HOW IT ALL BEGAN

We all know what it feels like to meet that special person.

Someone who will shape your future, stand by your side through life’s highs and lows, grieve with you, and celebrate with you. 

The person you can share a life with.

In Rich and Hillary Froning’s case, that meet cute came with Hillary sitting in a salon cape, silver foil in her hair and no makeup to be found.   

Rich, the eventual “Fittest Man in Earth” as the CrossFit community knows him today, got his hair cut at the same salon Hillary did. While Hillary’s hair processed, the two struck up a conversation. “Hillary was getting her hair done and I had just gotten off my shift at the fire department,” recalled Rich.  “The rest is history, “laughed Froning. “I added her on Facebook.” “I think June Madewell Smith (hair stylist) played a bit of a matchmaker there if I’m being honest,” added Hillary. 

That was in 2009, two years before Rich Froning would compete in his first CrossFit Games. 

Their Story

Rich was born in Michigan and moved to Cookeville when he was only four years old. By nature of being one of 35 cousins, competitiveness was ingrained in Rich from an early age. His parents instilled a work ethic in him which continues to play a vital role in his success. This drive prompted Rich to pursue athletics throughout high school, where he excelled on the baseball diamond at Cookeville High School. 

Hillary was born and raised in Cookeville, and attended CHS during the same time as Rich. Her family has called the Upper Cumberland home for several generations, but despite these deep ties to all things Cookeville, Hillary and Rich didn’t actually meet while students. “We knew of each other in high school but didn’t run in the same circles,” said Hillary. 

Owing to his on-field success, Rich received a scholarship to play college baseball at Walter State in Morristown, TN. Homesickness can be a funny thing, and the star athlete quickly realized Cookeville is where he wanted to be long term; little did he know what “leaving sports” behind would actually mean. His decision to return home was perfectly timed as he found a role with the Cookeville Fire Department. The CFD offered an incentive program that gave firefighters a full ride to Tennessee Tech; Rich jumped at the opportunity. “I really only planned to attend Tech so I could promote in ranks at the fire department faster,” said Rich. During his pursuit of an Exercise Science degree, the Head Strength and Conditioning coach at Tech introduced him to CrossFit; opening his eyes to a world of fitness that would set his career trajectory for years to come. 

A DIFFICULT JOURNEY

As Rich pursued an education and entered into a new world of athletics, Hillary was also studying at Tennessee Tech. During the summer of their Senior year the pair met, with wedding bells following just two years later. It wasn’t long before Rich and Hillary wanted to start a family although the young couple could never have foreseen the challenges and blessings this journey would entail.

After nearly four years of visiting with fertility doctors, and undergoing procedures and IUI treatments, conception eluded Rich and Hillary and no explanation was given as to why they were unable to conceive. Finally, following a heart-breaking visit with a specialist in Nashville, they knew natural childbirth was no longer an option.

“I felt like I was failing my husband because my body wasn’t doing what it was supposed to do,” Hillary wrote in her 2020 book, “Blessed By Adoption.” 

After praying and discussing their options, the Fronings felt called to adopt. 

Even though obstacles and delays often accompany adoption, the process was a quick one for Rich and Hillary as just two months after seeking to adopt, an opportunity arose. The couple attribute this as God’s divine intervention, as not only had they found their child, but developed a relationship with the biological mother as well.

“As I stood there, I felt so overwhelmed with emotions,” Hillary reminisced on the birth of first child Lakelyn. “I couldn’t help but just cry with her (biological mother) as she brought our beautiful daughter Lakelyn Ann Froning into the world. She grabbed my hand and we heard Lakelyn cry. Then we both started crying harder…. Throughout it all, I was in awe of her strength and her love for our daughter.”

Rich and Hillary knew they wanted more children after adopting Lakelyn, and after multiple failed agency adoption attempts, including one that fell through just minutes before they were scheduled to meet the baby, Hillary was lost. “I truly can’t put into words how I felt after being told for a second time that the mother changed her mind,” Hillary wrote in “Blessed By Adoption.” “I remember vividly going inside and hitting my knees and sobbing, while praying to Jesus: ‘Hold me, I’m shaking like a leaf. Rescue me. Give me peace for your perfect timing and understanding.’” 

And God did exactly that.

