Why Suffield Fitness Factory?

"I have to get in shape before I come to your gym!"  Wait, WHAT?  Do you let your broken ankle heal before you go see a doctor?  No, and the same thing applies to fitness - if you are out of shape it's the perfect reason to start and of our coach led classes!

There is no prerequisite to joining our gym.  You don't need to study up on You Tube before you come in, you don't need to recall what the gym teacher in high school told you - that is what our experienced coaches are for!  We will show you the way and help you reach your goals safely - whatever that may look like for you.  

Sign up for our Three Class Free Trial today!

Meet Our Team

David Tripp

“TRIPP”
Coach/Owner

Dave found CrossFit in 2012 and while looking to spread the knowledge, inspiration and CrossFit methodology, opened Land Warrior CrossFit in November of that year. His goal was to create a place where every person is respected as an athlete and inspired to work hard. Shortly after opening the doors at Land Warrior, Dave was called up for his second deployment with the Connecticut Army National Guard to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. He quickly found himself amongst fellow CrossFitters and was part of the all volunteer coaching staff at CrossFit Arifjan. He was able share and spread his knowledge and enthusiasm with hundreds of soldiers and fellow Crossfitters during his free time over the 9 month deployment. Much has evolved at LWCF over the course of ownership but Dave remains steadfast in his belief that "THIS PLACE WILL CHANGE YOU, IF YOU LET IT."


CREDENTIALS:

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer – 2012

CrossFit Coach’s Prep Course (L2) – 2014

CrossFit Level 2 Trainer - 2018

CrossFit Kettlebell – 2012

USAW Sports Performance Coach – 2014

CrossFit Coach’s Prep Course (L2) – 2014

CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting – 2014

CrossFit Games Scoring Team – 2014, 2015

American Red Cross CPR/AED – 2017

CrossFit Scaling Course – 2016

CrossFit Judges Course – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

Sue Tripp

Coach

Sue began her CrossFit journey in August of 2013. To say it’s changed her life is an understatement, and being able to help others grow in their journey is the number one reason she got her L1 in 2016. She enjoys the methodology of CrossFit, the idea of general physical preparedness and being able to coach future generations to a healthier way of living.


CREDENTIALS:

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer – 2016

CrossFit Level 2 Trainer - 2018

CrossFit Games Scoring Team – 2015

CrossFit Kids Trainer – 2016

CrossFit Scaling Course – 2016

CrossFit Anatomy Course - 2016

CrossFit Spot the Flaw Course - 2017

CrossFit Rowing (Water and Erg) – 2017

American Red Cross CPR/AED – 2017

USAW Sports Performance Coach – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

CrossFit Judges Course – 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021

CrossFit Running Course - 2018

CrossFit Lesson Planning Course - 2018

PN Level 1 Certified - 2018

The Brand X Method Basic Kids Course - 2018

CrossFit Gymnastics - 2019


Stacey Pettit

Coach

Stacey joined the Land Warrior coaching team in May of 2015. She’s been participating in CrossFit since May 2012. Before CrossFit she was just a regular gym member. Once she discovered CrossFit she knew there was no going back. Stacey loves seeing new people discover the sport and do something that they never thought they could do. She feels that watching members accomplish a goal off their list makes it all so rewarding. Outside of the gym you can find her being an amazing hairdresser in Windsor Locks.

CREDENTIALS:
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer – 2014
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer - 2018
USAW Sports Performance Coach – 2014
American Red Cross CPR/AED - 2017
CrossFit Judges Course – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018


Connor Mankouski

Coach

Connor started his CrossFit journey in his college gym in 2015. After struggling with obesity in his youth, Connor decided to take control of his health during college. After a year and a half of grinding on the elliptical and peaking with free weights he decided to give CrossFit a go. Before joining the college winter program at Land Warrior during his sophomore year, he tried to do CrossFit movements in the college gym and struggled with the form and technique. After his amazing experience and knowledge gained at Land Warrior, he started training by himself doing his own WODs at the college gym and attracted a lot of attention due to the progress he was making and confusion from all the different movements. Although he did not study exercise science or kinesiology at college, Connor has a passion for the human body movements especially with weightlifting. After training many of his friends at the school gym, he was convinced by one of his buddies who coached to get his Level 1. He began coaching the summer of his junior year at a gym near his school and has been coaching ever since.

CREDENTIALS:
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer – 2017

Kevin Charland

Coach

Kevin started his CrossFit journey at Land Warrior CrossFit in May 2016. He has always been very actively involved in sports both as an athlete and with coaching his children's teams. He's worked hard to live a healthy lifestyle by both eating well and going to the gym on and off since college. But, he'd always get bored with the gym and monotonous routines about half way through the membership and then start all over again around New Years.
His decision to start at LWCF was based on a few reasons - his desire to learn how to do Olympic lifts properly while avoiding injury and bad habits, his hatred of cardio but knowing that he would be more apt to stick to it in competitive group setting and the fact that he was new to Suffield and it would be a great opportunity to meet new people.
Over two years in, the feeling of looking forward to the gym hasn’t faded for Kevin. He feels he's in the best shape of his life and has met so many incredible people who share a common interest.
Deciding to coach and teach has been a natural progression for Kevin.  He's always enjoyed coaching his kids' sports and loves his job where he teaches surgeons how to navigate their brain and spine surgeries. It is Kevn's hope that his coaching helps others achieve their fitness and healthy lifestyle goals.

