Courtney Sendek

While physical aesthetics were the original draw to the high intensity intervals and strength training that define most CrossFit workouts (aka, I wanted to look good in a bathing suit), a passion for health as a hedge against disease is what has kept me coming back for almost a decade.  Movement IS medicine.  Physical exertion forces us into the uncomfortable places that create stronger, better and more resilient versions of ourselves. This is true for every single person on the planet:  our bodies, our minds, were intended to move and to be challenged; consistently and in varied ways.  In a world where sedentary lifestyle related diseases run rampant, I see CrossFit as a beacon of hope – and not just because the workouts are hard.  But because regardless of race, sexuality or physical ability CrossFit begs you to come as you are.   Our community doesn’t judge someone because they can’t do a push up or a pull up or run 400 meters (yet), our community applauds them for TRYING.  We applaud those brave enough to venture outside of the soft, comfortable places that modern humanity affords us.  If you meet someone in a CrossFit gym who doesn’t embody that culture of positivity, they usually don’t last long.  I have developed lasting and meaningful relationships with people at this gym because we suffer and grow stronger together.  I am proud to be a small part of our member’s fitness journeys.  Courtney Sendek is a working mom, wife, cold plunge enthusiast and pancreatic cancer survivor.

Amy Nerlinger

My whole life I’ve identified as an athlete; it’s in my blood. Growing up, I played basketball, soccer, and swam.

Up until high school, the primary influence on my athletic development was my father, who coached most of my teams. A Division 1 college football player and a high school state champion in wrestling and football, he knows a thing or two about sports, and about life, not only teaching me about competition and tactics, but also determination, resiliency, and hard work.

From my perspective, it’s hard to find these lessons outside of sports, so after focusing so strongly on my athletic career in high school and playing club soccer at Boston College, I didn’t know what to do when that was no longer a part of my life. I was searching for something that provided a similar stimulus to my experience in that athletic environment.

Fast forward about 6 years, after dabbling with exercise programs, I found CrossFit. I fell in love with the competition, the variety, the pain, and, most of all, the community. CrossFit has been my safe space, my outlet for stress, my social group, my teacher, and a place where I’ve gained strength, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally.

As a coach, my goal is to create this same environment for our members. I want to coach members like my father coached me – not only technique, skills, and strategy, but also how to be mentally and emotionally strong.

This spirit, mind, and body connection instilled in me from a young age came to life while obtaining my master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, with a concentration in Athletic Counseling, from Springfield College in western Massachusetts.

At SC, I gained experience working with both teams and individual athletes on the mental components of performance enhancement and overall well-being. When working with clients, my goal is to help them better understand their internal world in order to navigate their external world in a more holistic and healthy way. By preparing individuals with the skills and strategies necessary to meet the demanding needs of their environment, they will achieve greater overall well-being and greater success at work, at home, at school, in their sport, or in the gym.

Some topics I’ve focused on with clients include, but are not limited to: mental toughness, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, stress management, anxiety regulation, resiliency, adaptability, confidence building, self-control, time management, motivation, goal setting, grief management, eating disorder awareness, psychological return to sport after injury, career and academic advising, relationship management, communication, role definition, and conflict resolution.

Mike Mood – Owner/Coach

Growing up, I was always athletic and good at most sports. My primary sport was soccer, which I played in high school and college. After graduating, I struggled to find the motivation to workout consistently while starting a career and family. I found CrossFit in 2013, and it forever changed my life.  Many of my family members suffer from obesity, diabetes, and other health problems. Instead of making excuses that I was destined for the same fate due to genetics, I sought an alternative path. CrossFit Riverfront provided me with a community that supported my desire to become a better version of myself. I strive to help lead and support our tremendous coaches, so that others join us and receive the same encouragement and assistance on their health and wellness journeys.

Laura D Mood – Owner/Coach

I’ve been passionate about athletics my whole life. Growing up, I played volleyball, basketball, golf, and track. I also spent all four years of college on a full athletic scholarship, playing NCAA Division II volleyball at Goldey-Beacom College. After having children, I found it difficult to get back into shape. I began running half marathons, but it eventually took a toll on my body. That’s when I decided to try CrossFit, after Mike had been doing it for a year. It was love at first lift. My whole mindset shifted. I went from focusing on weight loss to prioritizing strength. Now, there’s nothing better than the confidence that comes with being strong.

My favorite thing about RIV is the community. There are so many incredible people who walk through the door, all with the same goal: to be healthy and fit. For them, it’s an hour dedicated to themselves, to their health. It’s a break from work and home, a time to recharge, so they can return to their lives feeling re-energized and ready to take on whatever comes next!

Katie Slavish

My athletic background stems from swimming. I swam competitively for about 10 years. I had to quit all athletics for a brief period of time. Once I was cleared by my doctors, I was unable to find any other sport or fitness class that could compare swimming. I started attending CrossFit classes in 2014 and have been in love with fitness ever since. I compete at small competitions in Delaware and love to see the drive and determination of everyone around me. Once cycling was introduced, I could not stay away! I can always be found at the Riv either squatting, cycling or just sitting around  petting all the dogs coming in.

Mark Peters

I played several sports growing up – primarily baseball, wrestling and tennis. After high school, I became active in volleyball, and then rowing, which I still compete in. Over those years, I have also coached baseball, soccer, wrestling and rowing. It was while looking for a way to train for rowing during an extended vacation that I got involved in CrossFit and it’s been my focus ever since. As a masters athlete, I wasn’t sure if it was too late for me to start CrossFit. However, I was and am truly amazed at the support I got from the community and the progress I have been able to make as a result.

I personally love to compete and have been happy to find out that, in addition to the younger athletes you see on television, CrossFit has wonderful age-group competitions. However, coming to CrossFit later in life than most has made me understand that while that’s certainly a great part of CrossFit, it’s not the main point. Rather, it’s about improving your physical capability and capacity, regardless of whether you’re eight or eighty, and whether that improvement is squatting 500 pounds or getting your first push-up.

As a coach, while I do enjoy helping people hone their competitive skills, I’ve found that I get even more joy helping somebody simply acquire a skill that they thought they weren’t capable of. If you think you’re too old, young, big, small, uncoordinated or whatever to benefit from CrossFit, I encourage you to give us a try. I’ll bet you’ll find out you can not only do it, but have a great time and get in better shape than you thought possible.

Chelsea Mock – Head Coach

Throughout my life, I’ve always had a passion for health and fitness. Growing up, I was an active athlete playing soccer and a member of both track & field and swim teams.

As an athlete, I was always mindful of nutrition, an interest which led me to major in Dietetics at the University of Delaware, graduating with a B.S. in Dietetics.

Ten years ago, I gave CrossFit a shot, and have been hooked ever since. Most CrossFit athletes will tell you it is not only the physicality of the sport that keeps them coming back, but the community and camaraderie that drive them through tough workouts.

You don’t need to get in shape before arriving at Riv Athletics. We have such an incredibly diverse community with varied skills and abilities would love to support you in reaching your goals.

I look forward to welcoming you to our next class!

“Its never too late to become what you might have been.”

B.S. in Dietetics CF-L2