Coaches
Nick Tinaglia - Owner/Head Coach
Nick began coaching at CrossFit Wauconda in 2021 after years of being involved in the fitness community.
Growing up, he played multiple sports and developed a passion for competition, hard work, and team environments. That competitive drive eventually led him to CrossFit, where he found not only a physical and mental outlet, but also the community and accountability he was looking for.
Nick has a Bachelors in Kinesiology from Northeastern Illinois University and is a NSCA certified strength & conditioning specialist. Nick became CrossFit certified in 2017 and has been Head Coach in multiple CrossFit Gyms. In 2025, his dedication to the gym and its members led to him becoming part-owner of CrossFit Wauconda.
Nick believes building strength and resilience inside the gym translates to every other area of life, and he is passionate about helping people unlock their potential through fitness.
Mike Wiechec - Owner/Coach
Mike started coaching gymnastics classes at a local gym at 15. He was a multi-sport athlete in High School and a Colligate cheerleader at Illinois State University. After college, the itch for competition and community never left and he joined CrossFit Wauconda in 2015.
The CrossFit addiction soon took over and Mike was able to partake in competition and satisfy the physical and mental outlet he was missing.
In 2016 Mike became CrossFit certified and joined the CrossFit Wauconda Ownership. Mike believes that one of the most important investments we ever make is in our health.
Joel Avitia - Owner/Coach
Joel was raised in Wauconda and graduated from DePaul in 2015. He grew up playing soccer most of his life along with participating in extreme sports, such as, BMX and Dirtbike racing. When he walked into CrossFit Wauconda he found the challenge and healthy competition he always loved growing up.
Since that time Joel has become a CrossFit Level 2 trainer and is Certified as a USAW Level 1 weightlifting coach.
Joel loves the community aspect CrossFit provides and thrives on witnessing the progress of his athletes along with the friendships he has made along the way.
Travis Guy-Coach
Travis has been involved in sports and athletics dating back to Pee Wee football and park district basketball. Summers were consumed with sports camps and specialized positional camps. This helped Travis become a two year starter and senior captain of the Loras College Basketball team in Dubuque Iowa.
After graduation Travis gained 60 lbs and found the sport of CrossFit to try and shed that weight. CrossFit helped not only lose the weight, but led to a lifelong lifestyle.
Travis earned his CrossFit and USAW Certifications to help inspire others to find the potential they may not see in their self.
Josh Lewis-Coach
Josh has always been an athlete. Throughout high school in Wauconda, he played baseball, basketball, football, track, and cross-country. Even as a kid, Josh had a pretty healthy mindset, and knew that fitness was imperative to a healthy lifestyle.
Josh first began CrossFit in 2013 and knew instantly this was something he would enjoy. Realizing that CrossFit would help him with the competition aspect he’d been missing since high school athletics, he hit the ground running. He feels that CrossFit has made him the healthiest and fittest of his life. Josh received his CrossFit Level 1 Certification in 2019 after realizing that he really enjoyed helping out the other members in the box. He is grateful to be able to share his love of CrossFit with others and watching them succeed.