CREDENTIALS:
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer – 2018
CrossFit Judges Course - 2018, 2019
CrossFit Scaling Course - 2018
CrossFit Running Course - 2018
CrossFit Spot the Flaw Course - 2018

Brittany Whiteley

Coach

Brittany started her CrossFit journey after she graduated from college in 2012. Athletics has always been a big part of her life. She played college basketball at Eastern and graduated with a degree in Physical Education. She currently teaches PE at Suffield High School and coaches many sports. After being an athlete her entire life she wanted to continue a fitness regime that allowed her to have that “athlete mentality.” She wanted to push herself competitively and feel a strong sense of community, so she tried CrossFit with a friend and she was instantly hooked. Brittany has a passion for helping others and inspiring individuals to be the best versions of themselves, she believes that CrossFit is the perfect platform in achieving this, because it positively strengths the mind, body and spirit. You will often hear her say “CrossFit is the best hour of my day” because she gets to be around like minded individuals who truly care and support her goals. As a CrossFit coach at Land Warrior she wants to make our athletes feel welcome, appreciated and inspired just like she felt when she started her CrossFit journey at LWCF. As she begins her coaching career as a Level 1 CrossFit Coach she wants to motivate our athletes to have the confidence to grow not only physically but mentally and emotionally so they can be the best human being they can be!  

CREDENTIALS:
American Red Cross CPR/AED – 2018
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer – 2019

Michelle Nolan

Coach

Starting at the age of five, Michelle took floor gymnastics classes and had to give it up in order to participate in high school field hockey and tennis.  Soon realizing that she missed being involved in gymnastics, she began coaching gymnastics for kids ages 2-16 and did so for over six years.  During college Michelle continued coaching for not only gymnastics but also as an assistant coach for middle and high school field hockey.  Wanting to be in better shape and a role model to the young athletes she coached, Michelle started CrossFit in 2012.  She was instantly hooked by the CrossFit philosophy and involvement of gymnastics movements.  After a few years, she attained her CrossFit Level 1 Certification.  Michelle encourages every athlete to master the basic techniques before moving onto more complicated movements and pushes them to always work on their weaknesses. Michelle believes that it's also very important for athletes to have fun and enjoy the community!

CREDENTIALS:
State of CT Interscholastic/Intramural Coach
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer – 2014
CrossFit Gymnastics - 2016
The Brand X Method Basic Kids Course - 2018
American Red Cross CPR/AED – 2018

AJ Efstratios

Coach

CREDENTIALS:
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer – 2019

Vincent Scacchitti

Coach

Vince’s CrossFit journey began when he became bored with what he was traditionally doing for a workout and a friend suggested he try CrossFit to change up his routine. Vince never looked back - receiving his L1 in 2018 to accompany his other training credentials and beginning to figure out how to adapt his new-found knowledge to revamp his client’s routines. Vince has found ways to adapt CrossFit to clients who have very limited abilities with great success.  Outside of training others and training himself you can find Vince with a guitar in his hand, at a concert or on a hike.

CREDENTIALS:
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer – 2018
NASM CPT (Certified Personal Trainer)
NASM CES (Corrective Exercise Specialist)
NASM MMACS (Mixed Martial Arts Conditioning Specialist)
FMS 1 (Functional Movement Screen)

Dean Ascioti

Coach

Dean joined the Land Warrior/SFF team in 2020.  CrossFit has provided him an opportunity to learn and practice many new athletic skills and he enjoys the team environment; being part of a community of like-minded athletes that support each other equally through good times and tough workouts.  Immediately hooked after his first CrossFit workout in 2016, he embraced the sport, improved his nutrition and is now in the best shape of his life.  He earned his CrossFit Level 1 on Super Bowl Sunday, 2019.  Soon thereafter he was coaching, mentoring and inspiring his athletes.  Dean's day job is at Slalom Consulting where he manages business and technology improvements for his clients.  Being part of a vibrant community and having the physical challenge that CrossFit provides helps him to maintain a quality work/life balance.  Besides CrossFit, he is an avid skier, road biker and plays softball and golf.  

CREDENTIALS:

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer – 2019

CrossFit Weightlifting Level 1 - 2019

CrossFit Scaling Options - 2019

CrossFit Masters Training - 2020

American Red Cross CPR/AED – 2018

CFBD Athlete of the Year - 2018


Stephanie DeCaro

Coach

Stephanie was first introduced to CrossFit in 2013 when she came across a picture on Instagram of a female CrossFit athlete who looked different than your typical female athlete.  This picture portrayed a woman pushing a weighted Rogue prowler sled, she was built with glistening muscles and a fierce look of determination in her eyes.  Needless to say, it caught Steph's attention but took a whole year for her to build up the courage to finally join a CrossFit affiliate.  Once she did, the connection was instantaneous.  One of the most compelling aspects of CrossFit for Steph is the community and bonds formed from doing a grueling workout with strangers who become family.  It's through CrossFit that Steph has discovered tremendous amounts of support, courage, self-confidence and peak wellness that have inspired her to become a coach and share her discoveries with others in hopes of helping them achieve their own.


CREDENTIALS:

EMT Basic - 2014

USAW Level 1 – 2015

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer - 2018