Central Illinois moms love the bond CrossFit competition provides

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Ashton Bashore is a former Morton High School basketball player who helped her team earn a state trophy.

As Ashton Mertens, she was a key player on the first girls basketball team in school history to make it to state. That was the 31-3 team in 2006-07 that took fourth in class 3A.

She went on to play college hoops, too. But for the past 12 years, she’s scratched her competitive itch with CrossFit.

And she’s not stopping even though she’s 15 weeks pregnant with her first child.

“We just had a couple of girls at the gym have babies. We are all going through the same steps, supporting each other,” said Bashore. “I know what my body can and cannot do. If I need to stop I can.”

She’s not alone. Central Illinois is filled with young moms in CrossFit, which is high-intensity exercise that’s also a competitive sport featuring elements of weightlifting, calisthenics, cardio and other conditioning.

CrossFit moms say there’s a bond beyond the workouts.

“Not just at the gym, there’s friendships outside of it. Life events, life circumstances,” said Kattie Groeper a mother of two from Washington.

Groepper tried CrossFit for the first time seven months ago. She says the moms where she trains at CrossFit 309 Fitness in Peoria Heights have had a big influence on her.

“They’ve been so helpful. They are people to lean on,” said Groeper. “Our kids hang out now.”

Bashore and Groeper were among the competitors at Saturday’s “Battle at the Ballpark” at Dozer Park. Groeper teamed with another mom, Anna Sceggel, to finish second in the Rx division.

“We do the 9 a.m. mom’s group. It’s a great community. We can bring our kids. Our coach doesn’t want our kids to be the reason we can’t work out,” said Sceggel, a mother of three from Hanna City. “It’s the type of workout I like.”

And at least one expectant mother hopes that her love for CrossFit may be passed on to the baby she’s carrying.

“I hope I have a little athlete. That’s all I’m asking for. Somebody to stay active,” said Bashore. “That’s all. Be active, be outside, enjoy life.”

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