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 also holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree which she received from Hunter College. She completed her residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy at Mount Sinai Hospital where she still treats people with neurologic diagnoses (i.e. Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, post-Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury). She also 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 Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist (FRCms), IKSFA Level 2 Kettlebell Sport Coach, USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach, and has attended multiple Olympic Weightlifting seminars.

Contact: avery.wittkamp [at] gmail.com | Instagram: @nyckettlebells

Jennie’s love of athletics started early in life.  She began playing T-ball at the age of 4 and went on to play softball through high school and college.  Jennie played shortstop as a freshman in high school and started at shortstop as a freshman in college.  Always staying active, she played on school teams, travel teams and local teams.  During high school, Jennie discovered her passion for exercise and started to work out often.

Jennie is a ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist and holds certifications in CrossFit Level 2, FMS Level 2 and CrossFit Gymnastics.  She has attended the CrossFit Gymnastics Seminar and has competed in several CrossFit competitions.  She also is First Aid/CPR/AED/BLS certified.

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-L1, Precision Nutrition-1, NASM-CPT, and Pain Free Performance Specialist certifications. She is currently working towards a behavior change specialization and NLP certification.

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

Patrick began coaching CrossFit in 2009, but his fitness journey really started in 2007 when he was talked into doing “Fran” and never looked back. He took this new found passion and pursued a degree in Exercise Science and Athletic coaching from Saginaw Valley State University.
Since 2009, Patrick has coached at a number of affiliates throughout Michigan, notably CrossFit Petoskey, Chemical City CrossFit, and started his own CrossFit club at his university, before moving to New York City. Patrick is formerly the Head Coach at CrossFit Columbus Circle and you can find him now at CrossFit Union Square, GRIT City, and soon CFSBK.

Patrick’s experience doesn’t end with CrossFit; he also holds the CSCS from the National Strength & Conditioning Association as well as USA Weightlifting. He had the honor of serving as an Assistant Coach for both the SVSU Strength & Conditioning team and the NCAA DII Women’s Soccer program.Patrick enjoys teaching all aspects of fitness but specializes in the Olympic lifts and helping people overcome set-backs/injury to achieve their fitness goals. He holds the Certified CrossFit Trainer (CF-L3) designation and spends his free time serving as a Judge for various Sanctionals and the CrossFit Games. He is currently working towards earning his CF-L4 and aspires to be a member of the CrossFit Level 1 seminar staff to share his passion and experience with new CrossFitters and future CrossFit coaches.

Contact: thepatfrank [at] gmail.com | Instagram: @thepatfrank

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

Whitney’s love of movement started early in life. She began ballet at the age of 3 and went on to participate in (and occasionally win) national dance competitions throughout her teens. This passion continued into her college years, and she received her BFA in Dance from the University of Illinois. It was there that she first studied anatomy and kinesiology.

Her first CrossFit experience was in the fall of 2009 when she took a class with CFSBK founder Coach David… and couldn’t walk down stairs properly for three days afterward. Having always been active but never lifted any weight, Whitney spent a good amount of time afraid of an empty barbell and only dreaming of getting a strict Chin-Up. A lot has changed in 10 years! Her goal as a coach is to inspire people to lay a safe, consistent, and sound foundation in their movement and to build a lifestyle of health and strength that is sustainable… for life!

In addition to CrossFit and Short Circuit, Whitney teaches Yoga for Athletes on Saturday mornings. She also loves to travel, hike, and surf!

Whitney holds CrossFit Level 2, CrossFit Gymnastics, Precision Nutrition Level 1, and CYT-200HR Certifications.

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!