DR. JARED VAN ANNE
Director
Coming from a multi-sport background, training within CrossFit since 2010, and having a Masters in Sport Science & Rehabilitation as well as being a Chiropractic Physician, Dr. Jared brings an enormous amount of experience and expertise to CrossFit Levo. And just like Coach Antoinette, though he has worked with amazing, high-end athletes his passion for helping anyone move better and experience greater capability is not limited to any specific group. He is ready to help you NOW.
MEGHAN PUGACHEV
Coach
Meghan, the partner marketing manager by day, has a knack for selling technology to big businesses, and she does it with a dash of humor that’s almost as impressive as her work. But when the office lights dim and the fitness journey begins, Meghan reveals her adventurous side. Growing up, Meghan was a sports enthusiast, dabbling in various games. However, her fitness journey took an interesting turn when she stumbled upon CrossFit, quite by accident. Picture this: she was following a free fitness program online, oblivious to the fact that it was essentially CrossFit-style workouts. As fate would have it, her gym even had a “functional fitness” section that she’d somehow overlooked. Ignoring the friendly jabs from her friends and internet memes about CrossFit, Meghan took the plunge and attended her first on-ramp class with Antoinette in 2018. And that’s when it happened – she came for the fitness but stayed for the incredible community of like-minded, sweaty souls. Now, here’s a random nugget about Meghan that adds an extra layer of intrigue to her story. She once hiked up a Colorado mountain at the ungodly hour of 4:30 AM just so she and her husband could tie the knot at sunrise on a breathtaking mountaintop. Oh, and the kicker? They married themselves, in a place where Colorado’s unique laws permit such adventures in love.
BRETT MILLAWAY
Coach
Brett’s early immersion into fitness began on the soccer fields of grade school, continuing ardently through his high school years. To keep himself in peak physical condition during soccer off-seasons, he delved into mixed martial arts. This dual commitment not only ensured Brett was always in top form but also broadened his repertoire of athletic techniques. After high school, Brett’s priorities naturally shifted towards his career and college, placing his active pursuits on the backburner. Though he rekindled his passion with a brief stint in Jiu-Jitsu in 2016, his dedication had somewhat diminished by then. Everything changed in 2021 when “The World’s Fittest Man” on Netflix reignited Brett’s zest for fitness, introducing him to the dynamic realm of CrossFit. Embracing this newfound zeal, Brett has since been fervently committed to his own athletic development. Today, he channels this dedication into coaching, guiding others towards realizing their fitness goals. Outside of the gym Brett works as a Technical Solutions Architect at WWT. Random fact -In 2016, Brett hiked the Inca trail to Machu Picchu in Peru throughout a grueling four day experience.
JO SALAS
Coach
Coach Meet Joanne, the Director of Applied zResearch & Analytics at SLU’s Advanced Health Data Institute. She’s a self-professed big data, math, and computer science dork. In her past life, she was a soccer enthusiast but veered into cycling and triathlons in college, neglecting strength training. In 2011, CrossFit rescued her from the endurance sports abyss, and she’s been hooked ever since. Joanne holds CrossFit Level-1 and CrossFit Kids certificates, turning her passion into coaching. She’s not just about lifting weights; she’s also dabbled in Strongman competitions and rocked various CrossFit team contests in St. Louis. When not sweating it out, Joanne plays competitive ice hockey, beer league softball, and golf. And to balance the scales, she enjoys long hikes with her pup. Fun Fact: Joanne is a first-generation American, with Greek immigrant parents who shortened their last name to “Tsalamandris” shortly before her birth, and she proudly carries on the Greek tradition of having no middle name.
Noah Smith
Coach
I started training when I was 10 years old—both my parents and siblings were already into it, so it felt natural to jump in. I spent four years competing in the teen division and hit as many local comps as I could along the way. These days, I try to use my fitness outside the gym whenever possible—whether that’s snowboarding, mountain biking, or golfing. When I’m not training, there’s a good chance you’ll find me making coffee or hanging out at a local coffee shop.
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