Celebrating a Decade of Strength, Community, and Growth at Blackbird CrossFit!
Blackbird CrossFit • December 17, 2025
From our humble beginnings as a small, family-owned business, our mission has always been clear ? to empower our community to live stronger, more confident, and healthier lives. What started as a spark of passion has evolved into a decade-long journey filled with invaluable lessons, resilience, and a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears.
The heart and soul of Blackbird CrossFit lie in the extraordinary team of coaches and staff who have graced us with their talent and dedication throughout the years. Their love and care for Blackbird, treating it as their own, have laid the solid foundation upon which our growth stands.
However, it is the incredible Blackbird community of athletes that has truly fueled our success. Your shared happiness and triumphs inside the gym have not only inspired us but have also enabled us to reach out and positively impact the lives of many over the past ten years.
As we reflect on this journey, we are grateful for the countless memories created with each and every one of you. To those who have come and gone, your contributions to the Blackbird family, regardless of the duration of your stay, have left an indelible mark on our hearts. To those who have been with us since the beginning, your unwavering support has witnessed the remarkable evolution captured in the attached photos.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all of you for your trust, support, and love over the years. Blackbird CrossFit would not be where it is today without each member of this incredible community.
On this special occasion, we invite you to take a moment to reach out and express your gratitude to a Blackbird coach who has played a significant role in your health and wellness journey. Your acknowledgment will undoubtedly mean the world to them.
Here's to a decade of strength, community, and growth at Blackbird CrossFit, and to the many more years ahead!
With gratitude,
Matt & Rebekah Titus and the BBCF Coaching Team
Recent Posts
June Athlete of the month
Our May Athlete of the Month is none other than John Leach! John has been a fixture at Blackbird for the last decade - proving that longevity and intensity can be achieved with the right formula of consistency, nutrition, and body awareness. As many of us were, John was introduced to CrossFit by a coworker, and the rest is history. Most recently, John’s drive and dedication has landed him in the 2026 CrossFit Games Semi-Finals after finishing in the top 200 competitors worldwide in his division during Quarterfinals. When John started CrossFit in 2016, he was looking for a way to engage his daughters in a healthy lifestyle and quickly developed into a passion for functional movement, a love for the intensity, and the joy of finding his people. Nowadays, John uses his hour in the gym to center himself from life’s stresses, push himself through long workouts, and working out with and competing together outside of Blackbird with his fiancee Michele, another resident Blackbird powerhouse. By smartly managing aches and pains, dialing in his nutrition, and balancing strength, speed, and intensity, John truly exemplifies what it means to be a well-rounded, intelligent athlete. You can catch John in the evenings, popping some Sour Patch Kids and giving it his all. Congratulations John! You raise the bar at Blackbird, and we love having you a part of our community. MEET JOHN... Tell us about yourself! Hi, I’m John Leach, 50 years old. I joined Blackbird in February 2016. I’m engaged to Michele Fetter and have three daughters—Jayden (21), Madi (19), and Sydney (Michele's) who’s 16. I was born and raised in Maryland, originally in PG County before moving to Sykesville in 2009. I graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Finance. I’m currently the President/Partner of HBW Construction in Rockville, MD. What made you start CrossFit? What has kept you doing it? Has your motivation changed from when you first started? I had a co-worker who did CrossFit and I had watched the CrossFit Games, so I knew a little about it. One day I drove past the sign and noticed CrossFit Kids. Wanting to get my girls into deliberate exercise, I decided to stop in and see what it was all about. After realizing that CrossFit was not just for Games-level athletes, I signed up both my daughters, then 11 and 9, and myself. After a few months I canceled my membership with Athens (I was still going there on the weekends) and was hooked on CrossFit. What have you learned about movement, fitness, and yourself since joining Blackbird? You can't outwork a bad diet, and a good diet can dramatically improve your performance. And take rest days! I've learned that after 3-4 days in the gym, my body needs a break. What is your proudest moment in the gym? I'm not sure I can pinpoint an exact moment. Maybe now, being AOTM? Making Semi-finals this year? There are so many things I've been proud of over the years. But truthfully, I hope that moment hasn't happened yet. What is your favorite CrossFit movement, lift, or WOD? Is there something you dread seeing on Wodify? My favorite WODs are the long, chipper style. The ones that not only test your conditioning but make you question your sanity for why we choose to do this to ourselves. My least favorite, the Bike. What I absolutely dread is the Bike and Box Jumps in the same WOD. What do you enjoy most about Blackbird or CrossFit in general? The constantly varied workouts and the challenge they bring are what keep me coming back. But what really makes the difference is the coaches and the people—the support, energy, and community are second to none. What impact has CrossFit had on you inside and outside of the gym? It definitely has me in the best shape of my life, but the biggest impact has been what it does for me mentally. It gives me an hour each day to step away from the stresses of life and clear my head. What are your CrossFit or fitness goals? How close are you to reaching them? Be consistent and try to defy age as long as possible. And one day learn to do handstand walks. It's the only CF skill I have not been able to do. When you are not in the gym what is your favorite thing to do? Without a doubt, traveling. If that’s not in the cards, I enjoy hunting, hiking, relaxing by the pool or firepit with friends, or just grabbing a drink at 1623. What is one fun thing about you that we may not know yet? My daughter Madi and I travel to different cities to watch the Capitals. 