Invictus Blog

Meet the Intern – Zach Erick! 
Written by Invictus Intern Zach Erick

Hello Everyone! My name is Zach, I’m sure you’ve seen me around the gym. I’m usually there around 2pm-7pm everyday. I enjoy long WODs on the beach, candle lit mobilizing, and making pain angels on the gym floor. Aside from my romantic interests, here is a little bit about me. I was born in Rochester, NY and raised in South Florida. Growing up I wasn’t exactly the most coordinated child, so any sport with a ball was out the window. I didn’t find my niche until High School where I ran track, cross-country, and also competed on the swim team.

My Junior year I decided to graduate early with the class of 2009 and enlist in the Navy. I became a Quartermaster working in Navigation Department, as well as holding the duty as the ships Search and Rescue swimmer and Master Helmsman. Over the course of two and a half years I deployed across the Western Pacific ocean, exploring Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, the Polynesian Islands, China, Japan, and South Korea. I was able to experience many different cultures and even got to pull a few people out of the water.

Becoming a coach has been a goal of mine ever since I had a “eureka” moment at my first box back in Florida. The WOD was to find your max overhead squat. I worked my way up to 135lbs. and dropped the bar at least 5 times. I was so weak I couldn’t even clean the bar back up to the squat rack; I had to get the coaches to do it for me. On my last attempt, I listened to all the cues my coach was screaming and nailed it! As ecstatic as I was, when I turned around and saw my coach’s face, I think she had me beat. Even though the weight was well under any standards to compete, my coach reacted like I just set a new world record. At that moment I realized that I wanted to coach and become my clients’ biggest fan. The way I felt leaving the gym that day, you would have thought I overhead squatted a small elephant. To be able to help people reach goals that make them feel like superheroes is an amazing privilege and gift.

Once I came back to San Diego from my last deployment, it was time to find a gym. After checking out a few affiliates in the area, I found my way to Invictus. After I met the coaching staff, I knew this was the best gym in the SoCal region, if not the U.S. When I found out an Internship position was available I jumped at the opportunity. As part of the Invictus community, I could never imagine interning anywhere else. I’ve become so close to the people I workout with that I now consider them family. After all the support and knowledge they have shared with me, this is my opportunity to give back to not only them, but everyone in the gym.There is no other staff I could imagine learning from. Invictus’ reputation is unmatched, and I am honored to have the opportunity to learn and grow as a person, athlete, and coach.