Ryan Sherman

Owner - CF Level 1 Trainer

Lululemon Ambassador

I am a very competitive athlete who strives to get better every time I train. I always pride myself as being very fit and technical. It all started in high school when I transferred my junior year to play soccer for the top ranked St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, NJ where I was a captain and a two time All-Prep selection (equivalent to All-State) leading the team to back to back state championships. When it came to a fitness test I had to come in first; it was just who I was. From there I received many offers to top soccer programs in the country. I chose to attend Boston College where I helped the team win its first ACC Championship and #1 overall national ranking in the NCAA tournament. I can give credit to my level of fitness and technical ability for my success as a player.

My first experience of CrossFit truly opened my eyes. It was a different level of fitness that I had never experienced before. I was instantly hooked. I realized that I could take my level of fitness to somewhere that is has never been. CrossFit brought back the fight and fire that I had during my high school and college career. It truly changed my life because it allows me to be in a competitive and challenging environment. Whether it’s the technique, strength, or workout of the day it is something that is challenging and makes me want to work even harder to get better each time I train.

I started coaching CrossFit in the fall of 2011. I loved the sport so much I wanted people to experience the same feeling that I have when I CrossFit. My goal as a coach is to help individual people achieve their own personal goals and build character doing it. CrossFit has changed my life and I look forward to help change the life of others at Ocean CrossFit.

Mike Fantini

Head Coach - CF Level 1 Trainer- CPR/AED Certified

I have been involved and passionate about athletics my whole life. In my youth, I participated in football, wrestling, baseball, and swimming. In high school, I decided to focus on wrestling and helped Ocean Township win their first two State Championships. Upon graduating high school, I continued my wrestling career as a Division 1 athlete at Lock Haven University, where I was introduced to strength training and conditioning.

 In addition, I have been a member of the Long Branch Beach Patrol for more than seven summers as one of their lifeguard captains. I always had a passion for fitness my whole life, but my view changed forever when I found CrossFit in January 2011.  After training almost a year as a competitive athlete, I decided to take my love for CrossFit to the next level and received my Level 1 Certification in October 2011.  Since then, I have worked at several other CrossFit gyms in the area and have been a key factor in each gyms' growth and success. My strong coaching abilities and dedication to improving the lives of everyone I train has helped many achieve and exceed their fitness goals.

PJ Raia 

Coach - CF Level 1 Trainer - Professional Surfer

Ever since I can remember I’ve been an athlete. From a young age I was heavily involved in athletics, Baseball, Football, Soccer, Hockey, you name it. This sparked the passion I still carry today which is to push my body to the edge of its capabilities. I was lucky enough to pursue a Professional Surfing career for many years and got to travel the world learning from all different types of people and cultures.  It is that which led me to spending my winters in Hawaii where I found CrossFit. 

I would wake up at 4:00 AM every morning and drive an hour up the mountains on Oahu to the nearest CrossFit Box to train. I had done a lot of training prior, mostly consisted of endurance based stuff (Running and Swimming), but when I found CrossFit I felt something different. I immediately fell in love with the challenge and the community. I started getting more and more involved until CrossFit turned into my main athletic focus. I don’t think some people understand the passion I have for the sport of CrossFit. Daily, I try to one-up the day before and become better every time I walk into the gym. 

Every day, I learn more and more. I want to pass on the knowledge I have gained through not only my own training, but traveling to different gyms and picking up information off of successful individuals. There’s so much to learn that you can’t ever know it all, that’s what I love about it. I realized the passion I had to help others achieve their goals and become the best they can be when I started coaching at a gym in Costa Mesa, California. I always try to do everything I can to help others optimize performance. Whether that’s nutrition tips, training tips, movement cues, or mental toughness strategies that helped me get to the next level. There’s nothing quite like seeing someone have that “Click” into the community and begin their CrossFit journey, and I love watching it unfold. 

Alexandria Okuniewicz

Coach-CF level 1 trainer - US sailing level 1 certified - American Red Cross CPR + AED adult and child certified - Lululemon research and development team

I have always been into various sports and fitness growing up.  I started at a young age at our local yacht club participating in the summer sailing program, which is where my competitive spirit blossomed.  I became addicted to racing. From sailing to track to field hockey, I loved speed and the feeling of competing individually as well as part of a team. 

