA. I obtained a B.S. in Geology from Old Dominion University and have been teaching Earth Science and Oceanography at Kempsville High School since 2005.
My fitness background:
Ironically, I never considered myself an athlete growing up. My sole experience of competitive sport was wrestling during my sophomore and junior year of high school. My passion was in music and during the 90’s, I played in a band performing at practically every venue and college in the region. The only form of physical activity was lifting heavy equipment into a venue, club, or frat house. After a fairly successful run with 2 releases, I decided to call it quits and returned to college.
It wasn’t until a “doctor’s scare” that prompted me to live a healthier lifestyle. During my annual physical and initial testing, I heard a plethora of bad results. My blood pressure read a lethal high 170/100, my HDL (good) cholesterol levels were low and my LDL (bad) cholesterol levels were high. Finally, I was told that I was 30 pounds overweight! I was immediately put on 10 mg of Amlodipine, a calcium blocker, to control my blood pressure.
And under my doctor’s recommendation, I was to: 1) Lose weight, 2) incorporate a strength and cardio program, and 3) eat healthy. I began to look into planning my new lifestyle for my life’s sake.
Enter CrossFit:
I began CrossFit when Drop Box CrossFit opened in January 2015. As a result of great programming, coaching, and enthusiasm DBCF has evoked through the years, I am living a healthier and stronger lifestyle. So far, I’ve lost 30 pounds, much stronger, and taken off my high blood medication! I hope as a coach, I can inspire and encourage a mindset for others to achieve goals to become healthy, fit, and strong.
Gil was February 2016 Athlete of the Month. Read more about him, click here: <Spotlight>
Mike Amos
Coach
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Weightlifting Level 1
CrossFit Judges Course
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Hi, I’m Mike and I’ve loved sports and competition since I was a little kid. Through a career in the Navy I’ve moved around a bunch bouncing between Maryland, Florida, Nevada, El Salvador and Virginia. My family and I now call Virginia Beach home and have been happily anchored here for almost 20 years.
As a kid growing up I played a variety of sports including baseball, basketball and soccer and then narrowed the focus to soccer and running (cross country and track) in high school. In college I kept up with distance running, added in some basic weightlifting and dabbled in random intramurals. In the Navy I was blessed to be surrounded by motivated people and shifted my focus to maintaining a baseline of running endurance capability while spending more time exploring the weight room without much of a training plan.
Enter Crossfit in 2009. Did a hero WOD (Murph) as my first WOD and was immediately humbled and hooked. From that point on I followed Crossfit.com workouts by myself and the variety and challenge never stopped. However, the enjoyment factor went up considerably when I joined a group of like-minded athletes led by Drop Box owners G and Art in a military gym in 2011. The group dynamic fueled my competitive spirit, the collective accountability was fantastic and I saw noticeable improvements as an athlete despite being masters-aged.
Now, after multiple competitions and many years of Crossfit Opens, I’m thrilled to be helping others discover what their bodies can truly achieve as a Crossfit Coach. I get excited to see the progress people make and to be a part of their success! Come on in, push yourself, make new friends. Can’t wait to see you in class!
Mike was 2018 Spotlight Athlete of the Month. Read more about him, click here <Spotlight>
CRossfit Open Workout 22.2 aftermath
Chriss Sullivan
Coach
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Weightlifting Level 1
CrossFit Judges Course
Registered Nurse/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Erin Munley
Coach
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Judges Course
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Sarah Elizabeth
Coach
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Judges Course
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
