About Our Gym

I first found a love for strength training and CrossFit in 2014. I was nervous to walk into the box that day, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I was hooked from then on. The CrossFit methodology and great gyms I have been a part of have profoundly changed my life. I became a member at CrossFit MetroEast in October of 2017, and it quickly turned into my happy place and second home.

In 2021, I decided to take a chance at part-time coaching and in 2022 I realized it was truly my passion, and I was ready to go full-time. The challenge of each workout, the tight-knit, supportive community, and the opportunity to become a little better every day is what I love about this gym. I am so grateful to work with our members, helping them to build confidence and achieve things they never thought they could. I am currently a CrossFit Level 2 coach and Precision Nutrition certified, as well as a proud volunteer for the Phoenix. I am also the Client Success Manager at the gym and love supporting our clients on their fitness journey. When I am not training or coaching, I enjoy getting my own workouts in, spending time with my husband (and fellow gym member) Brink, traveling, reading, and jigsaw puzzles. I also spend much of my free time with family and friends (and our cats).

Craig is a part-time assistant coach at MetroEast Health & Fitness whose CrossFit journey began in 2013 as “just a little cardio” between weightlifting sessions. That plan lasted about two weeks before he went all-in and became a full-blown CrossFit junkie.

A former college athlete, Craig knows the value of competing every day-physically and mentally. Now in middle age, fitness isn’t just about performance; it’s about longevity, consistency, and staying shape to be able to play with future grandchildren. Functional fitness gives him the perfect mix of competition, community, and accountability, while maintaining an able body.

Craig’s favorite part of coaching is helping others improve their quality of life through fitness and nutrition. Seeing athletes achieve goals they once thought impossible is what drives him most.

Professionally, Craig is a Senior Account Executive for a market research firm collaborating with food and beverage brands. In his spare time, Craig enjoys an active lifestyle with his partner, Tracy. As well as spending time with family and friends (preferably over a cup of coffee).

Hi, I’m Alyssa! I grew up in Belleville and now live in Swansea, IL with my husband, our son (born February 2024 ❤️), two dogs, a cat, and four backyard chickens. Fitness has been a part of my life for over 12 years, and what started as a personal passion turned into a career I love. I’ve been coaching for the past 4 years, working with people who want to feel stronger, move better, and truly enjoy life at every stage.

I hold certifications as a CrossFit Level 2 Coach, Precision Nutrition L1 Coach, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, and became BirthFit Coach Certified in 2024 after my own postpartum journey. Those experiences, both personal and professional, allow me to meet clients where they’re at-whether that’s rebuilding strength after having a baby, chasing performance goals, or simply wanting to move and feel better day-to-day. At the heart of it all, I believe fitness should be approachable, empowering, and something that supports the life you want to live.

Dawnella is a 24 year Air Force veteran who has gotten the opportunity to travel all over the world to places like England, Korea, Japan, Afghanistan, and Iraq to name a few throughout her military career.

It was while she served in the Air Force while stationed in Okinawa, Japan in 2014 is where she learned about CrossFit. She quickly became a member of CrossFit Asia where she participated in her gym’s competition because she fell in love with the challenge and learning how these functional movements crossover to everyday life.

In 2017, while living in Goldsboro, North Carolina she became a member of United States of America Weightlifting (USAW) and did her first Olympic Weightlifting Competition without any training because she wanted to try it. She quickly fell in love with weightlifting because it felt good to lift heavy things.

Dawnella is a true life learner because not only does she hold her CrossFit Level 1 and her Level 1 in weightlifting from USAW, but she holds a Doctorates Degree in Business Administration.

She currently works full time for Wells Fargo, but fitness holds a special place in her heart. She coaches part time and wherever she can fill in to share her passion for fitness.

In her spare time, she likes to volunteer at or compete in fitness competitions, volunteer with the nonprofit “It’s Your Birthday”, attend music concerts, craft, read, spend time with her dog Yoshi, and travel!

Kole is a part-time coach at MetroEast Health & Fitness. He joined the gym in 2021, and was no stranger to leading teams in fitness. During his career in the United States Air Force Kole served as a Physical Training Leader and Fitness Program Manager for over 14 years.

Here he developed a passion for helping people achieve their fitness goals and reach new fitness levels. In his fitness journey, his focus was always Marathons and Triathlons, but he decided to try CrossFit after COVID because it provided the two things he was looking for at the time; adding weightlifting to his routine, and finding a group so he was not having to workout solo.

Originally from Northern California, Kole moved to the Metro East in 2014. He and his wife reside in Mascoutah, Illinois, and have two grown boys. While he has retired from the Military, Kole still works full-time as a Cybersecurity Engineer. He has a Masters Degree in Cybersecurity and is CrossFit Level 1 certified. Kole likes to spend his spare time outdoors (hiking, rucking, camping), taking on new fitness challenges, and pretty much anything that involves time with family and friends.

Lindsey’s fitness journey began at just 15 years old when she discovered CrossFit as a way to stay in shape. With a background in gymnastics and a love for movement, she was drawn to the variety and challenge that this style of training offered – especially the skills that let her put her gymnastics experience to good use.

Today, Lindsey is a part-time coach at MetroEast while pursuing a degree in Sports Psychology at SIUE. She’s passionate about helping others grow in their fitness journey and is also training with the goal of competing at a high level in the sport of fitness.

What Lindsey loves most about functional fitness is the community it creates. Training alongside others fosters strong bonds and accountability, something that resonates deeply with her. Growing up in a military family, having a consistent place where she could belong was important – and the gym has always been that place.

Hi everyone, I’m Traci! I’m a native Belleville girl living in Belleville with the bestest doggo, Frank. Family is important to me; I purchased a home in my parents’ neighborhood to be there for them as they age in place.

Fitness has always played a role in my life, even early on, playing multiple sports in high school, college intramurals, and remaining active as an adult through resistance training, hiking, cycling, triathlon, and of course, CrossFit. I found CrossFit Health and Fitness as an athlete looking for a new way to improve my fitness nearly a decade ago. I strongly believe this is the best gym in town!

I’m a retired science teacher. Human Anatomy/Physiology and Environmental Science were my 2 favorite subjects to teach! I also taught Health and Wellness for 5 years at the collegiate level. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, and a Masters’s degree in Kinesiology. Just like in the classroom, I truly enjoy guiding clients through their fitness and watching their confidence grow as their skill level improves. Successes inside the gym have wonderful ways of translating into successes outside the gym, and I love being here to witness that process develop.

I obtained my CrossFit Level 1 certification in January 2024 and have been coaching at Crossfit Health and Fitness since July 2024. I am currently working to obtain a Nutrition Coach Level 1 certification through Precision Nutrition in order to provide the best support to clients as they strive to reach their fitness goals.