From our community to yours – Welcome to CrossFit Amesbury!
CrossFit Amesbury is a family-owned affiliate whose objective is to raise awareness about fitness, nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle. It is our goal to become an integral part of the community with CrossFit as the common thread. We are committed to developing and nurturing all of our members, and to helping them embrace a lifestyle that we know changes lives. Everyone has the potential to be the best they can be physically, mentally, and emotionally. We want to be there to help you tap that potential and make it a reality.
CrossFit Amesbury is co-owned by the Monaco, Markos, and Morrill families.
Our Team
Braden Monaco
Founder, Co-Owner & Coach
Braden’s CrossFit journey started in 2011 when his brother opened CrossFit Route 1 in Saugus, MA. He jumped in right away – competing at events like CrossFit Regionals in 2012 and 2013 – and immersed himself in the community and lifestyle. To him, the most important part of CrossFit is the community and how life-changing it can be for those who commit. His life has been better because of it.
Certifications
CrossFit Level 2
Hyrox Group Instructor
Interests: I grew up playing various sports, but soccer became my focus, and I played through college. Outside of CrossFit, I enjoy golf, skiing, working on my yard, flipping houses, and spending time with my family.
Favorite WOD? Anything with wall balls and hang cleans!
Favorite Quote? “Perseverance – Continuing a course of action without regard to discouragement, opposition or previous failure.”
Nick Markos
Co-Owner & Coach
Nick has always been active – he played sports through college and working out is a part of his daily routine. Nick discovered CrossFit over 13 years ago when a gym opened nearby when he was living in Miami. He’s been hooked ever since & stays connected with many great people he’s met through the community.
Certifications
CrossFit Level 2
StrongFit Kettlebell
Hyrox Group Instructor
Interests: The 5 F’s: Faith, Family, Fitness, Football, and Food. I’m a proud father and husband, married to Stephanie, and we have two awesome sons, Mateo and Lukas.
Favorite WOD? I love team-based WODs, especially a team of 3 with long chipper-style workouts, running, barbells, and lots of grunt work!
Favorite Quote? “The way you do one thing is the way you do everything.”
Jonny Morrill
Co-Owner & Coach
Jonny was introduced to CrossFit Amesbury in 2019 and never left. CrossFit has been his trailhead—for both marathon training and summiting all of New Hampshire’s 48 4,000-foot peaks. He found that the functional strength, endurance, and resilience built in the gym directly translates to the mountains and long miles on the road. As a coach, he loves helping others build the kind of fitness that supports real adventure—on trails, peaks, and anywhere your feet can take you.
Certifications:
Crossfit Level 1
Hyrox Group Instructor
Interests:Outside the gym, I work as a local police officer and spend as much time as possible outdoors with my wife and our three kids. We’re always chasing adventure—whether it’s hiking in the White Mountains, hitting the slopes in winter, camping under the stars, or exploring new places together. For me, staying active isn’t just a lifestyle—it’s how I stay grounded, connected, and ready for whatever comes next.
Favorite WOD? Karen and squats.
Favorite Quote? “You only have one existence, one life, one try, one take, no do overs.”
Emmy Monaco
Coach
Emmy started CrossFit in June 2010 after watching her brother-in-law Jared and his team from CrossFit Route 1 compete at the Northeast regionals. She thought, “I can do that!”
Although she didn’t enjoy team sports as a kid, she was a cheerleader for 7 years, including 3 years as a Varsity cheerleader in high school. She also danced for 9 years and has been active since junior high, following in her dad’s athletic footsteps.
Certifications
CrossFit Level 1
Interests: Outside of CrossFit, I love spending time with family and friends, taking my dog Pearl for walks, and enjoying good food and wine. I also like golfing, skiing, and relaxing.
Favorite WOD? I love “Murph” because it brings us together as a community to honor a fallen hero, and we push through together. I also love fast-paced barbell lifts and box jumps.
Favorite Quote? “And though she be but little, she is fierce.” – Shakespeare
Ryan McDermott
Coach
Ryan is a former Track & Field athlete and soccer player through college. After graduating in 2003, he began studying and competing in Muay Thai. Ryan fought competitively from 2005 to 2015. He started CrossFit in 2008 as his main strength and conditioning for competing. After retiring from fighting in 2015, he went full time CrossFit to maintain the same intensity as being in the ring. Ryan was one of the head coaches of his fight team for 12 years, coaching CrossFit came natural.
Ryan is also a Captain in the US Army and Military Police Corps with 10 years of service.
