We are back for another edition of P360 members of the month. For those of you wondering how we decide on this, our entire staff gets a thread going at the end of every month. We all nominate individuals and at the end of it, we vote. Maybe it seems like something trivial, but we take it really seriously because we love recognition of hard work, regardless of the fitness level.
Silver Medal
Clint Muzzy, Melissa DeJonckheere, Amanda Fusco, Sally Steiner, Jorge Villa, Brett Julian and Molly Powell all received coaches nominations, as well. Congratulations, guys! Your hard work did not go unnoticed.
Jon Kropp
Jon’s transformation has been the best we have seen at P360. Not to put him on front street, but when he began he had trouble performing a set of ten pushups. That level of beginner status did not outwardly affect Jon in the least, as he dove in head first, trained daily and let the process unfold for himself. This slow and steady approach has paid off and then some. Fast forward two years later and Jon is one of just five people to drop 40 pounds at P360 and has seen his strength explode with a 425# deadlift, and is just one club point away from our Club Forged. Jon is a great dude who are finally happy to be able to properly recognize.
Get to Know Jon
Age, where are you from?
I am 31 years young and from San Diego.
What do you do for work (or school)?
I work for California Community Colleges as a Grant Director. Basically, I write and manage economic and workforce development grants that have to do with sustainability and getting individuals the skills they need to be successful in the workplace.
What does an ideal weekend consist of for you?
Depends on what kind of trouble I get into on Friday. On my ideal weekend I try to hit the trifecta: Open Gym, Comber or Comber North (Open Bar), and the beach.
Favorite and least favorite exercise?
I would have to say deadlifts are my absolute favorite. I absolutely loath racked lunges of any kind.
What’s the most valuable bit of coaching you’ve received at P360?
There is so much great coaching going on every day, every coach has played a huge roll throughout my few years here. I think the “drop weight and get back to basics” coaching has made a huge impact in range of motion and technique. I am definitely guilty to stacking plates when I should be more focused on form and good reps.
What is your most proud achievement at P360 so far?
Wow, this is tough one as I feel there are so many. If I have to pick one I think I think my 435# deadlift put the biggest smile on my face.
What’s the hardest thing you’ve done physically at the gym?
I remember trying to keep pace with Timmy P on a 500m row for time one day. At the conclusion of the row I remember just falling off to the side of the machine unable to stand. I gave him a good run for the first 100m though.
If money was no concern, what would be your dream job?
Sailing instructor. I don’t know how to sail or anything but I like the water and boats so I figure that would be sweet.
Embarrassing fact most people don’t know?
I have the most embarrassing taste in music. My iTunes account is easily my most guarded secret until now. You name it, it’s probably on there… Katy Perry, T Swift, Disney sing- a-longs, country, Avril Lavigne, Miley, and lots of angry punk rock from the 90’s to name just a few.
Hidden talent most people don’t know?
I am artistically inclined, I paint and play piano when time allows.
If you were an ice cream flavor, what would you be and why?
Maybe vanilla because it’s so universal, it just goes with the flow and allows for so many options.
If you could teleport to any point in the past, where would you go?
Probably sometime around the industrial revolution so I could hang out with the men who built America. Dudes like Vanderbilt, JP Morgan, Tesla/Edison, Ford, Carnegie, and Rockefeller. It’s incredible to think what these guys did all at the same time while competing against one another. Ruthless innovation.
Favorite naughty food?
Flaming hot Cheetos
What’s the biggest overall improvement you had made since joining?
Well considering I could only do 2.5 rounds of the Dirty Thirty my first day at P360 and probably had the worst BW squat in the history of P360 I think overall athleticism and weight loss has been my biggest improvement.
What was your favorite cartoon growing up?
That’s a strong tossup between Ducktails and Gi Joe’s
Famous person you’d most like to have a drink with, and what drink would you buy them?
I would have to go with Johnny Cash and of course buy him his favorite, Jack straight up.
What’s a funny story from your childhood?
I don’t know if anyone is familiar with the Whaley House in Old Town (supposed to be one of the most haunted places in America). Anyway, one Halloween when I was really young my grandpa (who was a board member) dressed my sister and I up in period clothing and we were supposed to sit in the rooms of the house (behind the Plexiglas) to give it a real look and feel for the tourist. Yeah right, boring. I decided to crawl under the bed, out of sight of the guest and slowly rock a rocking chair every so often. When I was sure most people weren’t looking I would rock the chair once and listen to people be like “OMG did you see that, the chair moved” I wouldn’t rock it again until people would discount whoever said it. Once I was sure people didn’t believe that person, I would subtly do it again. Well this was fun for about ten minutes and I decided it was time to escalate the situation and slid the chair half way across the room. I have never heard more people scream while running and I have never been in so much trouble. Needless to say, I have still yet to be invited back. Worth it.
Which public figure or celebrity would you like to put in a dunk tank?
Every single reality star, like one huge dunk tank with no escape.
You have one song, one movie and one TV show a desert island are they?
Hmmm Reach for the Sky by Social Distortion, Goonies or like Cima said porn (like are we on this island alone?), and maybe Lost because I could relate.
What is your biggest goal for the rest of 2015?
I would like to put Club Forged on notice, I’m one point away and coming in hot!
Shelby Dern
Shelby represents our growing collegiate demographic and her hard work has been noticeable from day one. She is always looking for ways to improve, and combined with her athletic background as a gymnast, she has seen some very fast results in a lot of her lifts. She quickly checked off Level 1 and Level 2 Barbell Club, and now that she is able to harness her athleticism and know what she is doing, we are very excited to see where she goes in 2015! Shelby has huge potential and we’re very proud to be a part of her growth and evolution as an athlete.
Get to Know Shelby
