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Education:
-Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of South Carolina, 2019
-Master of Science, Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, 2015
-Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, University of Dayton, 2012
Certifications:
-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
-USAW Sports Performance Coach
-OPEX CCP Exercise Physiology: Program Design
-OPEX CCP Exercise Physiology: Assessment
-CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
-CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
-Functional Movement Screen Certified
-Clinical Athlete Weightlifting Certification Course
-Clinical Management of the Fitness Athlete: Live course
-Rocktape Rock Blades Certified
Coaching History:
-Carolina Performance Training, August 2015 – Present
-Carolina CrossFit, November 2013 – Present
-Head of Programming / CrossFit Coach
-Football Strength & Conditioning Intern, University of South Carolina, May 2014 – August 2014
-Olympic Sports Strength & Conditioning Intern, University of South Carolina, Jan. 2014 – May 2014
Athletic Accolades:
-4 year letterman (Baseball) at University of Dayton, 2009-2012
-Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League All Star, 2011
-Atlantic 10 regular season champions, 2009 and 2012
-Atlantic 10 Tournament champions. 2012
-Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team, 2012
-NCAA College Station Regional, 2012
-CrossFit Games Regional Team Competitor, 2013 and 2014
“While playing baseball at the University of Dayton, I developed a passion for fitness and sports performance. When my career ended in 2012, I started searching for a way to still be competitive. I had trained and competed at a high level my entire life and needed a new reason to keep training hard. Fortunately, I found the sport of fitness. I moved to Columbia in August 2013 to start graduate school at USC. I graduated with a Masters in Exercise Science with a concentration in Applied Physiology. While at USC, I was fortunate enough to work with some SEC incredible athletes. Additionally, I was given an opportunity in November 2013 to begin coaching at CCF. Helping others reach their fitness and performance goals has become a passion of mine. Whether it’s working with student athletes or someone brand new to fitness training, I love working with all ranges of abilities and experiences.
We started Carolina Performance Training in 2015. This was another opportunity to work in the areas of sports performance, with competitive CrossFit athletes and weekend warriors. Our success at CCF was beginning to expand, and we began receiving remote coaching requests from all over the region. We wanted to be able to help these people, and anyone else who was striving to become a better version of themselves. We started testing out and perfecting our remote coaching platform and have found great success with athletes from all areas of the country. Now we can provide the best coaching, programming and nutrition services to anyone, regardless of where they live!
I decided to head back to school in the fall of 2016 to pursue my Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of South Carolina. I saw what leaders in the field of PT were doing and the difference they were making in their patient's lives. I also saw how applicable many of these principles were to strength & conditioning, and how many in the PT community could benefit from more extensive strength & conditioning knowledge! I hope to blend the fields of physical therapy and strength & conditioning and provide my athletes and patients with the best coaching/care possible! If you have any questions about training, nutrition, recovery, lifestyle, etc., please feel free to ask! I look forward to helping you reach your health and fitness goals!”
Currently I am Student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of South Carolina. Before moving to S.C. I spent the last five years as a student at Central Michigan University (CMU). During my time as an undergraduate student, I was able to partake in numerous opportunities to grow as a person and in the field of exercise science. I spent time as a student athletic trainer working with the women’s soccer team, where I was able to perform special tests to determine injuries, create treatment plans for injuries, and perform tapings and wrappings. In addition to coursework, I was on a team with other co-investigators determining whether the effects of time under tension or amount of repetitions produce the best results with blood flow restriction (BFR). Outside of school, I worked as a personal trainer and a CrossFit coach. Through these experiences, I was able to work individually with clients and help set them on the path to reach their goals by creating exercise programs specific to their goals, instructed them on proper form to engrain perfect rep replication to help prevent injuries and facilitate the proper muscles are working, and helped them make lifestyle changes that would have an even more profound effect than just the work they put in at the gym. To cap off my undergraduate degree I was able to go out and seek an internship and found Vertex Strength. Through my experience here, I am now able to write programs for all kinds of athletes, coach a beginner athlete to become proficient in Olympic lifts, make comprehensive programs for high school team sports, and gained confidence in my coaching voice. This past year, I spent as a Graduate Assistant at CMU. Where I taught anatomy labs, and a training and performance lab. In these labs, I was able to provide feedback on assignments, and practicals to allow my students to grow. I addition, I was able to get an even better understanding of the human body by performing dissections on cadavers to ensure structures are clearly visible for students learning. I am very grateful for all these opportunities and how they have allowed me to grow in the field of exercise science. That is why I am so excited with this move to S.C. to start PT school and working for Vertyex because it will allow me to continue to grow and become a better person and coach.
