Our
Story

RC Training & Fitness was born out of frustration with cookie-cutter gyms and built on a simple belief: if you know better, you must do better.

What started as one-on-one training quickly evolved into our Small Group Personal Training model – giving us the ability to help more people, build real community, and create life-changing results.

Our approach is straightforward: expert coaching, proven programs, and a team that genuinely cares. We believe the hard way is the shortcut, because shortcuts don’t get you anywhere. Here, effort is the common language, and progress is the reward.

Today, RCTF is where people come to get stronger for the adventures of life – whether that’s chasing a summit, trying a new hobby, or simply keeping up with your kids. Members walk in feeling welcomed and walk out ready for whatever’s next.

And the future of RCTF? Bright. We’ll keep growing, keep challenging, and keep preparing people for the climb ahead.

Meet the
Team

Ross

Founder & Co-Owner

Ross founded RC Training & Fitness in 2013 and now co-owns it with his wife, Michele. His role is to “steer the ship,” ensuring the team is doing meaningful, impactful work while staying true to the gym’s adventurous spirit. Every member’s journey begins with Ross in their Kickstart session, where his mix of honesty, energy, and authenticity gets people to believe in themselves – and what’s possible. Known for being authentic, energetic, and full of analogies, Ross leads from the front by “living the code” and staying at the tip of the spear in his own training. Whether it’s pushing members inside the gym or preparing himself for the next backcountry hunt, Ross embodies the mindset he asks others to adopt: challenges aren’t optional, they’re the path forward.
Quick Hits:

Current mountain: Preparing for a backcountry hunt on Kodiak Island, Alaska.
Favorite movement: Push-ups (but he’ll never say no to a good ruck).
Philosophy: “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” T. S. Eliot
Why he coaches: Because fitness isn’t just about getting in shape – it’s the most direct line to becoming the
best version of yourself.
Outside the gym: Roughhousing with his kids, cooking for his wife, hunting, fishing, or hiking.

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Michele

Co-Owner & Membership Account Manager

As co-owner of RC Training & Fitness, Michele is the behind-the-scenes glue that keeps the gym running smoothly – from memberships and accounts to making sure the community feels cared for. You’ll also catch her in the 5:00 AM training crew, where she’s known for being dependable, consistent, and maybe a little loud (in the best way). Michele is most proud of helping create a space where women feel strong and supported – always ready to cheer members through tough workouts with her signature “mama bear” energy. Outside the gym, she balances teaching, family life, and her love of the outdoors, whether it’s rucking with her dog or hiking with her family.
Quick Hits:

Go-to movement in training: A solid barbell complex – plus neck stretches and mobility drills that keep old
injuries in the past.
Favorite way to get outside and move: Strap on a ruck pack and find some hills.
Coffee order:
Daily?: Classic Coffee with Cream.
Extra boost?: Trenta Cold Brew.
Relaxing pick-me-up?: Decaf Latte.
Fun facts: Michele was once fluent in American Sign Language, is learning to play the ukelele, and loves baking.

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Coach Danny

Director of Training, Athlete Performance Program Director, & Coach

Danny wears two hats at RC Training & Fitness: he keeps day-to-day operations running smoothly, and he leads the Athlete Performance Program for high school and college athletes. Known as the “technique master,” Danny has a knack for spotting details and making real-time adjustments so members always get the workout they need – whether that means tweaking a lift or swapping in something smarter on the fly. Beyond RCTF, Danny is also the Strength Coach for OPRF Football and an Assistant Coach with OPRF Wrestling, bringing his experience from the weight room directly to the field and the mat.
Quick Hits:

Favorite lift: The snatch.
Cardio of choice: Biking outside (trainer in the cold months).
Love-to-hate exercise: A tie between walking lunges and plate passes.
Signature cue: “Squeeze your underarms tight like someone’s trying to tickle you!”
Current mountain: Training hard in Olympic weightlifting to see how far he can push his own potential.
Go-to pump-up song: Maniac by PEEKABOO.

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Coach Abby

Director of Member Experience & Coach

Abby brings a calm, steady presence to RC Training & Fitness. Her coaching “superpower” is connecting members to their body – helping them move with intention and get the most out of every rep. She keeps training sessions encouraging and technical, making sure members walk away both confident and challenged. In her own training, Abby is consistent and intentional – the same qualities she works to instill in the people she coaches. Outside of RCTF, Abby is also a professional dancer, bringing artistry and discipline to everything she does.
Quick Hits:

Favorite lift: Any upper body session — especially back day.
Cardio of choice: Stairmaster or incline walking.
Love-to-hate exercise: Any squat variation.
Signature cue: “Push the dumbbells/bar through the ceiling!”
Current mountain: Resetting after a 12-week program to push training intensity and dial in nutrition.Outside the gym: Taking a dance class or recharging on the couch.

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Coach Sydney

Youth Program (Reign) Director & Coach

Sydney brings high energy and big-time enthusiasm to RC Training & Fitness. She leads the Youth Athlete Program (Reign) and also coaches adult Small Group Personal Training sessions. Her “superpower” is seeing everything in the room – she’s the coach who will catch the details, hold you accountable, and still celebrate every rep like it’s a win. Sydney thrives on creating an atmosphere that feels like a party with purpose: upbeat music, positive vibes, and the push to go further than you thought you could. She lives what she coaches too, training for powerlifting meets, triathlons, and races while staying rooted in her lifelong background as a runner.
Quick Hits:

Favorite lift: Deadlift.
Cardio of choice: Running or sleds.
Love-to-hate exercise: Squats and overhead presses.
Signature cue: “Push into the floor.”
Current mountain: Transitioning from a recent powerlifting meet to training for an Olympic triathlon.
Go-to pump-up song: Loyal by Odesza.Outside the gym: Hiking, swimming, biking, climbing, or experimenting in the kitchen.

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What’s the “Rooster’s Crow” (RC) part of RC Training & Fitness Mean?

When I set out to start this gym, I knew the philosophy before I knew the name. That summer, I spent a week at our family cabin planning what RC Training & Fitness would become. One evening, I watched a man – well into his 40s – try over and over to get up on water skis. He failed again and again, but he kept trying.

Finally, on one attempt, he popped up. And the moment he did, he started crowing – yelling at the top of his lungs with pure joy. He wasn’t the youngest, the best, or the first person to water ski. But fuck all that. None of that mattered. In that moment, he had a new definition of who he was and what he was capable of. Even when he fell moments later, he came up still crowing.

That’s when it clicked: THAT. That is what training is all about. Seeking the moments in life worth crowing about – the breakthroughs, the victories, the times you surprise yourself and redefine what’s possible.

The Rooster became our symbol: a call to greet each day with vigor, gratitude, and energy. And RC Training & Fitness? It’s not named after me. From the start, I knew this gym was bigger than me. It’s about you, your climb, and the moments you’ll carry with pride. The moments worth crowing about.

Our
Story