Walking into her first Crossfit class, senior Rachel Stetson had no idea what to expect. Having only learned about what Crossfit was a few days earlier from her brother, James Stetson, she was surprised by the intensity and endurance it took to do Crossfit workouts and had no idea that it would become her passion.

When James came back home for winter break in 2013, he started up at the Crossfit gym, On Track, and thought he would bring Rachel in with him.

“I always wanted her to find her sport, and originally, Crossfit was just a way for her to strengthen her pole vaulting,” James said. “As time went on, we both realized that Crossfit and Olympic weightlifting were our sports.”

Crossfit is a workout that mixes Olympic lifting, power-lifting, gymnastics training and cardio. At a Crossfit gym there are no machines, but rather only free weights and barbells. Every time Rachel trains, she pushes herself harder and harder in order to achieve her goals.

“I just want to get stronger and faster,” Rachel said. “Everything motivates me, and I just want to get better. I had a competition this last weekend, and I learned so much about what my weaknesses are and how to train better. I just want to learn more so that I can keep getting better.”

Ever since her first class, the longest Rachel has gone without training is three days.

“Once I started Crossfit, I had no idea where it would take me,” Rachel said. “I just know that I am probably never going to stop. I am really happy with the progress that I have made.”

Rachel trains one to two times per day for two to three hours. Her goal is to make it to regionals, and she then hopes to eventually make it to the games on a team.

At competitions, crossfitters can compete on teams of six with three males and three females, or they can compete individually. They are judged on their workout as a whole — not only how strong they may be, but also on their technique. Rachel just started to compete a couple weeks ago in large competitions alongside James.

“When we were competing at the Heart of America Team Competition, we were on completely different schedules, and because of it, I wasn’t able to watch her compete in any of her workouts except for one,” James said. “I need to do the things I have to in order to perform at my best, and that can seem like I’m not being supportive in her eyes, but regardless of whether I’m there to see it, I always support her and always want her to be her best.”

Rachel and James said Crossfit has brought them closer together and has also made them better individuals. As Crossfit has brought many changes to their lives in the past two years, Rachel said she is very thankful for finding something that she is so passionate about.

“It has changed me in so many ways,” Rachel said. “I have become mentally, physically and spiritually stronger. I have gotten a lot closer to God. It has also brought me a lot closer to my brother. It has also made me more mature because most of  the people that I hang out with now are all 21 or older. And I’ve found that that’s where I fit in, with the older crowd, and they don’t treat me any differently or that I am younger. I have become more responsible because I have had to learn to balance things between school and Crossfit and just life.”

Over the past few years, Rachel has become close with many other Crossfitters whose goals are very similar her to own.   Rachel’s friend, Anne Marie Winn, said she has loved watching Rachel transform into the athlete she is today.

“Because she is younger, she has so many opportunities ahead of her in the Crossfit world, and I will be there rooting for her every step of the way,” Winn said. “She is an amazing athlete with so much ahead of her.”

As Rachel continues her Crossfit journey, she said she thinks God has pushed her to pursue Crossfit. Through hard work and long hours, Rachel continues to push herself. As she works, her overall goal is to glorify God on a daily basis.

“Everyday I walk into the gym and think about how He brought me here, gives me strength and willpower to lift heavy and speed through a workout, and to be better than I was the day before.” Rachel said. “Every time I meet a new Crossfitter, go to other gyms or am asked how I do it, the only answer I give is, ‘for the glory of God.’ He has helped me to become stronger physically, mentally and spiritually.”

Rachel has been able to compare her goal with other Crossfit competitors who are involved in a group called Faith Rx’d. The groups has monthly meetings where its members discuss how they are bettering themselves through Crossfit for God.

“We talk about how God is working through us while doing Crossfit,” Rachel said. “The organization has meant a lot to me. Through the common goal of glorifying God, I have created so many relationships through Christ and Crossfit.”

As she continues into college and the rest of her life, Rachel doesn’t plan on stopping Crossfit. After finally finding her passion, she only plans to get better from here.

“When I first came to the game, I was very small and weak and not coordinated at all, and I never really thrived in sports,” Rachel said. “So, being able to find this and do well at it has been amazing.”

Over the past two years, Rachel has accomplished more than she ever imagined. On her first day, she was only able to do a 15-pound snatch lift and now is able to do 135 pounds. To Rachel that is a feat she is proud of but it is not her biggest accomplishment.

“Walking through the door two years ago was my biggest accomplishment,” Rachel said. “It’s the progress that I have made since I started and how I’ve grown as a person that matters.”