Proximal Strength, a prominent and sprawling 12,500 sq ft gym in Springfield, will once again be the host site for The 2022 Heart of America Team Competition Presented by Co-Title Sponsors 1st Phorm & JUNK Brands this September 23-25th in Springfield, MO.
The annual Heart of America Team Competition aka “HOA” is a competitive team event that gathers hundreds of CrossFit affiliates and athletes in southwest Missouri for a 3-day test of fitness which often includes up to 10 scored workout tests.
Now in its 14th consecutive year, it is believed to be the longest-running CrossFit competition in the world outside of the CrossFit Games.
When asked about HOA’s origin and impetus, Founder & Event Director, Jeremy Mhire says, “We were originally trying to show the early CrossFit community that we had a relevant, thriving, strong, authentic fitness community right here in the Midwest. That’s what HOA was born from: A desire to create a competition hub for affiliates in the middle of the country, the heart of America. At this point, HOA has become so much more powerful and meaningful than simply a competitive outlet; HOA has become like a family reunion.”
Mhire says the event is a massive undertaking, typically involving anywhere from 75-100 judges and volunteers, 20+ vendors, and 500+ athletes, and is attended by upwards of 1,000 spectators over the span of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
For CrossFit Games fans and enthusiasts, Mhire says there’s no shortage of star-power on display at HOA. “It’s also an incredible opportunity to witness and hang out with some of the sports’ most elite competitors.”
Mhire continues, “The list of current and former team or individual Games qualifiers is far too long to name at HOA we’ve seen the likes of Brooke Wells, Dan Bailey, Margaux Alvarez, Kristi Eramo, Kyle Kasperbauer, and Sam Dancer as well as local legend phenoms such as Jared Stevens, Jessica Griffith-Cahoy, Melissa Wistrom, Tyler Christophel, Emma Cary, and current 2022 individual qualifying females Baylee Rayl and Christine Kolenbrander.”
According to Mhire, this year HOA has plans to feature RX, Scaled, and Masters level competitors. Also, new to the HOA format, in 2022 HOA is working to run a heat that will include adaptive athletes including competitors with physical or neurological disorders, strokes, amputees, wheelchair users, and other types of long-term injuries.
“Our mission with HOA is to utilize our fitness platform to demonstrate the greatest qualities of our nation when we’re at our best: Teamwork and Diversity”, says Mhire.
Team registration for all divisions opens Sunday, July 10th at 2 pm. For more information about The 2022 Heart of America Team Competition, visit @hoacompetition on Instagram, the “Heart of America Team Competition” event page on Facebook, or heartofamericacompetition.com online.