Kristin spent several of her childhood years right here in Cayce-West Columbia before moving to Lexington where she graduated from Gilbert High School. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of South Carolina in 2010, graduating with a B.A. in Political Science with a focus on American Politics and a minor in Criminal Justice. She is a Certified CrossFit Level 2 trainer and Precision Nutrition Coach.
Kristin developed a strong love for exercise and fitness from an early age as an athlete. Her desire to coach and lead people is shown through her energy and passion that she brings to the table. Coach Kristin wants you to move, and move well. Through the years, she has also expanded her passion for fitness by delving into the nutrition world. She loves helping people reach their health and fitness goals through not only exercise but by educating them on the benefits of a nutritious diet. Eating and your nutrition is all about creating a healthy relationship with food!
In her spare time, you'll find Kristin enjoying most things outdoors! She loves to travel, cook (no way!), exercise (no brainer) and spend time with family/friends. She's a die-hard Gamecock fan and loves MLB. You can find her on instagram as @coach.kristin.drafts.
Jessa Wigington grew up in Greenville, South Carolina. While she grew up playing many sports, her best were running and swimming, namely because anything requiring hand/foot-eye coordination eluded her. Jessa began running at age 14, because she wanted to swim collegiately and heard from her high school coach that running would improve her times in the pool. However, she proved much better suited to running, and was offered a spot at a Division I school. After transferring to the University of South Carolina, Jessa focused on her degree and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. Jessa also holds a master’s degree in Spanish Linguistics from Middlebury College in Vermont.
Prior to Jessa’s graduate studies, she began to focus more on running. Originally to work off the stress from teaching high school, she began to reignite the passion for running she had in college. Jessa hired a running coach and began working consistently on improving her running ability and education. Jessa is a 3 time Boston Marathon Qualifier, a Level 2 USATF certified coach with an emphasis in Endurance Sports and a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. She has run 9 marathons and over 15 half marathons throughout the United States. She works in collaboration with a very successful running community such as Olympian Kathy Butler, and is a part of the Strictly Running Racing Team in Columbia, South Carolina.
Jessa has a true passion for running and helping others improve their running performance. She has worked with a gamut of clients from those that hope to qualify for an Abbott World Marathon Major to those completing their first 5k. When Jessa isn’t running, she is a Budget Analyst for the State Senate. Outside of running and work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Ross, and their two dogs, Apollo and Charisa. Jessa and Ross’ favorite show (albeit by marital force) is The Office, and yes Charisa watches every episode with them!
I grew up in Charleston SC. My fitness journey started in junior year of high school when I found myself on the wrestling mats at bishop england highschool and almost immediately fell in love with training. After highschool I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where I continue to pursue performance and training After returning to Charleston I attended cofc to study English and relocated to Columbia in 2021. Shortly after I discovered CrossFit and hit the ground running. Since then I've dedicated my time to learning and teaching movement as a coach at Vertex and Carolina CrossFit. In my free time you can find me taking class at CCF, hanging with my dogs on the Riverwalk, or trying to make.time for a surf trip!
Professional education: CF L1, CF L2, ISSA, OPEX
Bio Coming Soon!
I grew up in Rochester, NY and moved to South Carolina to start PT school at the University of South Carolina (UofSC) in the fall of 2021. I received a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from Syracuse University while playing ice hockey and working as an intern for the Syracuse Football Strength and Conditioning staff. Prior to this, I gained experience working in a private training facility where I coached various athletes and age groups, ranging from middle school to professional athletes, in small group settings. Additionally, I have worked with UofSC's campus recreation department as a personal trainer, helping many individuals achieve their fitness and wellness goals. Throughout my education, I have earned my NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification and I am also a USA Weightlifting Level 1 coach. In my free time, I enjoy rollerblading and playing disc golf at the numerous courses around Columbia.