Certifications
CrossFit Level 2
Burgener Strength Level 1
USAW Level 1
CrossFit Scaling
CrossFit The Flaw
CrossFit Fundamentals
Interests:Outside of CrossFit, I enjoy hiking, reading, spending time outdoors (especially on a beach), boating, eating Mexican food, sipping a good margarita, and making memories with my daughter.
Favorite WOD? Murph, and my favorite movement is the back squat—because it’s you vs. gravity!
Favorite Quote: “Victory is reserved for those willing to pay its price.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War.
Derek Clark
Coach
In 2015, Derek tried a CrossFit class out of curiosity while interning in sports-specific strength and conditioning. He was immediately hooked, signed up for another internship focused on coaching, and coached his first class within a few weeks. He hasn’t looked back since!
He has played sports my whole life—football, basketball, and lacrosse in high school, and lacrosse in college. His competitive nature made CrossFit the perfect fit for him.
Certifications:
CrossFit Level 2
Bachelor’s in Exercise Science
Interests: Outside of CrossFit, I’m in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, and I love camping with my wife, Jules, my two step-daughters, Avery and Ruby, and our dog Solo (we’re big Star Wars fans).
Favorite WOD? I’ve always enjoyed a good barbell workout, and DT is a classic CrossFit WOD I’ve loved since the beginning of my journey.
Favorite Quote? “Some people are just born to fight, I think. It’s not that they’re born brave. It’s not that they’re born strong. It’s just that the universe has decided that this one, this one will have grit and fire and steel in their blood. And it’ll be tested, this cosmic mettle of theirs. They’ll face trial after trial, be broken and damaged in countless ways. But this one was born to fight. Maybe it’s not the life they would have chosen. Maybe they’d love to lay down their arms. But they were born to fight. It’s what they know. It’s what they do best. It’s all they can do.”
Eric Burgos
Coach
Eric started CrossFit in 2018 after finishing his D1 football career at the University of New Hampshire, seeking a new challenge and community. He has a strong athletic background and now runs Healthy Habits Don’t Diet (HD2), an online health and fitness company. Outside of CrossFit, he’s a husband and dad, with another little one on the way!
Certifications
CrossFit Level 2
Precision Nutrition Level 2 Master Health Coach
Master’s in Education
Interests: Outside of the gym I love spending time with my family, growing HD2, and living by my values—family, faith, and fitness!
Favorite WOD? DT
Favorite Quote: “The only way to fail is to not try…”
Joel McLaughlin
Coach
Joel got into CrossFit in 2009 when a good friend opened a box in Texas. He started doing their WODs on his own in Maine. Before CrossFit, he had a basketball background, playing from a young age through college.
Certifications
CrossFit Level 1
Interests: Outside of CrossFit, I’ve been in building materials sales for over 20 years. I have a beautiful wife and 10-year-old twins, Colin and Brooklyn. Our family stays busy with sports like soccer, softball, basketball, skiing and wake surfing on Lake Winnipesaukee. We also enjoy 2-4 small trips a year.
Favorite WOD? DT, despite my shoulder limitations.
Favorite Quote: “Leave your pride at the door.”
Chris Jacques
Coach
Chris first came into CrossFit when his older brother challenged him to do “death by burpees”. CrossFit helped him get ready to play D1 rugby at Syracuse University. He trained with a coach for over 3 years which is when his own desire to coach and teach began. Watching someone work day in and day on their movement and their face when they finally hit a lift or movement just right, is awesome.
Certifications
CrossFit Level 1
Interests: Outside of CrossFit, I hold a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree and enjoy rugby, playing golf (poorly), medicine, training and movement.
Favorite WOD? Karen or workouts with DB snatches
Favorite Quote? “If you are going to do something, do it right.”
Barb Higgins
Coach
Barb started CrossFit in November 2011, about a year after losing her job. The community, workouts, and challenges drew her in immediately. She took her Level 1 in 2013 at ReebokONE and started competing, making the masters regionals twice between 2013-2016. After losing her daughter Molly, CrossFit became a lifeline for her healing, supported by an amazing gym community.
In 1981, Barb became the first female high school athlete to break 5 minutes in the mile, a record that still stands. She received a full track and cross-country scholarship to Boston University, where she became BU’s first female NCAA All-American in 1983. She also ran for Nike, racing across the US and Canada.
Certifications:
CrossFit Level 2
USATF L-2 C2 Rowing
Ed.M. in Health and Adaptive Physical Education
Interests: Outside of the gym, I enjoy dancing, public service, traveling, and spending time with my kids.
Favorite WOD? I love chipper and Hero WODs, with Murph being a favorite.
Favorite Quote? “If you lose your laughter, you lose your footing.” – Chief One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Aurora Vellante
Coach
Bio coming soon!