Claire Bartelt
1. How long have you been at CrossFit KMC?
-I started in June 2023
2. What brought you to the gym?
-After 5 years of my husband begging me to just try it at multiple gyms, I finally came to a Saturday class and ended up loving it!
3. What do you do for a living?
-I am a stay-at-home mom, have an online women’s boutique, manage rental properties, and do bookkeeping for our family businesses. My degree is in Elementary Education.
4. Where are you from?
-Seymour, IL
5. What’s your favorite movement or workout in CrossFit?
-I enjoy workouts with running and box jumps mixed in. Also, bar muscle-ups just because I’m proud that I figured out how to do them.
6. What’s your least favorite movement or workout in CrossFit?
-Turkish getups or rowing
7. Do you have kids or pets?
-Two kids: Bryson and Rosie
8. What’s your number one fitness goal for the year?
-It’s hard for me to pick just one! I’d really like to be able to do handstand walks.
9. What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
-I’ve been to 48 states. All by car 🤪
10. Coolest place you’ve ever traveled or would like to travel to?
-The Bahamas. I’d like to check off the last two states and visit Hawaii and Alaska
Matt Utley
1.How long have you been at CrossFit kmc?
I joined KMC in September of 2023
2. What brought you to the gym?
I’ve always been part of a gym since I was in high school, mostly bro/ ego lifting. I reluctantly started “cross fit” back in 2013 when a friend invited me and after the first workout never looked back. I found the community aspect of it very appealing and took on the mantra that “it’s more than just a gym”. I like the accountability, friendly competition, and the fact that we all suffer together. I also love to bring my positive energy to the 5:30 AM class whether they like it or not LOL.
3. What do you do for a living?
I am the Chief Operator for the City of Monticello WasteWater Treatment Facility
4. Where are you from?
I was born in Desert Hot Springs CA, and moved to a little town called Clay City Illinois when I was 11 and I graduated high school from there.
5. What’s your favorite movement or workout in CrossFit?
Toss up between pull ups and power cleans
6. What's your least favorite movement or workout in CrossFit?
I think I can speak for a lot of people when I say Turkish get ups
7. Do you have kids or pets?
I have four kids, (Maddox, Molly Clara, Lucy) six chickens (Harriet, Margret, Feisty, Mae, Goldie, and maria) and one dog (chewie).
8. What's your number one fitness goal for the year?
My number one fitness goal this year would be to get my diet more under control and consistent. It’s the hardest part of working out for me.
9. What’s a fun fact about you most people don’t know?
I was adopted when I was two years old in a closed adoption in southern California. Fast forward 30 years give or take and I was reunited with my bio family thanks to my wife and through 23 and me. I have a half brother and sister from both my mother and father. I’m the youngest of my mother’s kids and the oldest of my father’s kids. It’s quite the tale; it's either a hallmark movie or Jerry Springer show situation HA!
Also, my wife April said to note that I cry at movies and I definitely don’t invite scary movies into the house
10. Coolest place you’ve ever traveled or would like to travel to?
Coolest place so far has been to the jungle of Belize for our honeymoon. We slept in an open air cabana along the river under a mosquito net while large iguanas hung out in the trees and the roar of howler monkeys in the distance put you to sleep and woke you up with the sunrise.
Maranda Klink
1. How long have you been at CrossFit KMC?
Since 2019 (I think!).
2. What brought you to the gym?
Honestly—peer pressure. Haha! At the time, there was a pretty good-sized group of teachers attending regularly, and after months of refusing, I caved and joined an endurance class that KMC was putting on. The rest is history.
3. What do you do for a living?
I’ve been a teacher for 20 years. Next year, I’ll be stepping outside of the classroom to take on a support role the district has developed. I'm super excited about the opportunity!
4. Where are you from?
Originally, I'm from Georgetown, Illinois. We moved to Mackinaw, Illinois when I was 8, and that's where I graduated high school.
5. What is your favorite workout/movement at CrossFit?
I’m not sure I have a true favorite, but I generally enjoy things like cleans, push presses, and other barbell movements (except snatches—no one likes those!). I really like the weightlifting side of CrossFit. I don’t mind burpees or thrusters either, which I know is kind of weird.
6. What is your least favorite workout/movement?
Running.
7. Do you have kids or pets?
Yes and yes! I have three sons—Hayden, Weslee, and Levi—and all of them are members at KMC! It’s great having them there with me. We also have two dogs, Jersey and Mina. They’re a big part of our family too.
8. What is your #1 fitness goal this year?
To continue attending regularly while avoiding any major injuries or setbacks. Oh, and muscle-ups. I will do a muscle-up this year!
9. What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
I was a collegiate athlete for 2 years.
10 What is the coolest place you’ve traveled to—or would like to?
Hawaii is the coolest place I’ve been (over 20 years ago). I’d love to visit a faraway tropical place like Bora Bora or the Maldives.
Lisa Castang
How long have been at CrossFit kmc?
-Started back again Sept 2024 - after a 6 or 7 year hiatus
2. What brought you to the gym?
-I got tired of feeling weak, feeble.
Wanted to feel like my old strong self again.
3. What do you do for a living?
-I am the Director of Laboratory services at Kirby Medical Center
4. Where are you from?
-I am originally from Centralia, IL.
But I have lived in Monticello since 2002.
5. What’s your favorite movement or workout in CrossFit?
-I like burpees! And I like the EMOMs
6. Whats your least favorite movement or workout in CrossFit?
-Probably the OHS. Because they are so hard!!! But I’m getting better at them.
7. Do you have kids or pets?
-A son Trevor who has made us Grammas to Cora! And a daughter Madison. Oh and we have 5 cats!!
8. Whats your number one fitness goal for the year?
-Number one goal is to attend CF class at LEAST 3 times a week or more - regularly
9. What’s a fun fact about you most people don’t know?
-I’m a die hard movie buff! I LOVE watching movies and I love movie quotes.
10. Coolest place you’ve ever traveled or would like to travel to?
-Loved a trip out to the Badlands and to see Mountain Rushmore several years ago. I would LOVE to go to the Maldives!
Bridget Yaeger
How long have you been at CrossFit KMC? This is my 7th year at KMC Active.
What brought you to the gym? I did CrossFit in Decatur before moving to Monticello and I knew I wanted to continue. I love the competitive camaraderie of CrossFit but also the physical and mental strength I’ve gained. I stay at KMC because of the community.
What do you do for a living? Teacher
Where are you from? Moweaqua
What’s your favorite movement in CrossFit? Without barbell: double unders. With barbell: Power Cleans. “Annie” is my favorite workout.
What’s your least favorite movement in CrossFit? Snatches
Do you have kids or pets? Both: 1 kid - Wren and 2 dogs - Jax & Zoey
What’s your number one fitness goal for 2025? I’d like to finally get a bar muscle up!
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? I’ve never broken a bone but my front tooth is fake… It got knocked out on the playground when I was in 2nd grade.
What’s the coolest place you’ve ever traveled or would like to travel to? I love anywhere warm with a beach.