About
Iron Jungle CrossFit
At Iron Jungle CrossFit, we are most proud of our amazing community of people. We have class options from kids & teens all the way through Longevity. We believe in fitness as a lifestyle. Our team of fitness and nutrition professionals are invested in your health. We make every decision with our members’ well-being in mind. Achieve your goals with us!
The Team
Mike Ambrosino
Owner
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
Mike has been a dedicated member of Iron Jungle CrossFit for over 7 years, with a long-standing passion for weightlifting and fitness. Now living his dream as the owner of Iron Jungle CrossFit, Mike’s journey began at the Cherry Hill location before making the move to Mt. Laurel, and now Moorestown, where he’s become a familiar face—often seen in the 9 AM class!
A true family man, Mike cherishes spending time with his wife Pam and their two children, Cole and Mia. Outside of the gym, Mike runs his own successful HVAC business, Therm Arye. As a CrossFit enthusiast, his favorite lift is the clean & jerk, and he’s always eager to connect with current and new members alike.
Be sure to say hello when you see him around the gym—he’s excited to meet you!
Heather Sponseller
Coach & GENERAL MANAGER
M.S. Exercise Science; CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
I have always had a love of fitness. I grew up dancing and competing in dance. I ended up getting a BS in accounting and I knew quickly that was not what I wanted my career to be. After taking a college course in nutrition, I decided to go for an MS in exercise science. I worked in many gyms as we moved around for my husband’s military career, holding jobs managing gyms as well as working in group exercise teaching yoga, Pilates, spin, and boot camp.
Even though I was very involved in fitness, I had never done any Olympic lifting prior to trying CrossFit. I was interested in trying it because I wanted a new challenge. Being in my late 30’s at the time, my first impression was that it would be a really great workout, but there was no way that I was going to climb that rope…or ever be able to do a double under…or even think about doing a handstand pushup. Now I can do all of those things and I actually really love all three! There are so many exercises that I am still working on and I always hope to improve, but CrossFit has given me a sense of accomplishment and motivation to encourage others that they will be able to do it!
The CrossFit Level 1 training was amazing and I love constantly learning and improving for myself as well as being able to help others on their fitness journey. I started our current kids & teens program in September 2019 and it has been so awesome to watch all of the kids come in and have fun with fitness. We laugh and have fun but I am also helping kids who want to improve their sports performance as well as help kids who have not found a sport that they like learn to be confident in themselves and be healthy. Fitness & nutrition for lifelong health is my passion and I love that I get to share my passion with others every day!
Ryan Leafey
COACH
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
With a BA in education from Rowan University, I spent three years as a teacher before discovering my love for functional fitness during off-season football training. In 2013, I opened CrossFit Northwood and have been dedicated to serving the community for over a decade.
My passion for working with youth is unwavering, and I’ve had the privilege of coaching multiple regional-level and CrossFit Games athletes. With consistency as my cornerstone, I take pride in holding athletes and clients accountable, guided by the HERE acronym: H for habits, E for every day, R for rituals and routines, and E for elevate and meditate.
My overarching goal is to contribute to the community’s well-being, aiming to help as many people as possible lead healthy, happy lives using fitness as a transformative tool. I’m thrilled to be part of the Iron Jungle CrossFit community, and I look forward to our journey together.
Joyce Brady
Longevity & Kids Coach
B.A in Education, Masters of the Arts in Curriculum, Instruction, and Supervision, CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
As a recently retired teacher of 30 years and member of Iron Jungle CrossFit for 10 years, I made the decision to learn more about the sport. I became certified in CrossFit, earning my CF-L1 certification. Since joining I have become a power lifting enthusiast with a recent one rep deadlift of 300 pounds. Through my journey with CrossFit I have learned how being strong can offer so many more daily benefits than one may realize for people of all ages.
Currently, you can find me coaching our kids and teens class, as well as the Longevity program. Both of these specialized programs were designed to improve strength and conditioning and are scalable for all fitness levels. I enjoy helping these different age groups focus on proper techniques that will assist them to be more empowered, confident, and capable individuals in their daily lives.
I love being a member and a coach in this wonderful community that we have built over the years. You can find us supporting each other both in life and in the gym. Come join us for CrossFit, lots of fun, and most of all, friendship!
Sam Farina
COACH
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, NSCA CSCS, NASM-CSNC, USAW-L1
I have been captured by health and fitness from a very young age; I can remember making myself little workouts from as young as 2nd grade, where I’d see how fast or how long I could run around my house while also swimming numerous laps in my above-ground pool.. that was what I did for fun. In high school I was not much different, I continued to find not only entertainment, but also relief from the outside world through fitness, more specifically Track and Cross Country. I attended Ocean County Vocational School for 2 years in the Health & Fitness program, which is where my educational background officially started. From there I attended Rowan University where I earned my Bachelor’s in Exercise Science while running competitively on the Track and Cross Country teams. To me, health and fitness was more than just sports, it was an outlet and therapeutic in countless ways; I knew I wanted to be able to share that experience with as many people as I could, which is why I am in this field.
Upon completing college, I went on to acquire my NSCA-CSCS (Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist) while frequently continuing my credentials through earning my USAW L1 certification, as well as my NASM-CSNC (Certified Sports Nutrition Coach). What I find fascinating about nutrition and exercise is that it is constantly evolving; we are always researching to help enhance our health and I am also committed to doing so. My main goal as a fitness professional is to help spread the positive impact of exercise and proper nutrition to as many members and clients as I can. It is not always about a fit, toned body or being able to squat 3x your bodyweight; sometimes it’s about proving to yourself that you can show up for yourself and do hard things!
Tony Nelsen
COACH
I’ve always had a passion for sports and fitness. Growing up, I played football and ran track and field in high school, laying the foundation for my love of athleticism, competition, and working with others. In college, I took that passion further by playing club rugby, where I continued to build the values of teamwork, discipline, and pushing my limits.
CrossFit has been a natural extension of my athletic journey, and I love helping others experience the same excitement and progress I’ve found over the years. I started CrossFit in 2016 and appreciate the community and intensity that CrossFit brings, and that’s what drives me to help others reach their fitness goals, no matter where they’re starting from.
When I’m not coaching, I pastor in Mt. Holly and study law at Rutgers, and you’ll probably find me playing with my kitties, being involved in my community, or trying out fun and new recipes. I’m all about balance, progress, and holistic health. I aim to create a welcoming, fun, safe, and challenging environment where you can push yourself and have a great time. Can’t wait to help you achieve your goals!
Jess Gray
COACH
Crossfit Level 2, Crossfit Kids, NASM Certified Personal Trainer
I started CrossFit the summer of 2015. The first workout I attended had handstand pushups programmed and I watched in awe as people almost twice my age were repping them out effortlessly. It was in that moment struggling through a scaling option, a new found passion was born. Now, almost ten years later, I’m still growing and improving my skills as a coach and athlete.
Because of the profound effect CrossFit had on both my mental and physical wellbeing, I soon after became a coach to share this passion for fitness with others. I love cheering on accomplishments, breaking down complex movements into easy understandable steps, and just generally encouraging and motivating people to do their best. I’ve helped members hit PR’s, learn new skills, crush weight loss goals, and make small sustainable steps towards a healthier lifestyle. Growing and learning as a coach is very important to me and I strive to make each class the best hour of your day!
I look forward to meeting you at Iron Jungle CrossFit-let’s learn, grow, and achieve together!
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