7 cities down, 24 to go. And yes, we saw Ovi break the goals record in NY. What is the one tip you would give someone considering CrossFit or new to CrossFit? Just give it a try for a few months. Everyone starts somewhere. Focus on consistency, listen to your coaches, and don’t compare yourself to others. The results will come if you show up consistently. What was your experience like working with a Blackbird Nutrition Coach? I did 3 months of coaching back in 2020. It taught me how to meal prep and track macros. It's amazing how much dialing in your nutrition can not only help you lose weight but also improve your performance. What is your favorite workout fuel? What’s your favorite indulgence? Sour Patch Kids! I eat a few before every workout. Favorite indulgence(s) - Bourbon, craft beer, ice cream, Pizza, cake......... Have you rehabbed an injury? If so, what takeaways or insight into training for longevity has that taught you? Has your long term approach to your training changed as a result of your experience? Yes, shoulder surgery in 2022 as well as many other aches and pains over the years. I still enjoy pushing myself to my limits but understand now that you don't need to do it every day. Scale when you need to scale. Whether it's the movement, weight, or you just don't feel great that day, there is nothing wrong with scaling a workout. Let's celebrate some of your wins! Tell us about any results, milestones, or moments that made you proud! If I had to pick one, I’d say making the podium at Vector with Michele—we finished 3rd. It was my first competition outside of Blackbird. Blackbird has been a huge part of my life for 10+ years. It’s helped carry me through some of the toughest chapters of my life, while also bringing the best person into it. I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of it and looking forward to what's to come in the next 10 years.
Our April Athlete of the Month - Jami Karper - brings a lot of tenacity, determination, and a phenomenal sense of humor to the gym with her every day! When Jami joined Blackbird, she was looking to convert some unintentional weight loss into the start of habitual progress, and boy has she delivered! Coaching Jami is a joy - she consistently pushes herself while also making smart choices, and takes care of herself outside of the gym too. You can often find her doing supplemental mobility and PT exercises to keep her body moving with comfort and ease. After taking a few swings at finding a routine that fits her lifestyle, Jami now trains for longevity and the sense of connection and control with her body. Jami is one of our 6:30 am regulars, despite a busy schedule at her job and raising two teenage sons with active extracurricular calendars. But when she happens to hit snooze a few too many times, you can find her at evening classes as well! Family, and community, are both important to Jami. That's just as apparent when she helps promote local fundraisers for our schools as it is when you’re near her for a lift and she offers you the camaraderie of sharing a rack and her support. Kind, witty, and perhaps a future Blackbird pottery clinic teacher, Jami is one of a kind.We are so happy that Jami decided to give Blackbird a shot - despite knowing Coach Chris from the neighborhood beforehand - and are so proud of how she has managed to create healthy, sustainable habits that will continue paying dividends for her in the future. Read More About Jami Below! Tell us about yourself: My name is Jami (no e). I was born and raised in Western Maryland before going to UMCP. I have been married for 20 years (in October) and have two teenage boys, a velcro dog, and a lot of family in my life. What made you start CrossFit? What has kept you doing it? Has your motivation changed from when you first started? I had some health issues that caused significant weight loss. I thought I wanted a way to maintain a lower weight but I quickly realized that I really wanted to feel in control of my body. What have you learned about movement, fitness, and yourself since joining Blackbird? Consistency is the most important thing for me. I failed many times to create a fitness habit. I learned that I just had to show up, follow direction, and trust the process. What is your favorite CrossFit movement, lift, or WOD? Is there something you dread seeing on Wodify? I can never pick favorites but I will take lifting over cardio any day. I do not look forward to running or pushups, but if there are snatches I might sleep through my alarm. What do you enjoy most about Blackbird or CrossFit in general? I appreciate how supportive and accepting the Blackbird community is. What are your CrossFit or fitness goals? How close are you to reaching them? My goal everyday is to show up for myself, try my best, and listen to my body. I am working on a lot of different things at the moment. When you are not in the gym what is your favorite thing to do? Board/card/tabletop games with my family and friends. What is one fun thing about you that we may not know yet? I've taken up pottery as a hobby fairly recently. My husband and I got into it together and things snowballed into a garage studio pretty quickly. What is the one tip you would give someone considering CrossFit or new to CrossFit? Don't be afraid of failing. Failing is a sign that you are pushing yourself, so if you don't fail occasionally, you should work harder. What is your favorite workout fuel? What’s your favorite indulgence? I can't eat before working out, but I like mixing chocolate protein powder with cold brew and oat milk after a morning workout. I have no self control when it comes to ice cream and donuts. Have you rehabbed an injury? If so, what takeaways or insight into training for longevity has that taught you? Has your long term approach to your training changed as a result of your experience? A box tried to take out my tibia and my rotator cuff was tweaked. In both cases, I kept showing up and scaling workouts. The shin just needed time (so much time!) but the mental impact was larger. I took a break from box jumps and then slowly worked my way back up. For the rotator cuff, I did my PT and then keep doing it. I still run through a few accessory exercises at least once a week just to remind those little slacker muscles to pay attention.
