Passionate Coaches
When you choose CrossFit Dark Horse, these are the coaches that will help you make it happen. Our coaches have incredible resumes that might intimidate you, but don’t be scared! The Dark Horse trainers are full of passion and compassion, so they’ll push you (like they’re supposed to), but they won’t destroy you. The only thing that gets destroyed here are your limitations.
Owner
Owner Mike Devaney has been CrossFitting for an impressive ten years. He’s a lifelong athlete who’s played football, baseball, and hockey before competitive CrossFit started taking over his life in 2009.
His specialty is connecting with people and getting them to accomplish something in a workout that they didn’t think they could. “I’m passionate about providing people the tools to set the stage for a long, healthy and happy life,” he says. “I love every personality we have within our community. I love learning each personality and what buttons need to be pressed to get each person to reach their goals. Getting someone to do something they never though they could is the greatest reward.”
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Head Coach & Gym Manager
Head Coach and Gym Manager Jameson Perry has been dancing since he was 3, which helps him teach proper movement to his members. “I love seeing the body move,” he says. “I also can’t help but dance when music is on while I’m coaching class.”
Growing up, Jameson never played sports or lifted weights, but coming off a long break as a professional dancer, he discovered CrossFit was the perfect way to get back in shape. “After my first CrossFit class, it hurt to sit, stand, walk, or blink my eyes,” he says. “After a year of being a member, I wanted to learn more about this sport that I had fallen in love with. I got my level 1 as a Christmas present from my parents in 2014 and have been coaching ever since.”
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Coach
CrossFit Coach Vince Pavia believes if you argue for your limitations, they’ll be yours for eternity. So don’t! “Change is inevitable,” he says. “The pain with change comes from the resistance to it.”
Vince played football and baseball all through high school and competed as an amateur bodybuilder in his 20s, finishing in the top 10 in his weight class in the Central Regionals in 1998. He stumbled into CrossFit looking for something different, and that’s exactly what he found. “I signed up the next day and haven’t looked back,” he says. “I love the community that CrossFit has given me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back as a coach!”
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Coach
Coach JR has been a CrossFitter since 2009 and specializes in Gymnastics and Endurance. He is passionate about helping his athletes enjoy their fitness journeys. He says, “I hope to be a leader in the gym and show members that hard work is the only way to reach their goals.”
JR has been doing gymnastics almost his entire life, and has now been coaching for 25 years. It was his gymnastics background that led him to become a CrossFit coach. He said, “Coaching CrossFit became a natural extension to my gymnastics coaching. People needed help with gymnastics moves and I started helping out. It happened organically.” He believes gymnastics is something everyone can enjoy. He encourages everyone to allow themselves to feel vulnerable while learning new skills. He says, “Our members are fortunate to have owners who value a gymnastics coach, so please take advantage because I am here to help!”
JR is also an avid runner. He has spent years running marathons, triathlons, and adventure races like The Great Wall of China marathon and The Running of the Bulls.
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Coach
Coach Thomas Finklea has been a CrossFitter since 2013 and specializes in General Physical Preparation and Programming for Masters Athletes. His favorite thing about coaching is “being in the moment with my athletes – seeing the athletes navigate the process of success and struggle and being a resource to help them train effectively.”
As an avid martial artist with over 20 years experience, Thomas’s experiences instructing Black Belt Soo Bahk Do and Tae Kwo Do have fostered a desire to teach fitness as a lifetime endeavor. “I would rather be training or coaching CrossFit than almost anything else,” he says.
When Thomas isn’t training, he is busy going to the beach, catching sunsets with his wife, or going to Angels baseball games.
Certifications:
Coach
Miki has been CrossFitting for almost 5 years, and as an older athlete, she is an awesome example of not letting age or current ability define your goals. She is also a great example of how following the CrossFit prescription works for everyday people. She is most passionate about empowering others to believe in their own capacity to achieve their goals, no matter what they are.
After her husband and son started CrossFit, they encouraged Miki to try it as well. She says, “Initially I was very intimidated, but the coaches put me at ease and kept encouraging me along the way. This experience of trying something outside my comfort zone and being fully supported along the way made me want to give this experience to other people.” Her favorite thing about coaching is encouraging members to discover they are able to do more than they think they can. She also loves working with the kids at the gym–teaching them to love being active and to enjoy healthy competition.
Something else to know about Miki is that she is quite the accomplished tap dancer!
Miki’s favorite quote is, “Clarify what you really want, then work as hard as you can for as long as it takes.” –Ben Bergeron
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Bio coming soon…
Bio coming soon…