Avery comes to CFSBK with over 14 years of coaching experience that include nearly a decade serving as a head coach of CrossFit NYC, one of the largest and oldest affiliates in the world. In her time there she served as the lead programmer, ran the competition team, (including coaching a 60+ year old masters athlete all the way to the CrossFit Games) and coached thousands of hours with individuals and groups of all levels.

Avery holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree which she received from Hunter College. She is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy and also completed a residency at Mount Sinai Hospital. Outside of CFSBK, she treats people with orthopedic and neurologic conditions (i.e. Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, post-Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury) and uses these skills in the gym setting working with people returning to fitness after injury.

As an athlete, Avery participated in kettlebell sport competitions at the national and international level in classic lifts (10 minutes with one hand switch) and half marathons (30 minutes). She holds master of sport ranks and several national records in the 63 kg weight class for 16 kg snatch, 16 kg single arm biathlon (snatch and jerk), and 20 kg snatch half marathon.

Avery’s area of expertise includes working with those new to CrossFit, competitive CrossFitters, Olympic Weightlifters, Kettlebell Sport athletes, older adults, and people with neurologic diagnoses.

Additional credentials Avery holds are: CrossFit Level 2 trainer, Certified Adaptive and Inclusive Trainer (AIT), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist (FRCms), IKSFA Level 2 Kettlebell Sport Coach, and USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach.

Contact: avery@wittkampphysicaltherapy.com

Instagram: @averywittkamp_pt

Steph was first introduced to CrossFit in Sydney, Australia in 2014 by accident. Having never done a pull up or lifted a single weight before, she was instantly drawn to the challenging but inspiring atmosphere that CrossFit provided. Having grown up with constant criticisms about her body and being told that women aren’t allowed to be strong and that women shouldn’t lift weights, CrossFit helped build the confidence she needed to know that anyone can be strong as long as you believe you are

Steph has always been fascinated by movement and the human body. She pursued a Bachelor’s and Masters degrees in Immunology and Infectious Diseases but upon returning back to NYC in 2017, she was looking for a new change. She left her career in science and made the switch into coaching and since then has focused on helping other people become not only physically stronger, but to help strengthen their mindset so that they have the confidence the need to reach their utmost potential.

Steph currently holds CrossFit-L2, Precision Nutrition-1, NASM-CPT, and Pain Free Performance Specialist certifications.

Contact: efpr230687 [at] gmail.com | Instagram: @efpr23

Cara Claymore is a strength coach, personal cultivation strategist, and filmmaker/artist whose work focuses on the cultivation of the individual through meaningful challenge.

A battle with depression in her early 20s lead her to lifting and discovering the sport of strongman.

With 29 strength competitions behind her, ranging from strongman, weightlifting, and highland games, Cara has racked up thousands of hours training, coaching, competing and learning.

She competed and placed at the national level in strongman (2018, 2020), and has trained and competed with elite strongman athletes and coaches over the last decade.

She worked as a personal trainer & strength coach from 2014 to 2021, took a hiatus to direct her first feature film, then re-entered coaching in 2023.

You can connect with her on Instagram & TikTok @caraclaymore & www.caraclaymore.com

Grant first encountered CrossFit in 2012 at CrossFit 212 in Manhattan. He’d recently begun a journey in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction, and was looking to meet new people, face new challenges, and find new ways to spend his time. Outside of strength training as a lifelong hockey player, he had never once lifted a weight voluntarily. He quickly learned that he loved long grunty workouts, machines, and sharing in the suffering of others, and was more resistant to mobility work and olympic weightlifting. These things still hold true.

For Grant, CrossFit is a constant reminder that working through resistance offers the most remarkable rewards, and that movement can allow us to build resilience and vulnerability on a daily basis. In 2022, Grant made a decision to build a career at the intersection of movement and recovery. He now spends most of his waking hours developing fitness and community programming for people impacted by addiction in NYC via his role at The Phoenix. He considers coaching at CFSBK an extraordinary opportunity and responsibility, and one he is immensely grateful for.

BA in English Literature from The University of Wisconsin-Madison
CrossFit Level 1

Katie has been involved with team sports for as long as she can remember. Throughout her high school and college days, she kept herself busy playing lacrosse, field hockey, track and field, and swimming and diving. A few months after earning her B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland in 2012, Katie discovered CrossFit at a small affiliate in a friend’s garage. Despite the freezing barbells and need for space heaters during the chilly winter months, the unique sense of community mixed with a competitive atmosphere were enough to keep her captivated.

Katie made the big move to Brooklyn in early 2013 after landing a spot in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at LIU. She discovered CFSBK shortly after we hosted 13.2 and was immediately hooked by the warm sense of community and top notch coaching. She eventually joined the team and began coaching at CrossFit South Brooklyn in February 2015.

Katie has found coaching CrossFit to be the perfect complement to physical therapy, as it has accelerated her ability to explore and understand human movement beyond the clinic. Katie is currently a licensed Physical Therapist providing coaching/physical therapy services and leads the Adaptive Athlete program at CrossFit South Brooklyn. She is also a one on one Performance Care coach for the ActiveLife; where she programs for injured individuals and assists with ActiveLife Movement Workshops at CrossFit gyms up and down the East Coast. 

