Crossfit competitors value camaraderie at 13th annual Patriot Brawl

Sonny Litwiler doesn’t give himself the excuse of not being able to do his Crossfit training. Since classes run all day, the Northern Regional Police Officer can always find time for a workout.

Due to the nature of shift work, Litwiler also usually can count on someone else holding him to his schedule.

“The nice thing is they have classes all day,” Litwiler said. “There are always other police or nurses that do shift work so you can find a buddy and have someone keep you accountable.”

Litwiler, a 34-year-old Ross Township resident and Army veteran, got into the sport while he was in the service. It’s turned into a passion. A gym he trains at, R.A.W Training in Gibsonia, has an annual event for first responders that has helped keep him engaged.

Litwiler competed as part of the 13th annual Patriot Brawl earlier this month in Gibsonia. The most recent chapter of this event featured 48 teams and 200 competitors.

Teams competed in groups of four, and prizes were given out in the top divisions. Litwiler enjoys coming out to compete against fellow first responders.

“It’s nice,” Litwiler said. “It’s nice when you find out, we’re the same. You can see the same mentality come out in the middle of a workout when it gets hard. You can see the mood change, the attitude change, the switch. It’s a good time, especially if you find someone from a different branch. That adds a little rivalry to it.”

Beyond the team competition, the event also featured a pull-up challenge with Marines and local military and police bringing some of their vehicles for people to check out.

Agreeing to help train a Marine for a boxing match earned Amy Butteri and Molly Tuman an invitation to Paris Island, S.C.

After agreeing, Butteri, who co-owns RAW training with Tuman, were enamored with what they saw when they went to the home of the Marine Corps recruiting training. On the plane ride back, they decided to start a fitness competition with the idea of helping to honor the military and first responders.

“Our vision is that we continue to honor those who serve,” Butteri said. “We continue to work day-in and day-out with police, SWAT and military.”

Tim McMullen, a 22-year-old Marine and Mt. Lebanon graduate, was competing in the event for the first time. He has been competing in Crossfit events for less than a month. What McMullen enjoyed was being exposed to some different types of fitness challenges.

“So far, I’ve been used to doing military-style pull-ups,” McMullen said. “Crossfit is a looser form. That’s something we are all getting used to.”

McMullen, who came up to the event with a team of four Marines, hadn’t heard of the event, but was happy to join when invited by a lieutenant.

For most of the day the competitors also had to battle the heat on a warm day.

It was a challenge for everyone, but McMullen said they were all prepared.

“We were pounding electrolytes all day,” McMullen said.