Trainers

MEET THE CROSSFIT COACHES

WORLD CLASS CROSSFIT COACHES

CrossFit Preferred’s world-class coaches train elite athletes, first-timers, stay-at-home parents, grandparents, and so much more. Whoever you are, whatever shape you’re in, these are the folks that are going to push you past your limits ... and you’re going to love them for it. No big egos here, just regular folks like you who are tired of making excuses and ready to make changes.

Tiersa LeSueur image

Tiersa LeSueur

Owner/Coach/Nutritionist

Tiersa LeSueur

Owner/Coach/Nutritionist

Owner/Coach/Nutritionist Tiersa LeSueur helps athletes master great nutrition to help them reach their fitness goals. To Tiersa, being the best at what she’s doing is a lifelong character trait. "I LOVE pushing my limits and seeing how far my body will go," she says.

Tiersa believes there is no greater feeling than helping someone see what they are truly capable of. "Being a CrossFit Coach allows me to take someone who may feel insecure and build them from the bottom up to teach them to be confident with their abilities," she says. "When they see in themselves that growth, it lights a fire within them that is unstoppable!"

Certifications

  • CrossFit Level 1
  • CrossFit Level 2
  • Arizona State University Nutrition/Dietetics Degree
kris lesueur image

Kris LeSueur

Owner/Coach

Kris LeSueur

Owner/Coach

Owner and Coach Kris LeSueur believes that fitness is a great building block for helping people improve their lives. “I love how health and fitness help people feel better about themselves,” he says. “I love the confidence it builds for each individual person.”

Kris has spent a lot of years training for marathons, adventure racing, and triathlons. His most notable athletic accomplishment was finishing SEALFIT Kokoro Camp, a 50+ hour (no sleep allowed!) event based on Navy SEAL Hell Week training. He’s completed two full-distance Ironman Triathlons (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run), multiple half-Ironmans, qualified for Xterra Triathlon Nationals and completed multiple adventure races and marathons. “I love anything endurance related,” he says. “When you start to think about quitting and you do not in these type of events, you really discover who you are in life.”

Certifications

  • CrossFit Level One Trainer
  • CrossFit Level Two Trainer
  • CrossFit Endurance Trainer
Patrick Harris image

Patrick Harris

Coach

Patrick Harris

Coach

Coach Patrick Harris specializes in “Not specializing: CrossFit is about constant variance and being prepared for any fitness task,” he says. Patrick believes the mind is a very powerful tool, and the best way to see success is by pushing past mental barriers. “Your body is capable of so much more than you believe,” he says. “You just need to train your mind to believe so.”

After playing college football for two years, Patrick couldn’t find a fitness regimen that pushed him to his limits or gave him the chance for any friendly competition … until he found CrossFit. “After my first WOD, I was hooked and knew that CrossFit would be part of my fitness journey for the rest of my life.”

Certifications

  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
Andrew Lucero Image

Andrew Lucero

SGX Coach / Coach

Andrew Lucero

SGX Coach / Coach

Coach Andrew Lucero works hard to help athletes be successful in their workouts and hit their PR’s.  “But, more than that, I love the relationships we build,” he says. “Overtime trust is built, and they know, no matter how difficult a workout or task I give them, they know deep down that I know how to help them be successful.”

Andrew has been an athlete since high school, where he regularly played basketball. While preparing for his first Spartan Race in 2013, he turned to CrossFit for training, with which he progressed into becoming a competitive Spartan Racer. Through this experience, Andrew grew a love for not only CrossFit and Spartan Training, but also sharing that passion with others. “It has been very rewarding to help many others, not only in CrossFit and Spartan Training, but more importantly to be a small part in their journey to be just healthier and happier people,” he says. “I love getting people out of their comfort zones and helping them to realize they can already do more than they thought they were capable of.”

When Andrew isn’t coaching at CrossFit Preferred, he can be found spending time with his family, or working in a profession that, similarly, allows him to help people improve their lives. As a Paralysis Recover Specialist, Andrew spends time daily helping individuals with injuries or disabling conditions gain movement and independence.

Certifications

  • BS, Exercise and Wellness
  • CrossFit Level 1
  • CrossFit Level 2
  • CrossFit Adaptive Training
  • Spartan SGX
  • Spartan Obstacle Specialist
Amy Benton Image

Amy Benton

Coach

Amy Benton

Coach

Coach Amy Benton works hard to help people surprise themselves by helping them become the best versions of themselves. “I am passionate for members being their best selves that day,” she says.