It was clear a Divine plan was in the works and after another season of waiting and prayer, the Fronings were matched with their middle child, Richard Lyle “Trice” Froning lll. Born at only 4 pound, 3 ounces, Trice’s doctors warned Hillary and Rich that the chances were high he would have complications and possibly never walk. Seemingly in defiance of these predictions, Trice has developed into a healthy, energetic 5-year-old boy who runs more than he walks.

With baby Trice only ten months old and Lakelyn just three, Hillary got a phone call that would change their lives once again. It was from Lakelyn’s birth mom. She explained that she had just given birth to another baby and although she wanted to keep her, she simply couldn’t. Hillary was in shock but Rich didn’t miss a beat. “He jumped for joy and said, “LET’S GO,”said Hillary. 

The next morning, they got on a plane to Florida to meet the biological mom at the hospital. “As soon as I laid eyes on this newborn in the nursery, I saw that she looked just like Lakelyn. I fell to the rocking chair as the nurse said, ‘Do you want to hold her?’” Hillary continued, “I quickly tucked my hands under her little body and stared in awe of her. How beautiful she was, and how fast she healed my heart in ways I didn’t even know I needed. I thank God every day for Harper Violet.”

After years of uncertainty, joy, sadness, fear, and happiness, the Froning’s were now a family of five. In Rich and Hillary’s eyes, it was clear God knew what they needed more than they ever could.

BUILDING A LEGACY

During the years of their infertility and adoption journey, Rich was busy building a CrossFit empire. A natural born businessman, Rich decided to start his own CrossFit “gym” soon after learning about the sport. “We rented out about a 400 sq. foot space,” said Rich. “It wasn’t so much of a business as a fraternity at that time.” Rich’s friends would toss him a $20 here and there and in turn, they all got very fit. That was the start of CrossFit Mayhem. 

In another twist of timing, the CrossFit sectionals were taking place in Huntsville, AL during Rich’s spring break that year. “My buddies and I were on our way to Panama City Beach, FL and figured we may as well stop in and see if we could make it through,” said Rich. He didn’t just survive that competition, he placed in the top-5 out of 70 of athletes, many of which were counted among the most recognized names in the sport. Before he could wrap his head around this outcome, Rich went on to win Regionals and found himself competing at the CrossFit games, winning second place in his rookie year. 

As a fiercely competitive person, getting second served as the motivation Rich needed to make a push for a championship the following year. 

And win he did. 

Rich took first place in the not only 2011, but successfully defended his title of “The Fittest Man on Earth” in the 2012, 2013, and 2014 CrossFit Games as well. 

He had become the face of an entire sport, on a global scale. 

Once Rich realized he could make a career out of CrossFit following his 2012 Games win, he dove into leveraging this recent success by re-opening CrossFit Mayhem. It caught on.

Coinciding with the re-opening of Mayhem, Rich began building an online presence, marketing various workout videos from the CrossFit champion to athletes around the world. The combination of competition success, forward-thinking, marketing, and in-person instruction, allowed a rapid ascension for Rich and his identity within the CrossFit community. Fast forward to the present. What began as a six-member gym, has grown to over 500 members with an average of 2,000 drop in athletes a year. More than 1,500 CrossFit gyms throughout the world use the Mayhem programming, and 15,000 athletes utilize the digital program. “We had over 100 athletes at the CrossFit Games last year that use our stuff,” said Rich. “That’s the beauty of CrossFit. We are a community who suffers together to ultimately be better.”

When asked what it feels like to look back at where they started and where they are now, Rich and Hillary are humbled. “It’s bizarre, kind of weird but so awesome,” said Rich. “It’s like the Disney World of CrossFit. We have people from across the world that drop in every day. A lot of people even move to Cookeville just to train at Mayhem.”

BEYOND CROSSFIT

On top of Crossfit Mayhem, training, and wrangling three young kids at home, Rich and Hillary built several other businesses. Rich became interested in raising cattle in 2018, and quickly fell down the rabbit hole of bison. “I got a wild hair and was reading so many cool things about how Bison are the American mammal and told my buddy Matt that we should raise bison instead,” he reflected. The next thing they knew, Matt Billings and Rich were shipping bison to Tennessee  from Texas. “Matt had a cattle background and thought the idea was cool, but had no idea what to do with Bison,” Rich continued. “I knew we could figure it out.”

