Passionate Coaches
When you’re ready to put in the effort and hard work - these are the coaches that will help you get the amazing results you’re looking for! With talent, dedication, and lots of hands-on experience and training, these men and women know how to work with your unique body and personality to develop the person you dream of being.
Owner/ Head Coach
Owner/ Head Coach Tobey McLaren has been told he looks intense and serious, but don’t be intimidated. “That couldn’t be farther from the truth,” he says. “I love to laugh and would prefer to not take anything too serious. In fact, I live by sarcasm.”
Tobey has always had a passion for training. His first years were spent volunteering at an affiliate while active in the military. “It quickly became my passion and an integral part of my life,” he says. “CrossFit allowed me to understand what training was really about: improved health, performance, and having fun while doing so.”
His favorite quote is “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain
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Owner/Manager
Owner/Manager Sean Madden knows you’ve got to enjoy your training for it to be truly effective, and that’s why he works hard to make sure CrossFit Epping offers its members the best hour of their day.
Sean first discovered CrossFit as an outlet to relieve the stress from his job. “I had so much fun and quickly developed a strong interest in functional movement,” he said. “Working on improving myself lent itself towards sharing that experience with others and prompted a career change.”
His favorite part of coaching is helping people improve physically, mentally, personally and professionally. “Being in a position that facilitates that kind of positive change is something I’m genuinely humbled to be involved with,” he says.
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Coach
Coach Priscilla Cassimiro loves gymnastics and movement in general. She says, “The uncountable number of ways that we can express ourselves through our body makes our lives so much better!”
Priscilla believes gym life starts with a community and the people. She says, “At CFE you’ll find that perfect friendly and passionate environment. A fun energy and vide that I think a gym can’t live without. I felt it on the first day I arrived here.” That fun vibe and energy is felt in any class you attend with Priscilla.
“Better than yesterday, worse than tomorrow.” is a quote Priscilla enjoys. She says, “I think life is all about becoming the best version of ourselves. Who we are as a friend, as a professional, as a partner, or with our family. No matter where or when, we should always try to be our best.”
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Coach Mike Irving is the king of bad & dad Jokes. He specializes in bodyweight movements and weightlifting. “I love helping our athletes improve,” he says. “Over the six years I have been doing CrossFit, I’ve most enjoyed getting to know our community, making them smile with bad jokes, and helping them achieve things they didn’t think they could,” he says.
In high school, Mike was a wrestler and runner. How did he become a CrossFit coach? “My lovely wife pestered me until I finally gave in and tried CrossFit,” he says. “It wasn’t long before I was hooked. As time went on, I found myself wanting to learn more and progress in what I could do. I see the opportunity to coach as another way to learn and pass on what I have learned.”
A beer aficionado, Mike is also very dedicated to his family. “My wife and boys are the most important thing on earth,” he says. “And, beer, I like beer.” In fact, his favorite quote is: “Ah, beer. The cause of and the solution to all of life’s problems.” – Homer Simpson
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Coach Kari Laquer started CrossFitting 10 years ago, after her first child was born with major health issues and she needed “some place to go besides the hospital.” “The CrossFit community changed me,” she says. “Instead of lamenting a given situation, these people support you while you put your blood, sweat, and tears into the positive. It’s powerful.”
As a coach, Kari understands that CrossFit is more than just about building better bodies. “Coming to class is an opportunity to work on the person inside you that might not get paid attention to during the rest of the day,” she says. “I bet you really like that person. He/she probably deserves some attention.”
Kari says it’s not just about the training. “I love getting to know the members of our community. They come from so many different backgrounds! I take pride in helping them achieve goals they didn’t think possible and watching their confidence grow. That’s the stuff that translates to real life.”
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Coach Matt Nguyen specializes in Olympic Weightlifting. He says, “I enjoy it the most out of everything we do at the gym. Who needs cardio anyways?”
From Matt’s 11 years experience what he enjoys most about coaching is when someone realizes they have more to give whether it be someone new to fitness or a seasoned athlete. He says, “Everyone has the ability to grow and that point of realization is gratifying to see.”
When Matt isn’t launching heavy weights overhead at the gym you’ll find him taking on a new home project, even if it’s not at his home. Since the community & his friends have discovered his talent for accomplishing almost anything around the house Matt often gets recruited as a new project manager.
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Coach Shannon loves the looks on her members’ faces when they accomplish something they never thought possible. She says, “Hands down I do this for the people. We are all in this together!” The easy going vibe and strong support is quickly felt whenever joining Shannon’s class for a workout.
However, don’t let the easy vibe fool you. Shannon understands hard work very well. Before CrossFit she was a marathon runner, and still enjoys long endurance workouts. When asked what brought you to CrossFit Shannon said, ” I realized running 26 miles alone with my own thoughts wasn’t for me anymore. As my sanity returned I searched for something new and found CrossFit. Although I might still have one more marathon in me. Just don’t hold me to it.”
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Coach Frankie Impastato has been a CrossFitter for over 9 years and specializes in powerlifting and weightlifting. Passionate about providing people with a welcoming, challenging, fun, and healthy change to their lifestyle that’ll last forever, Frankie most enjoys seeing the progress take place for our members—from a massive PR lift to a first pull up.
Active in high school and college athletics, Frankie came across CrossFit while in college. “After being a personal trainer for some time, I decided to look into what it took to become a CrossFit coach,” he says. “After achieving my Level 1, I began applying for coaching jobs. I bounced around New England, coaching in several different CrossFit gyms, and greatly enjoyed each of them. I built an incredible family at each gym that I’ll never lose.”
Settling in at CrossFit Epping couldn’t be a better fit for Frankie. “Being back in my home state of New Hampshire and near my friends and family, I’m glad to be in a position to enjoy my passion each and every day.”
A guy with a soft spot for dogs (especially underdogs), Frankie’s favorite inspirational quote: “Life isn’t about how had you can hit, but how hard you can get hit and still keep moving forward.” – Rocky Balboa
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Coach Teddy Lilakos specializes in food! Outside of the gym, being a chef is his passion. He says, “It is something I have been working on for over a decade now and am really finding my way in the kitchen. Loving what I do so much on a daily basis makes it easy to get out of bed in the morning. ” Be on the lookout for Teddy’s peanut butter fudge come the holiday season.
When Teddy is not cooking up something new in the kitchen he is a CrossFit coach. He says, “There are so many things to look forward to when you have a gym community like CFE. I get excited to help others reach their fitness goals and do things they thought weren’t possible.”
Teddy’s favorite quote, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” We can tell you from experience it’s exactly what you will get from from him. He says, “The saying is super simple but something I wish everyone could really live by. It’s that easy!”
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Coach Kevin Shangraw has trained in Taekwondo since 1990 and is currently a 5th degree black belt. He’s been active ever since he was a kid, always playing sports and going to the gym. “I spent 21 years in the military, and part of the job of being a soldier is a required level of physical fitness, and that cemented being fit as part of who I am,” he says.
Kevin is passionate about fitness and the challenge it represents. “Fitness is the long game, not a quick fix,” he says. “I like to set lofty goals and work towards them, always learning. I think when we stop learning and challenging ourselves, we begin to decline.” I guess that’s why Kevin took on a 100 mile ultra marathon challenge.
Kevin began his CrossFit journey in 2013, and says, “Crossfit and namely this gym has made an enormous positive impact in my life and that of my family. The community is amazing. The support and encouragement this community gives each other is very inspiring.”
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