Jenn Powers didn’t set out to become a Grid League team owner.
- But if you’ve followed her journey – from the athlete pursuing fitness as a form of healing, to the woman discovering strength in community – it’s not all that surprising.
When Powers was at her heaviest years ago, she weighed over 325 pounds, was in the ICU, and on various medications.
She chose to change her life, and after a long, winding journey, she felt prepared to take on a new challenge.
Grown Strong
Powers isn’t the type of person to sit still. Her passion ignites her daily.
Looking for a new experience, Powers attended one of Lauren Fisher’s Grown Strong fitness retreats last year.
- These retreats are held worldwide and provide attendees with an opportunity to escape their routines and connect with a community of like-minded individuals.
At the retreat in Bali, Powers found a spark and felt something shift.
The group was on a challenging sunrise mountain hike one day, and Powers was wondering if she could make it.
She had recovered from various injuries in her past and was worried that this activity might be too much for her.
- “I kept saying to Ras (Rasmus Andersen, co-owner of Grown Strong), I don’t know if I can do this. I didn’t want to hold the group back and cause them to miss the sunrise,” Powers told the Morning Chalk Up in an interview.
Andersen and the others made it clear to Powers that she couldn’t leave, and they would get her up that mountain for the sunrise.
- “It was such a life lesson at that moment. It was so symbolic. They stayed back for me, and that is a level of respect I will remember for the rest of my life. It brought that peace out inside me, and reminded me that you have to put faith in your pack,” she said.
Powers watched the sun rise over that mountain in Bali that day.
The Power of the Grid
Powers was involved with the now-defunct National Pro Grid League back in the mid-2010s, and more recently, she sponsored some “Grid 6” teams (a beginner/intermediate level of Grid-style competition run by the United Grid League).
Powers loves the idea of spreading her mantra, “turn your pain into power,” to others, and the team-based concept of Grid felt perfect.
After her experience at the Grown Strong retreat, she was ready for something bigger, and she began to consider more involvement in Grid.
- “Grid 6 to me was the version of, ‘I’m interested and want to learn more about it,’” Powers explained. “I sponsored a couple of teams, and we formed this OG pack. I got great feedback and people suggested I put a team… that kind of sparked the evolution.”
Powers took the leap and is now the proud owner of the United Grid League’s newest team, the New York Wolves, the ninth team in the league, set for their inaugural season next year.
The new owner is now immersed in the early-stage operations. Think of it as the ultimate expansion team.
- From scheduling training camp to reaching out to sponsors and securing venues, Powers is constantly on the move.
She loves the ability to bring everything she loves together to help build a team and a company.
- “They say you are the average of the five people you put yourself around,” Powers said, “and I say that even in communities: CrossFit, Olympic weightlifting, retreats… I’m immersing myself in all these ecosystems.”
She is drawing from everyone and everything that has influenced her fitness journey to build the New York Wolves. She has Sam Krivit as her Director of Athletics and Lexie Wohlfort as her Head Coach.
Currently, Jenn is focused on cultivating a team culture centered on connection, competitiveness, and creativity. She’s scouting talent, planning preseason logistics, and brainstorming ways to engage fans with the action, both in person and online.
- “I know I keep saying turning pain to power, but I learned how to do that, and I see everyone else’s pain, and I want to help them. I’m all about rising together.”
She continued:
- “[My life is] an incredible story that you can lose 70 pounds, get back on track, and I’m a living testament to that. But I thought about this: getting a New York team is like having a pack of 20. You’re giving birth to 20 more stories, 20 more people to say, ‘I know how to turn my pain into power.’ Everybody goes through something.”
Want to get involved in the New York Wolves? Check them out here for more info, and send Powers a message with any questions!
- The Wolves are holding a team combine on August 9 at CrossFit Union Square. Get more details here.
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Featured Image: @shotbyshombre / Instagram
