07/21/2025
“What’s in your heart is what you believe” - Field of Dreams
If you know me, you know there’s been many chapters written in my book of life. I’ve decided to close one chapter and expand / open another, I am officially stepping away from Rage Fitness at the end of July. Though the name may go away, the gym will not, nor will the family created by it. It was never about the money, the awards or the recognition, it was plain and simple about helping people and making the community a better place, something I will continue to do more of as I grow with the Sheboygan County Food Bank. The memories of the hundreds if not over a thousand amazing folks that walked through our doors, and all of the community service, from our first event of the beach cleanup to our scavenger hunts benefitting different groups, the food drives, the toy drive, 2000+ items collected for the hygiene drives, and so much more. I want to thank Brent Neevel for getting me started on this path, for teaching me to coach, and for giving me an opportunity. Nick Schmitz for wanting more in life and opening up Rage Fitness together. Our current coaches Alex Hernandez, Stephanie Ackley, and Zoe Akiyama thank you for being awesome, encouraging and resilient while we have made these changes. For all that have coached in the past, thank you for putting others in such a high regard and your willingness to make a difference. Shaughn O'Neil and Jimmy Zidek, I’m glad we had this ride together, others have come and gone, but we stayed together, keeping this dream alive and becoming friends while doing it and I couldn’t think of any better folks to run this place. Pam Kletzien and Jason Kress, you are the OG’s and where here from day 1, when things got tough, you never faltered, in fact you stepped up more and none of this could have happened without you. Vici Hoffmann, you encouraged me to do this, we did it together, you had my back, helped in all aspects so many times and stayed with this and me as long as you could, doing so much and for that I am indebted, thank you is not enough. Thank you to all of our current and past members, we had an amazing ride, you all mean so much to me and that is the hardest part to being done. I am excited to see what Shaughn creates, he is a great human being and wonderful coach, if anyone ever deserved a chance to run their own gym it is him and great things will come. No big celebrations, no special final workouts, just a see you later as I quietly step away. Thank you!
“Just listen to your gut, and on the way down to your gut, check in with your heart. Between those two things, they’ll let you know what’s what” - Ted Lasso