Her area of expertise ranges anywhere from the weekend warrior, to Sanctionals/Games level CrossFitters, Pro Strongman athletes, competitive powerlifters/weightlifters, and adaptive athletes. All in all, Katie is excited to have found the best of both worlds, where she is able to help people of all ages and abilities bridge the gap between rehabilitation and lifelong wellness/fitness.

Katie is a CrossFit Level 2 trainer, CrossFit certified in Adaptive Training, Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist (FRCms), Functional Movement Screen Provider (FMS), Graston Technique Provider, Rocktape Functional Movement Specialist I, and attended the Catalyst Athletics Weightlifting Seminar.

Contact: Katie [at] CrossFitSouthBrooklyn.com | Instagram: @kharper369

Coach Whit first walked into CFSBK as a newbie in 2009. She began coaching in March 2014 and deeply enjoys serving this community over a decade later! Whitney has contributed to group class programming since 2022 and took on the role of Director of Training in May 2024.

Whitney has a lifelong love of movement. She began dance classes at the age of three and went on to participate in (and occasionally win) national dance competitions throughout her teens. Whitney received her BFA in Dance from the University of Illinois, where she first studied anatomy, kinesiology, and pedagogy. Soon after, she started teaching yoga classes here in Brooklyn and wandered reluctantly into the world of fitness!

As an athlete with hemihyperplasia (google it!), Whitney is grateful to have found strength training and has learned a lot through working with her own bouts of pain and injury. While focused on health and training longevity, she’s thrown down at several in-house and local competitions and has finished in the 94th-97th percentile in the world in the CrossFit Open during her past 7 years of participation.

Whitney is passionate about empowering people to work hard, have fun, give their best, and let go of self-limiting beliefs. As both a trainer and nutrition coach, she guides others in building sustainable habits that support their health and goals.

In addition to CrossFit and Short Circuit classes, Whitney teaches Range & Resilience on Saturdays. She loves to cook, travel, hike, surf, and now thanks to her husband, Coach Brett, snowboard!

Whitney holds CrossFit Level 2, CrossFit Gymnastics, Precision Nutrition Level 1, and CYT-200HR Certifications, and is a Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist (FRCms)

Contact: Whitney [at] CrossFitSouthBrooklyn.com | Instagram: @whitneymhubbard

Lizzy received her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training and Master of Physician Assistant studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Her fascination of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology combined with personal athletic injuries over the years, led her down the career path of becoming an Athletic Trainer and Physician Assistant. She currently works at Hospital for Special Surgery as an Orthopedic Surgery Physician Assistant on the Sports Medicine Service. She enjoys being able to use her career to help people achieve health and longevity.

Lizzy’s passion for movement and athleticism was sparked at an early age starting with dance and gymnastics and continuing with soccer, track, and competitive cheerleading. Lizzy has been teaching group fitness since 2008 and has taught a wide variety of classes (cardio kickboxing, Pilates/yoga fusion, dance cardio, HIIT, MMA fusion, and boxing to name a few). She worked as a Master Trainer for Beachbody Live from 2013-2019. Empowering people through fitness has been her driving force. She believes that fitness is all-inclusive and has no boundaries of age, body-type, or experience. Her goal is to always keep the environment fun and welcoming and the work safe and effective.

Lizzy’s first CrossFit experience was in 2017 at a small affiliate in Richmond, VA. Although she walked in intimidated AF, she left feeling like she finally found “her people.” She has continued CrossFit ever since – there’s NOTHING like the CrossFit community!

Since moving to Brooklyn in 2018, CrossFit South Brooklyn has become a staple in Lizzy’s life. She is beyond excited to give back to the community that has given so much to her through the many different seasons in her life – the most impactful being pregnancy and postpartum.

Lizzy’s certifications include CrossFit Level 1, NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist, AFAA & ACE Group Fitness Instructor, Animal Flow Level 1, Kettlebell Athletics Level 1. She is also completing her certification as a Pregnancy and Postpartum Athlete Coach so she can help other mamas stay safe, healthy, and active throughout their journey!

Jeremy’s long and diverse athletic background gives him a thorough understanding of training, both for specific sports and for general strength and conditioning. Wrestling, track and field, CrossFit, and powerlifting are among the disciplines he has pursued competitively. He believes strength is the foundation of life and supports anyone committed to getting under the bar regularly.

In the tradition of Mark Rippetoe, Jeremy’s Starting Strength Program has become an important adjunct to CFSBK’s CrossFit programming. Through it, he has trained a varied population including male and female novices, deconditioned and recovering athletes, pregnant women, and competitive lifters. In fact, several of his novices have gone on to compete as raw lifters with the USAPL.

Jeremy placed 32nd in the 2008 Crossfit Games, competed in the 2009 Northeast Regional Qualifiers as an individual, and in 2010 as an affiliate team member. In addition, he has competed as a raw lifter with the USAPL.

Jeremy is a Certified Starting Strength Coach and holds a CrossFit Level 1 certification. He attended Robb’s Wolf’s Paleo Solution seminar, Kelly Starret’s Mobility and Recovery Seminar, and Chip Conrad’s Brutal Recess.

Contact: Jeremy [at] CrossFitSouthBrooklyn.com