Size'N Up A Few HOA3 Teams...

In just TWO weeks...This November 4th, 5th, and 6th, the 2011 Heart of America affiliate team competition will be gathering some of the toughest crossfit athletes in the region to do battle in Springfield, Missouri at CrossFit Springfield. There are going to be some LEGIT heavy hitters competing at HOA3. I'd like to point a few of'em out:
CrossFit Jenks: This team is stacked. Four of CFJ's HOA team members made it to the Finals at the 2011 North Central Regional: Christina Merlo placed 8th at 2011 CFG North Central Regional; Paige Millspaugh (pictured) placed 11th at 2011 CFG North Central Regional; Denver Mcphail placed 6th at 2011 CFG North Central Regional; Breck Berry placed 9th at 2011 CFG North Central Regional. I'd keep your head's on a swivel for CF Jenks.

CrossFit Valley Park: All three female team members (Tonya Charland, Melissa Hurley, and Margaret Junker) from CFVP's team will be competing together at HOA3. Because of work obligations and injuries, none of the men from CFVP's games team will be competing this year at HOA. CrossFit Valley Park's team stormed through the 2011 CF Games season, ultimately finishing 8th place in the world finals at the 2011 Reebok CrossFit Games and 1st place in the 2011 CF Games NC Regional. Bottom-line: CFVP has been battle tested and has proven their potency as CrossFit competitors. Expect nothing less from them at HOA3.

Quad City CrossFit: These folks are no strangers to CrossFit competition or HOA competition having taken home the first place trophy last year at HOA 2010. Josiah Lorentzen qualified and competed at the CF Games regional level in 2010 placing 29th. In 2011, Josiah finished 53rd in the NC Region during the Open Sectional. Josiah's wife, D'Ann Lorentzen, finished 56th in the NC Region for the 2011 CFG Open. Sinan Gocmen has demonstrated his ability and aptitude as a crossfitter in 2011 by finishing 9th in the NC Region for the Open Sectional and 20th at the 2011 CF Games NC Regional.

CrossFit Ice: Last year's HOA host affiliate also took home the 2010 HOA Scaled Division championship. This year, CrossFit Ice's team will be competing in the RX division and will be led by Karen Wilson who placed 46th in the NC Region for the 2011 CF Games Open and Nick Johnson who finished and 56th in the NC Region for the 2011 CF Games Open. Nick also finished 26th at the 2011 CF Games NC Regional.

CrossFit 515: Bobby Noyce finished 12th in the NC Region for the 2011 CF Games Open Sectionals and 22nd at Regionals Last May in Chicago. Bobby's sisters, Jamie and Lindsay finished up the 2011 CFG Open Sectionals ranked 27th and 30th in the NC Region, respectively.

CrossFit SoMo: After placing 10th at the SW Regionals in 2009, Rodney Hamby missed the cut to qualify for regional competition in 2010. In 2011, Rodney stepped back up his game and qualified for the 2011 CF Games NC Regionals where he finished 17th.

CrossFit Springfield: Almost all of CrossFit Springfield's 3rd place NC Regional team (Macy Mitchell, Andy Koch, Brian Llewellyn, Melissa Wistrom, Kara Wallace-Racz, and Kristin Anderson) and 34th place 2011 Reebok CrossFit Games World Finals team will be competing at HOA 2011. There's a whole host of athletes from CFS who competed at a very high level during the 2011 CFG season. Out of the Open Sectional, CFS qualified 8 athletes for individual competition at the 2011 CFG North Central Regional. This year, CrossFit Springfield's members have come out in full force seeking to defend their home turf as the 3-day Springfield, MO competition has a total of 18 CFS teams registered to compete!

Ya best bring your "A" game-faces, folks! Cuz, you can be sure these guys and gals will have theirs on!!!