COACHES

Karianne Dickson | Owner

I set out ten years ago on my journey with a basic level personal training certification and the “peg in a cog” trainer job at Bally’s. As I delved into the knowledge and application of exercise science while attending Rutgers University, my experience grew and I climbed the evolutionary ladder to a seasoned, confident trainer and group exercise instructor with an NASM cpt certification. My hunger for the heart of fitness was insatiable. However, despite frequent seminars, workshops and certifications, I felt there was always a piece of the equation that was amiss.

I thrived on the connection I made with clients, the motivation, and the metaphor I felt their ‘regimes’ should have to the rest of their lives. However, I was confused by the industry and the empty promises it held for these subscribers. I continued my quest, ‘rising’ to the fitness management level in several ‘globo gym’ environments but found these issues more magnified at this level. Conflicting messages and futile programming, suggested even by those at the ‘top’ of the industry, made me frustrated. I felt that I was not armed with the tools to fight this ever-growing deception, until CrossFit.

Mpower bootcamp grew out of a personal training program I began 4 years ago. However, after being introduced to CrossFit, I saw a new world of possibility for my clients and my business. The amazing challenge it presented people with, measurable results like I had never before seen, and the thrill and anticipation that lurked within each WOD.

CrossFit is about support and encouragement. Although it is about ‘elite fitness’ it is not elitism. Humility is part of the deal - no one should ever feel intimidated to walk through our doors.

CrossFit will change your life, in the best way a person could imagine. It has forever changed mine.

I am a mother of 2 kids who will be the next generation CrossFitters. I am proud of the community they get to be a part of and the integrity that surrounds the program.

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
CrossFit Endurance Certified
Olympic Lifting Certified
Powerlifting Certified

CrossFit Nutrition Certified

HQ Certification Staff

NASM cpt
Spinning
AFAA group fitness

Griffin Madden | BLOG

My own fitness career began with a long road of tennis, push-ups, sit-ups and terrible eating habits. As I realized my goals and necessity for intensity I had my first personal training session with Karianne Dickson and woke up a different person. I visited a box for my first time in March 2008 and there I had my first dose of “constantly varied, functional movements executed at high intensity.” The difference in energy, community and effectiveness was undeniable and my thirst for more unquenchable. My excuse for CrossFit was that it was to benefit my performance out on the court, which it did, however I quickly realized how much more I was looking forward to the WOD than practice and thus put down the racket. After a summer of grueling boot camp and jumping around at different affiliates I found my true home here at CrossFit Bernardsville with our fellow coaches. I have gained my Level 1 Certification and certainly plan to continue on.

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
Olympic Lifting Certified

Carol Mottes | BLOG

I started working out with Karianne (owner of CrossFit Bernardsville) about 2 years ago (summer of ‘07). She taught a bootcamp at a local park and I loved it. About 6 months into the boot camp, she started doing short, intense workouts…. what we later came to know as crossfit. I became hooked! I loved the variety of the workouts varied as well as their intensity! Since she opened her CrossFit “box” (location) my goal has been to get certified and help her teach. Well - I have accomplished that goal. And let me tell you…. I am very proud of it! Not only Level I certified, I am now also Crossfit Kids certified. I spent two full weekends (9-5 on a Saturday and Sunday), one in NJ and the other in California, drilling technique , form and benefits that is CrossFit. I can’t wait to put this knowledge into action and am especially looking forward to bringing Crossfit Kids to Mpower. As a coach and CrossFit enthusiast, I promise to make it a workout that will not only help your kids be faster and stronger in sports, but to teach lessons they can carry with them through all other aspects of their lives. Carol is a mother of 3 kids who have all, “earned their scabs”!
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
Olympic Lifting Certified
CrossFit Kids Certified

Leonardo Munoz | BLOG

I used to think that the only way to get fit was to do a chest workout on Monday followed by 30 minutes on the treadmill, back on Tuesday followed by 30 minutes on the elliptical machine, biceps on Wednesday, etc., etc, etc. I was fairly athletic when I was younger being involved with soccer and swimming in high school and boxing in college, and my my dad continues to run at least 3 marathons per year (as he has since before I was born) so I thought I knew what it took to be in shape; but, to quote royalty, “my life got flipped - turned upside down” after my first CrossFit WOD in April 2009.

