About CrossFit Unsung

Our mission is to create an inclusive environment where athletes with varying experience and ability get stronger and faster. We strive to create workouts that are both challenging and dynamic. Our programming utilizes the CrossFit methodology by incorporating strength training, cardiovascular conditioning and gymnastics. This combination of constantly varied movements is what allows our athletes to improve so quickly. 

Proudly serving the CrossFit community in Poway, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Penasquitos, Carmel Mountain, Miramar, Mira Mesa, and the rest of San Diego County.

Coaching Staff

Gary Pennell 
Head Coach, CrossFit L1,  CrossFit Kids
Gary found CrossFit in 2010 and officially began his coaching career in 2011. He has coached at multiple gyms and has a wealth of experience developing CrossFit programs for athletes of all ages and abilities. He specializes in adapting workouts to meet the needs of each individual athlete while still pushing them to reach their fitness goals.

Jessi Schwarz
​CrossFit L2, CrossFit Kids, USAW Sports Performance

Jessi found CrossFit in early 2012 and was immediately hooked. She earned her L1 in 2013 and has since added CF Kids, CF Mobility, USAW Sports Performance Coach, and CF-L2 certificates to her training arsenal. She’s great at assessing what motivates you best and will use that to help you achieve your fullest potential as an athlete of any level. 

Scott McPheters
CrossFit L2 

Scott began doing CrossFit in 2011, and has been a coach since 2013. He is an avid believer that proper form keeps athletes safe and healthy, and has learned all he can about optimizing performance while protecting athletes. One of the features of CrossFit that appeals to Scott is that every movement can be scaled or modified depending upon the flexibility and range of motion of the athlete.

Christa Lane
​​CrossFit L1

Christa began coaching in 2018 after falling in love with the CrossFit process and wanting to advocate her passion for the sport. Her favorite part of coaching is helping members develop the confidence and ability to do something they couldn’t do before and find feelings of accomplishment within themselves. She loves all things metcon and participates frequently in community competitions. Outside of CrossFit, she is an avid obstacle course runner and soccer player who enjoys spending her free time with her family, and obsessing over her dog.

Jaclyn Garrison
CrossFit L1 

Jaclyn found CrossFit in 2014, and began coaching in 2017. She loves developing people, sharing her knowledge, and giving people different perspectives so they can find what works best for them personally. She strives to create an environment where diversity in knowledge and practice opens doors for people of all shapes and sizes. She also loves lifting heavy, and her secretly-competitive nature helps her succeed as a coach, and as a great advocate for her competitive athletes.

Crissy Lawson
CrossFit L1

Crissy graduated with a degree in exercise and sports science from Texas State University. She started CrossFit in 2015 and was instantly addicted, earning her L1 just 6 months later. Her favorite part about coaching is her ability to get creative with scaling options; working with athletes’ weaknesses and/or injuries to help them heal, and develop their skills. Outside of CrossFit, she loves playing indoor soccer, running obstacle coarse races, and hanging out with her dog.

Jessica Lawson
​​CrossFit L1

Jessica started CrossFit in early 2016, and began coaching in July that same year. She also has a degree in exercise and sports science from Texas Sate University. As a coach, she loves watching the progress and improvement of members; helping them achieve that "ah ha!" moment of achieving a movement or lift. When not in the gym, she enjoys running and also loves baking.

Michael Buttenob
​CrossFit L1

Michael started CrossFit in 2008, and earned his L1 in early 2009. He is known for his stress on the basics of the gym movements and can always be relied on for thorough explanations on how to move safely.  Outside the gym, Michael is a corporate pilot, plays baseball and softball almost year round, and enjoys time with his wife Heather and their three Butteiful girls.

Heather Buttenob
​CrossFit L1 

Heather began her CrossFit journey in 2008, and earned her first L1 in 2009. She brings a fun energy to the box that makes everyone around her feel welcome. Her favorite movement is the Clean and least favorite Wall Balls and Thrusters. Her time outside of CrossFit includes enjoying life with husband, Michael, and their three beautiful daughters.

Kelly Brenner
CrossFit L1 

Kelly has been instructing group fitness classes for over 20 years at local facilities and holds a variety of related certifications. She fell in love with CrossFit in 2013 and obtained her L1 certificate 18 months later.  She has been part of the Unsung community from the start and is proud to call it her home. Witnessing personal growth and seeing members thrive in a fun, yet competitive environment keeps her coming back for more!

Tony Truscott
​​CrossFit L1

Tony has been a dedicated CrossFit advocate since 2013. He has a passion for personal challenge and cherishes the community environment of the CrossFit box. When not in the gym, Tony works as a Physicist/Electrical Engineer and does geeky stuff for a living.