Louisville Magazine is Louisville's city magazine, covering Louisville people, lifestyles, politics, sports, restaurants, entertainment and homes. Includes a monthly calendar of events.
Issue link: https://loumag.epubxp.com/i/70972
[The Circuit] PEOPLE s PLACES s THINGS TO DO Taylor N Drescher fitness freak ot so long ago, Taylor Drescher's male classmates challenged her to arm-wrestling competitions. And lost. Growing up in Franklin, Tenn., as the daughter and granddaughter of Marines, she learned early how to distinguish her- self as a powerful woman among equally powerful men. While at the University of Louisville (she came to town to be a cheer- leader), she discovered the exercise program CrossFit. A typical beginner's workout: run 400 meters, swing a 53-pound kettlebell 21 times and do 12 pull-ups. And do all of that three times — after some weightlifting. "Ever since that first day, I was hooked," says Drescher, now a coach at Derby City CrossFit in St. Matthews. Tis past May, the 22-year-old entered the CrossFit Open on a whim. She was among the top 60 women, hailing from 17 international regions, to advance to region- PHOTOS BY CHRIS WITZKE als in Columbus, Ohio, where she finished in 13th place. To answer your questions: She has been known to do 80 pull-ups, squat 265 pounds and dead-lift up to 320 pounds. Her father has served as president of the Wounded Warrior Project. "Te first veter- ans I met were an above-the-knee amputee and his wife, who were both in the Marine Corps," Drescher says. "I spoke with her about her experience and was definitely in- spired to join. I thought, 'I'm already stron- ger than a lot of guys, so why not try it?'" Drescher will move to the Basic School in Quantico, Va., in 2013. "I'm excited about all the physical training," she says. "It'll be hard, of course, but so much fun. I can't help it — I love competing. It's just what I was born to do." — Karen Ellestad