Overall I’d like to think that close friends would consider me the mild mannered type - but I was recognizably invigorated after my first WOD because I had finally found that thing that was missing all those years I misspent disoriented at any number of “health clubs” (a.k.a. “globo gyms”). To think that I performed the same monotonous, inefficient exercises for so long while never truly obtaining overall fitness motivates me to tell as many people as I can about CrossFit and how it can change their life. That’s easy for me to do as it’s changed every aspect of my life for the better.

A big component in the decision to make and implement that change can be attributed to the CrossFit community. It’s hard not to be energized by mostly everyone’s genuine interest in YOUR success during the WOD. It’s because of this support and attention that I received at CrossFit Bernardsville when I was just beginning my journey to be fit (for the first time in my life) that I am now Level 1 CrossFit Certified and a coach. As a coach, I intend to provide that same environment to my athletes while encouraging that by becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable and giving every WOD your all, CrossFit can and will make you a better person inside and out. My name is Leonardo Muñoz, and I am a recovered “globo gym” user. And while I’d still like to think that I’m the mild mannered type, I think now that I can make an exception during anything that follows 3, 2, 1, go...

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Running Certified and Level 1 Pose Method Certified

Olympic Lifting Certified

Manny Rolon | BLOG

My story is similar to what most other CrossFitters encountered. I was stuck in the same ol' gym routine thinking that at some point I would wake up looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger ( in his prime, of course). The only thing I ever woke up to, however, was exhaustion from not eating well, pain from not executing the movements properly, and a lack of motivation that stemmed from my lack of knowledge.
I used to work out at an undisclosed location which we will refer to as "the globo gym." One day while I was working out I ran into my former boss, Karianne, from when I used to work at that "the globo gym". At that point I had already heard of CrossFit but knew nothing of it other than that it was a website. I watched Karianne workout while wearing a shirt that read CrossFit perform the rarest variation of pull-ups I had ever witnessed and immediately after completing them, she moved onto another station with no rest. It boggled my mind that she was done by the time I was only starting my second exercise. The research started then, and in less than a week I tried my first WOD.
When I found out that there would be a CrossFit "box" opening up in my very own backyard, Bernardsville, I quickly cancelled my "globo gym" membership and started training at CrossFit Bernardsville, then Mpower CrossFit. I grew to love our facility as a gym, an outlet, and a great community of people. I am now level 1 certified and hope to add numerous more certifications to improve my knowledge and try to help teach our community.

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

Mike De La Torre | BLOG

Five pull ups, ten push ups, fifteen squats…as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes…this is going to be easy…15 rounds, 16 maybe…

…20 minutes and 7 rounds later, I was laying on the ground gasping for air. A 20-something male, well-versed in the top bodybuilding routines, strength and conditioning coach at a local high school, personal trainer…floored by a workout of bodyweight movements?! That’s when I knew I’d found something worthwhile. I dove headfirst into every mainsite WOD from that day on, eager to learn and experience as much as possible. The hunger continues today.

CrossFit took my preconceptions of fitness and completely turned them upside down. The competition, the camaraderie, and the openness of the community are refreshing (especially when compared to your typical Globo Gym environment)! I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of the CrossFit Morristown and CrossFit Bernardsville communities; I’m looking forward to working, coaching, and learning with you all!

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
USA Track and Field Level 1 Coach

________________________________________________________________________________________

Derek Giersch

My athletic career began with soccer at the age of three. Through the years, I developed a strong desire to master my skills, so I could compete at a high-level with anyone on the field.

Becoming physically fit was the cornerstone in my drive to be one of the best. Soccer gave me the team camaraderie I was looking for as well as some of the best friendships I’ve had to date.

Fast forward: I am now in my late 30’s.

When my soccer career ended due to knee injuries, I joined a “globo gym”. It was here that I struggled for years with a lack of motivation in my workouts and found it hard to meet new friends.

It also became obvious to me that my workouts were not bringing me the fitness level that I knew I could achieve. I often said to myself that I just needed someone to tell me what to do to reach my fitness goals. I had the desire, I just didn’t know how to achieve it.

Then I found CrossFit Bernardsville/Morristown in June 2009 and all that changed!
Three words sum it all up my love for CrossFit:

- Fitness: I am in the best shape of my life and am a competitive athlete again!
- Friends: I have quickly made some of my closest friends at CrossFit!
- Motivation: The camaraderie and mutual support in our CrossFit Family is unparalleled! We are all there to encourage each other to not just survive workouts, but smash them! The workouts are designed for everyone, they are exciting, and it never gets boring as they are constantly varied.

My personal goal as a Coach is to help share what I love about CrossFit with you so you can also achieve things you never thought possible!