The story is like one from a movie: Three friends, Sean Pastuch and Mike and Molly Abgarian, open a CrossFit gym, which they name CrossFit King of Island Park, aka KIP. Then just days before the scheduled grand opening in October, Hurricane Sandy barrels through the South Shore of Long Island and wipes out their gym, their homes and their town. KIP is the remarkable Cinderella-like story that ends with the KIP Competitor Team coming out of nowhere to place third out of 30 in the regional CrossFit games this March and moving on in July to the national Cross- Fit competition, known as “The Games.”
When you first arrived at the regional competition did you believe you had a chance? “We did,” said co-owner and coach Molly Abgarian. “Maybe not in October, but by the time we got there we felt we could compete.” The KIP owners proved that with hard work they were not only able to build and then REBUILD a great gym, and a great team, but, as was evident at the CrossFit Regional Games, overcome tremendous adversity and still come out on top. Each member of this competitor team has its own diverse background, but all have the motivation of a champion. Kaitlyn Fitzgerald, a division one athlete in college and now a full-time speech pathologist, found Cross- Fit while searching online. “I was looking for a competitive gym nearby. I ended up finding a wonderful second family.”
tion of a champion. Kaitlyn Fitzgerald, a division one athlete in college and now a full-time speech pathologist, found Cross- Fit while searching online. “I was looking for a competitive gym nearby. I ended up finding a wonderful second family.” Rob Santoro recalls what motivated him to join: “I was looking to go to The Games! I even said to Mike, “I saw Rich Froning on ESPN at The Games; I want to do that.’” Santoro cracks up as he admits that after making that statement he wasunable to even finish the first workout given to him. However, Santoro continually improved, and the team began to form. When the gym finally reopened, though, they only had two women, and the team required they have a third. Luckily, Kerry Kogel, also a division one athlete in college, who had only joined the gym when it reopened in January, proved herself to be worthy of that third female spot. With most of the team members having full-time jobs outside of CossFit, and a practice schedule that due to a storm could not truly begin until the gym reopened in mid-January, the odds were stacked against them heading into the regional competition. Upon arrival at the regional games, it was as if they had come out of nowhere and represented the ravaged barrier island with gusto, placing third in the region and advancing onto the The Games, which will be held July 23 through27, and will be taped to be aired later on ESPN.
CrossFit is not just for competitors like these six. It is for all types of athletes and non-athletes alike. It starts out with “Elements,” which lasts two weeks and teaches the correct form for each move. Once a member has completed the Elements portion, he or she is able to attend any of the daily classes.
For more information, or to learn about Crossfit King of Island Park, call 516- 432-2102. Who knows, maybe next year you might make it onto the the competitor team. 🙂