After graduating from high school I came back each summer to run the sailing program as the Toms River Yacht Club head coach for 2 years. At that time I was also a part of many crews for various racing series along the Barnegat Bay and throughout the country. 

At the same time, I was competing and starting at TCNJ on the women's field hockey team all 4 years of college. At TCNJ, where I was strictly an "endurance athlete," I helped to lead the team to the Division III National title in 2011 while captaining the squad.  I earned many accolades at TCNJ, some of the most recent being the 2011 First Team All American Honors Division III, 2011 NCAA Nationals Division III Player of the Year, 2011 TCNJ Woman of the Year, and 2012 TCNJ Athlete of the Year.

Coming off such an amazing finish to my collegiate career, I still strived to find something that would challenge me and bring me to the next level.  When I came across CrossFit, it was the most humbling and eye-opening experience I had ever had.  Two and a half years later I now enjoy coaching and helping to make everyday people better and stronger.  CrossFit has given me so much empowerment both physically and mentally. Coaching at Ocean CrossFit has allowed me to spread my knowledge as an athlete and give back to this amazing athletic community. 

AUtumn Schatzow

Coach-CF level 1 Trainer - 2014 Northeast Regional Team Competitor 

Since I was a little girl, I have always been athletic and involved in sports. I remember my mom having me run a lap around the track after school everyday when I was in first grade in order to get ready for my first kids race. I played three sports in high school, winning seven conference championships and a state championship in softball. I continued my athletic career as a scholarship athlete in both tennis and softball at Georgian Court University. In 2006, I was on the winning CACC softball conference championship team. Throughout my time in college, I was also a member of the Student Athlete Advisory committee and attended the NCAA leadership conference. A year after graduating in 2009, I moved to Hawaii where I was outside enjoying hiking and running. I signed up for a living social deal and tried Crossfit for the first time. I was instantly hooked. I love how every Crossfit class is different and I enjoy working out in a group setting to fuel my competitive nature. Through Crossfit I am encouraged to push my limits because I can see that I continue to get stronger, and yet there is always something to work on. In May 2014, I competed on a team at the Northeast Regionals. In 2013, I received my Level I Crossfit certification. I enjoy coaching because it allows me to meet new people and share my passion for Crossfit. I enjoy seeing people get stronger, faster, and do things they never thought they were capable of doing. 

Sean o'connell

Coach-CF level 1 Trainer

I have been involved with athletics my entire life. It began at a very young age learning new sports such as baseball, basketball and skateboarding. Going out to play baseball or ride my skateboard was my way of life and I embraced the challenges to get better at them.  As I became better I wanted to put myself to the test against other people. Whether it was just seeing who could land the best trick or hit the ball the furthest I became obsessed with competition. Once high school came around my life started to revolve around baseball and I dropped everything else to be able to concentrate solely on becoming the best I could be. Playing on multiple teams and traveling throughout the country I gained a ton of experience that sticks with me today.

My fitness journey started freshman year of high school. I saw results from the gym that translated over to playing baseball. I immediately fell in love with trying to improve my body to be the best it can be. I was always searching for new ways to improve at the gym and through this searching I found CrossFit. I watched a couple videos and knew that was what I wanted to do. From day one I was hooked.

For me, the best part about CrossFit is the community. I get just as excited to see someone else PR a lift as I am when I PR. Being able to coach an athlete through a tough workout and watch them succeed is just as fulfilling as when i do so myself. On this fitness journey my goal is not only to improve myself but the lives of everyone who walks into the gym.

ERIC BROWN

Coach-CF level 1 Trainer

Not only have I been involved in athletics my whole life but fitness has been a huge part of my professional life. Whether it was wrestling in high school or trucking around gear when I was in the Marine Corp, fitness was always the foundation. I believe that maintaining my fitness level throughout my life has not only just made me feel better physically but mentally as well. One the best parts about being a coach here at Ocean CrossFit is watching and seeing or athletes transform. Whether it's watching someone get their first muscle up or watching someone PR a back squat its simply a great feeling to share the excitement with them. Our members are not just becoming stronger athletes, they are becoming stronger people in general which I feel is the greatest satisfaction for me as a coach.