Amy has been an athlete most of her life, notably a collegiate soccer player. She has been a competitive sky diver for the past 10 years, holding numerous state records and 7 world records. She found CrossFit when her friends were talking about having fun and getting fit. That’s when she tried CrossFit Preferred. “A workout that  sends you to the floor yet makes you get back up and want to come another day is a keeper,” she says. “CrossFit is about community and giving back. Transitioning to coaching only seemed like a natural next step.”

Certifications

  • CrossFit Level 1 Certification
  • BS Exercise Science & Wellnes
Meagan Myers Image

Meagan Myers

Coach

Meagan Myers

Coach

Coach Meagan Myers has been a CrossFitter since 2012 and specializes in strength skills. “I love to see my gym teammates accomplishing new goals,” she says. “Whether that may be losing 90lbs, hitting a new PR or acquiring a new skill. We are a family and every day that we are in the gym we become a little bit closer to each other through our own fitness journey.”

An avid volleyball player for most of her life, Meagan experienced a sport related injury just after high school, halting  her ability to play Volleyball. With an athletic gap in her life, she sought a replacement sport. “After one WOD I was both terrified and obsessed for more CrossFit!” A few years later, Meagan transitioned toward competitive weight lifting, and even won first place in the Arizona State Championships 2015 at 69kgs.  This blend of experience has led her to coaching. “The most respected, influential and admirable people in my life have been my coaches,” she says. “I pray that one day I can impact someone’s life in the way my coaches have done for me. The CrossFit community is unlike any other.”

Certifications

  • CrossFit Level 1 Certification
Andy Greenwood Image

Andy Greenwood

Coach

Andy Greenwood

Coach

Coach Andy Greenwood has been doing CrossFit for 4 years. Andy is passionate for consistent personal improvement. “Improve. Move forward. Be better.” This passion has lead Andy to specialize in technique. “A strong focus on form, technique and a full ROM, especially in areas that surround fundamental gymnastic movements, is very important.”

With an extensive background in numerous outdoor sports, and an impressive 25 Spartan Races under his belt, Andy is all about challenging himself physically, mentally and spiritually. When asked why he wanted to become a coach, he simply said, “A coach challenged me to improve myself, to take the next step. So I did.”

Andy’s favorite quote is “That which you persist in doing becomes easier. Not that the nature of the thing itself has changed, but that your ability to do has increased.” H.J. Grant.

Certifications

  • CrossFit Level 1 Certification
Kimberly Panipinto Image

Kimberly Panipinto

Head Foundations Coach

Kimberly Panipinto

Head Foundations Coach

If you are new to CrossFit, you will get to know Kimberly right away when you join CrossFit Preferred. She will motivate you to do hard things you never thought you could do. And she will do it with a smile.

A former dancer and aerialist, Kimberly knows the importance of mobility and how CrossFit can improve your performance in other disciplines. She looks forward to getting you started off on the right foot and laying a great CrossFit foundation.

Certifications

  • CrossFit Level One Trainer
Meghan Gallagher Image

Meghan Gallagher

Nutrition Coach/Front Desk Manager

Meghan Gallagher

Nutrition Coach/Front Desk Manager

Meghan lives for helping clients hit their goals and feel more comfortable in their bodies. With her extensive nutrition and food knowledge from growing up in restaurant kitchens, Meghan can help you lose weight and gain muscle whether you are vegan, fat adaptive, or just need to clean up your eating habits.

She has been crossfitting for over 6 years and loves Strongman competitions. Ask her how she did in her competition from a couple of years back. She always has a bright smile for you as you enter the gym, loves the CFP community, and loves watching the confidence that builds when members hit their goals.

Certifications

  • Precision Nutrition L1
Mike Rudder Image

Mike Rudder

Coach/Comedian

Mike Rudder

Coach/Comedian

Mike loves making people smile, laugh, and feel right at home when they enter the gym. He also loves being at the gym and being surround people he knows and loves. “It’s a really uplifting and motivating atmosphere”. Mike also loves helping people walk through complex movements and make even minuscule amounts of progress. “Seeing form click in someones head or push themselves at the end of the wod when they thought their tank was empty; those are really great moments.”

Mike is passionate about community; about creating a fun, welcoming, and comfortable environment for people to come in and challenge themselves. He thinks there’s comfort in knowing that even if you’re suffering through a workout, you are not suffering alone. Everyone’s doing the same work (for the most part) and we’re all here to support and build each other up.

Personally, Mike has a beautiful wife and two really fantastic kids. He doesn’t come to the gym because he wants to be ripped and shredded, he comes to the gym because he wants to create longevity in his life and continue to move and function well even into old age. On top of that, the community at CFP is like no other and you’ll find yourself coming back for more just to see your friends!

Certifications

  • CrossFit Level One Trainer