It is time to announce our new Athlete of the Month for August 2019. This month, we chose an athlete who has been with us for a while now. A regular at the 5:15am class, we’ve also seen him recently at a number of social events and our Open Team Competition. During our construction, he provided multiple man hours working on our massive flooring project. He also showed his IA spirit and dedication each morning we were here running outdoor WODs to keep everyone as engaged as possible while the walls came down. The Athlete of the Month for August 2019 is:
JOSEPH TOLSMA
1. Where are you from originally?
I don’t have a straight answer for this question. I always tell people that Pittsburgh is the 12th place I’ve lived. I grew up all over the south and eastern US, went to college and grad school in the midwest, moved to Asia, then returned to the US and ended up in Pittsburgh.
2. If not from Pittsburgh, what brought you to Pittsburgh?
New job at a new company
3. Where do you work?
Mitsubishi Electric in Warrendale, PA
4. What is your favorite hobby?
Golf when it’s warm and reading when it’s cold
5. How did you discover CrossFit?
A perceptive friend (and CrossFitter herself) knew I would like it and encouraged me to try it out.
6. When did you start CrossFit?
My first ever class was February 20, 2018.
7. Why did you start CrossFit?
I started CrossFit to get involved in something and meet people when I moved to Pittsburgh.
8. What is your favorite thing to do in CrossFit?
I like so many things but one-arm dumbbell snatches are probably my favorite. I do them in hotel gyms when I travel and people watch me like I’m crazy.
9. What is your least favorite thing to do in CrossFit?
Pistol squats. I don’t think I’ll ever be strong enough to do a full pistol.
10. What is the number 1 thing you want to get better at?
My goal for the next 12 months is to complete a full Murph (1 mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 air squats, 1 mile run) in under 60 minutes.
11. What is your favorite part about coming to CrossFit at Industrial Athletics?
I’m always impressed by the creativity of the programming. Many WODs are groups of movements that I would never think to do together but, once I’m doing them, fit perfectly with each other.
12. What is your favorite CrossFit WOD?
I’d better like Cindy (pullups, pushups, and air squats) if I’m going to meet my goal this year. There is also a WOD for a local hero called Paul 4179 that I thought was outstanding.
