Froning Wins Games, Again!

By Justin Pearson and Scott Proffitt

Rich Froning has done it again! For the second year in a row, the Cookeville native and graduate of CHS has won the Reebok CrossFit Games. In early July, Froning travelled to Carson, California for the most recent edition of the games. The events that compose the games are unknown by all athletes to ensure fairness for all competitors. Needless to say, Froning’s work was cut out for him.

Rich attended Cookeville High School from 2002-2005 and played baseball for the Cavs all four years. During his senior season, he was awarded team captain and most valuable player. Rich’s former coach, Butch Chaffin spoke highly of Rich’s work ethic and determination. “He had the best work ethic in the history of the school, and it is very memorable!” said Chaffin enthusiastically. Chaffin expected Rich to be successful after high school, but never knew it would be in the sport of cross-fit. He knew that Rich had the drive to be great at anything he wanted to do. 

Froning, of course, had many shining moments in his baseball career here at CHS, such as his three game winning homeruns in his senior year. Coach Chaffin’s favorite memory, however, was a defensive play made by Rich that Chaffin couldn’t believe he had just witnessed. He was playing against Oakland and the Cavs were up by one. It was late in the game and Oakland was up to bat with the bases loaded. Rich was playing second base and before the pitch ever reached home plate, he took an instinctive step toward first base. At that moment, a line drive was hit toward Rich and he dove to catch the ball. After making the acrobatic catch, he tossed the ball over his shoulder from the ground to first base for the spectacular double play. This was probably one of the most important plays of the game, causing it to stick in Chaffin’s mind forever.

Another interesting fact about Rich’s senior year is that he never threw a baseball during warm-ups before games. He only did rotator cuff exercises on a rubber resistance band, due to shredded muscles in his shoulder. He did this for every game his senior year and only threw a baseball during the games. After the season, Rich underwent a five hour long surgery to repair his injury. Chaffin, who witnessed parts of the surgery, described the muscles in his shoulder as looking like frayed cotton strands. Doctors don’t know how he made it through his senior year without his shoulder falling off. Rich, however, has recovered completely from that injury. 

After High school, Rich attended Tennessee Tech University and got his undergraduate in exercise science. He played baseball in his first year at TTU but decided the sport wasn’t for him. One of his professors at Tech then introduced him to the sport of cross-fit. Rich took the professors advice and started practicing cross-fit in his barn with his cousin in 2009. In 2010, Froning received second place in the Reebok CrossFit Games and came in first at the 2011 and 12 edition of the games. Rich is continuing to train for cross-fit and is also working as a strength and conditioning coach of various sports at TTU. So if you’ve ever wondered who the fittest man on earth is, I’m here to tell you, it’s Rich Froning!