First XI: Why I Built This Gym, and What It Means to You

What Does It Mean to Be “First XI”?

In soccer, the starting eleven are the players the coach trusts most when it counts. Not necessarily the most talented people in the room — the most committed. The ones who show up prepared, put in the work between games, and make everyone around them better. They earn their spot. They hold it with intention.

That phrase has lived in my head for a long time. It shaped how I coached. It shaped how I trained. And when it came time to name this gym, there was never really another option.

First XI Fitness is built on that same idea: that you don't have to be an elite athlete to train like one. You just have to decide to show up and give it everything you've got.

From the Sideline to the Weight Room

I've been coaching athletes in one form or another for most of my adult life. After earning my undergraduate degree from Ball State University and my master's from the University of Denver, I spent years coaching collegiate soccer — working with young athletes who were serious about performing at their best. I earned my CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) certification in 2015, and from that point on, strength and conditioning became the lens through which I saw everything.

What I learned coaching soccer is something I carry into every training session today: the best results come from a real relationship between coach and athlete. When I know how you move, how you recover, what drives you, and what holds you back — that's when the programming stops being generic and starts being transformational.

After years of coaching in that world, I wanted to build something of my own. Something rooted in genuine community, backed by real science, and built for people who are serious about getting better — whatever “better” looks like for them. That's First XI Fitness.

What We Offer

First XI Fitness is a boutique fitness studio, which means we're small by design. Every service we offer is built around quality over volume.

• Personal Training is the cornerstone. You'll work directly with me on programming tailored to your goals, your schedule, and your body. No cookie-cutter plans. Every session builds on the last.
• Small Group Classes bring the energy of training with others while keeping the coaching personal. These aren't drop-in-and-disappear sessions — you'll know the people you train with, and they'll know you.
• Fitness Assessments give us a true starting point. Before we build a plan, we need to understand where you are. Assessments take the guesswork out and let us set goals that are both challenging and achievable.
• Workout Programming for clients who want a structured plan they can follow on their own — or complement with in-person sessions. Whether you're training here or on the road, you'll always know what to do next.

First XI Fitness is co-located with First XI Coffee in Riner, VA. A place where you can get a great workout and then sit down with a great cup of coffee — that's community. That's what we're building here.

Why Riner?

Because this is home, and because Riner deserves it.

There's a real gap between what people in smaller communities have access to and what they'd find in a major city. Elite coaching, personalized programming, professional-grade fitness experiences — those things shouldn't require a commute to Roanoke or a big-city price tag.

We're not trying to be something that doesn't fit here. We're trying to be exactly what this community needs.

What to Expect From Day One

From the moment you book your first session, you'll notice that things work a little differently here.

Every First XI Fitness client gets access to a full digital platform. You can book classes online, track your progress over time, review your workout history, and communicate directly with me between sessions. Your training doesn't stop when you walk out the door — the platform keeps you connected, accountable, and informed.

But the technology is only as good as the relationship behind it. What you'll get most from First XI Fitness is a coach who knows your name, understands your goals, and genuinely cares whether you reach them.

Elite coaching. Real community. Accessible pricing. That's the promise.