Mario Lanza had it figured out: he would go to college on a baseball scholarship and doors would continue to open. There was one problem: Lanza didn’t make his studies a priority.
“I thought I had everything because I was pretty good at baseball, so I had scholarships,” the 20-year-old explains. “And then all of a sudden (it) just kind of went away.”
Today, Lanza is focused on becoming a Navy SEAL. Likewise, he’s training at CrossFit Phoenixville, roughly 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
“I’m trying to do something new and exciting and travel and become something,” he says.
At the box, co-owner and coach John Warnek tutors Lanza in math so he can pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) required to enter all branches of the U.S. military.
“It’s been really nice working with him,” says Warnek, a former physics teacher, “because for the first time in a long time, I assign homework and every bit of it gets done and then some.”
After this video was filmed, Warnek reported that his student’s work had indeed paid off: Lanza passed the ASVAB.
Video by Mike Donofrio.
7min 15sec
HD file size: 136 MB
SD wmv file size: 87 MB
SD mov file size: 43 MB
Please note: For smoother viewing of HD videos, please download the entire file to your hard drive before watching it (right-click and choose Save Link As...).
Additional reading: Full Mission Profile by Rob Ord, published March 1, 2009.
Free Download
Comment
Related Articles
As a competitive shooter, Cory Magers wanted to get faster. But at more than 400 lb., that was difficult.
At his U.S. Practical Shooting Association club, he happened to run into… Continue Reading
In 2010, Scott Horton was more than 330 lb. and riddled with health issues.
“My doctor basically told me that if I didn’t start losing some weight, I was going to have some real… Continue Reading
Marla Carnes is mother to a son who died of drowning in March 2007. CrossFit Kids is teaming up with the Infant Swimming Resource (ISR), which seeks to protect children against… Continue Reading
At 5 years old, Janet Ying started taking violin lessons. It wasn’t particularly remarkable.
“It was one thing among many that I did growing up—going to school, taking swimming lessons, things… Continue Reading
13 Comments on “To Be a SEAL”
1
wrote …
Damn I love Crossfit!
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
2
wrote …
Best of luck Mario. It is great the folks at CrossFit Phoenixville are helping you out with joining The Navy. Great video and story.
-James Ryan
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
3
wrote …
Mario best of luck in the Navy. Keep kicking ass man your an inspiration to many!
- Dylan Lacey
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
4
wrote …
Great Story, Mario sounds like an awesome kid...stay on top of him John.
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
5
John and Nikki Warnek wrote …
Update on this story - just last week Mario passed the ASVAB! Congrats Mario, so proud of you. Your determination and hard work are paying off!
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
6
wrote …
Forget about your past blunders because that doesn't define who you are. What you're doing now is the important part and is admirable. Keep it going Mario, you can do this!
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
7
wrote …
Wow! Good luck to you Mario! I know you will crush that test!!! And John and Nikki sound like "salt of the earth" type people. We need more of them in this world.
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
8
wrote …
awesome story!!!!! Great job on passing the ASVAB!!!!!! Wish you the best of luck with your military career........
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
9
wrote …
Good Luck with it man. Alot of the military training is all mental. Whatever you put you mind to, your body will follow.
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
10
wrote …
Awesome. Congratulations Mario!! All you're hard work has, and will continue to pay off. John and Nikki, How Amazing are you. Thanks for caring, and showing that Crossfit is about bettering life.
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
11
wrote …
Congratulations Mario!!! Mario is a pleasure to wod with and a phenominal athlete. Great job Nikki and John!!! You guys are awesome and so is the community that you two have built!
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
12
wrote …
Great story, I would love to see a follow up. Talk about great coaching try getting your local global gym owner to help you with your math, please.
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
13
Frank DiMeo wrote …
Great to see mentoring, not just coaching .
Tremendous article!
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
Leave a comment