They quickly grew what is now known as Froning Farms from four to 30 bison. Matt and Rich simultaneously launched an apparel line, meat sticks, bars and jerky, and even began to sell fresh meat at CrossFit Mayhem. 

Being the natural nurturer she is, Hillary was hesitant about the bison farm early on. “She thought they were going to eat our children,” laughed Rich. After getting a bit too attached to a few of the Bison, Rich decided it was time to distance Hillary from Froning Farms to protect her emotional well-being. “Rich told me he would buy a highland cow if I would stay out of the Bison business,” laughed Hillary. “I’m a really bad farmer.” They now have seven Highland cows which Rich refers to as Hillary’s “therapy cows,” two dogs and two horses. 

In addition to her working alongside Rich, Hillary also co-owns 31TwentyFive boutique in downtown Cookeville with her sister Ali Auld. The sisters also co-manage multiple rental and Airbnb’s together in the area. Running small businesses came natural for Hillary and Ali whose mom owned a clothing store in the old Cookeville mall, dad and grandfather owned Masters Appliance, and grandmother (Janet) co-owned Janet and Lavergne’s jewelry store. In fact, 31TwentyFive boutique sits right across the street from where Janet and Lavergne’s used to be and next door to the old Masters Appliance, a special legacy the sisters are blessed to continue. 

Though Hillary is hesitant to call herself a writer, Hillary was approached by a couple publishing companies in 2018 who wanted to tell her story of adoption using her own voice. “I thought it was a joke at first,” laughed Hillary. Ultimately, she decided to partner with a publisher and put pen to paper on the details of the Froning’s adoption journey. “That was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” said Hillary. “To be so vulnerable and open but also try to protect some details for my kids was a challenge for me. It would have helped me so much to have something to read during the hardest parts of our infertility and adoption journey, so I wanted to share our story to give others encouragement.” 

Her book, “Blessed By Adoption,” hit shelves in 2020 and Hillary was shocked at the response. 

Barnes and Nobles and Books a Million even picked it up, adding to the shock and validation for Hillary. “The first time I saw it there I was hysterical,” she laughed. “When you see something that is so personal to you on a shelf, it’s a big game changer.”

As an entrepreneurial couple, Rich and Hillary now employ roughly 55 people in Cookeville between CrossFit Mayhem, Buffalo Brew Coffee, and Froning Farms. They credit the incredible team around them for their part in this success. “We have such a good group of people that we put in roles from the very beginning,” said Rich. 

CrossFit Mayhem athletes and employees are more than lines on a payroll sheet to the Fronings. “They are like our family,” said Hillary. “My kids look up to them and call them aunts and uncles and they love our kids just as much as the kids admire them.” The Froning children have even shown an interest in the sport. “They love to workout and hang at Mayhem,” said Rich. The Froning home gym also comes in handy when Rich needs to get in a quick workout – sometimes accompanied by the little ones. “The kids always join in with their fake barbells and weights,” said Rich. 

A FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

So what is next for The Fronings? For Rich, he will never lose the drive to compete. “Last year I technically retired from the CrossFit Games,” he explained. “It’s tough though because this is what I have done for so long and what I’m good at,” he explained. “As long as it’s not taking away from the family, I may still compete here and there.”

The fire of competition is never fully extinguished in a world-class athlete, and though Rich will eventually end his Cross Fit career, new challenges have found their way into his life. With western hunting and a 100-mile mountain bike race in his sights, his drive to push boundaries, and compete against himself are as strong as ever. 

For the Fronings however, winning and losing is now defined by how they give back. 

Through non-profits, their coffee shop Buffalo Brew, educational programs, and service, the couple sees Cookeville, and the world at large, as a ministry and an opportunity to express love. 

By partnering with local and global ministries, Rich and Hillary use their influence to evangelize, address sex-trafficking, create avenues to success for at-risk youth, drill wells on multiple poverty-stricken continents, and generally seek to make the most of what God has given them as a pair. 

“In 2011, I really refocused and instead of having a church-based faith, I developed an actual personal relationship with Jesus and realized my identity in Christ. Now I can compete, run a business, or any other pursuit and know at the end of the day as long as I have Christ, I am okay.”

– written by Chelsea Dartez & Andrew Buckner, photos by Katelyn Steakley, CrossFit photos by Carlos Bown of Bown Media