What activities do you participate in? (swim, bike, run, hike, etc.)  Growing up I was really into baseball and wrestling.  I love to do anything outside and that is how I got started running and biking. (3 years ago)  I am not sure if fishing and archery hunting are activities but I enjoy them as well as golfing.  Folks might be surprised to know that I was a reasonably successful target archer a few years back.  Also, I don't get to do it as much anymore but I love to water ski.

What is your favorite sport?  I don't know if I have a favorite sport. A few years back the answer would have been wrestling but now I like a bunch of things and don't think I can pick just one.

What are your goals?:  I want to be a great husband and father.  I would like to continue to take advantage of the opportunities I have been given and be the best person I can be for my family and my community.

Now, for athletic goals: I would like to eventually do triathlons.  I would not have said that until this year.  I started biking this year and love it.  I need to get started on the swimming this fall and hope to do my first tri next year with the goal of doing a half ironman the following year, while I am 35, and before I am 36.  Also, want to get a sub 20 min 5K, sub 42 min 10K, sub 1:30 half marathon, and sub 3:30 marathon.

What motivates you?:  I have a competitive switch that has been turned on since I was young that I have been unable to turn off.  Additionally, I want my family and friends to be proud of me and that is a huge motivating factor for me.  Alright, I hate to lose at anything...there..I said it. 

What's your favorite food?  Does beer count as a food?  My last name ends with a vowel so that means inherently I like anything with red sauce on it.  However, more than anything, I love a nice thick and tender piece of grilled beef. 

What's your favorite song, band or music to listen to when exercising?

I listen to all the new alternative/metal stuff the most.  Some of my staples include Staind, Metallica, Pearl Jam, 3 Doors Down, Foo Fighters, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin...

If you could pick one athlete to talk to or workout with, who would it be and why?

I guess I am kind of boring here...I don't think I have one. 

What is your favorite sports drink and energy fuel?

Does beer and coffee count?  I drink Gatorade G2 and recently have liked using the Roctane GU like stuff. 

If you compete, what is the one race or competition you would like to do at least once?  What is your favorite race you've competed in? 

At the moment I have that ½ Ironman goal out there.

I have not done all that many races in my three years of running.  My favorite race to date is the Buffalo Creek ½ Marathon. 

List some of your major athletic or health accomplishments?

My senior year in high school, just after verbally committing to wrestle at Pitt, I had a little incident where I had a compound fracture of my elbow during a pre-season tournament.  My elbow blew apart; my funny bone shattered and my forearm muscle tore off the bone and rolled up into my wrist.  The doctors told me that not only would I not wrestle again that year but use of my arm was going to be pretty sketchy moving forward.  Nonetheless, I kept training even with a full cast on my arm. (my wrestling buddies where really happy about that.)  I had so much structural damage that they had to take the cast off early and less than two months after the initial surgery I wrestled my first match.  You bet that the guy I wrestled went right after my elbow during the match by smashing his head right into my elbow. (I can still hear my mom today screaming to stop the match)  I lost that first match back 2-1 and was devastated.  However, a few months later I got to wrestle that guy again for 3^rd/4^th place at sections and I beat him 11-0...sweat revenge.  I then went on to place 4^th in the WPIAL but then had to drop out of the regional tournament as a result of how bad my arm was.  That was the end of my wrestling career.  If you are ever interested, I will let you touch my scar J

Anything else you would like to add?

I could not be more appreciative of the group and the great friends I have made over the last two years.  I can remember how Alexis would make fun of me for going to run with my "girl friends" and now she is as hooked as I am.  I hope to be able to do this with this group of folks and new friends for years to come.  There are so many great role models and genuinely kind people in this group that I know that I am not only becoming a better athlete but also a better person.  I hope we can continue to grow together, watch our kids grow together, and do amazing things together as a family.  I am sure people will agree with me when I say, Joella you have a gift and we are all both lucky and grateful to be able to benefit from it.  You change lives.  You have changed mine.  Thanks.