Most Improved Teams
BATS Global Markets, team 2
Ingram's Magazine, team 1
Fittest Team Fittest Individuals Most Improved Teams Most Improved Individuals
Two conclusions you can draw when corporate teams tie for Most Improved in the Fittest Execs and Fittest Companies Challenge with identical average improvements of 19 points per competitor: The first is that some people come into the competition highly motivated. The other? That lots of folks out there have plenty of room for improvement.
Making the most of both factors were BATS Team No. 2 and Ingram’s Team No. 1. The team from Lenexa-based BATS, led by an impressive 33-point gain by Anders Franzon and a 19-point increase for Troy Yeazel, completed the company’s sweep of team titles this year.
Franzon, no stranger to teamwork at the office, found motivation in working as part of a fitness-focused group, going so far as to hire a personal trainer to offer guidance in the company gym. “As our company is incredibly competitive in everything we do, the fact that we were competing against other companies definitely pushed us towards a good result,” Franzon said.
Yeazel concurred: “Our team is also quite competitive by nature, so we did want to perform well as a team when compared to the other companies competing,” he said. “We were all quite supportive of and open with one another with respect to our training regimens.”
Three on Ingram’s team improved scores with at least 21 points. Joe and Michelle Sweeney led Ingram’s team with 27 point gains. Dennis Boone recorded a 21 point increase—nearly enough to win last year’s event, Chris Becicka improved by 17 points and Patti Gonzales also contributed with an improved score. “Each year we determine individual and teams goals and this year we committed to lose 100 lbs,” said Sweeney. A lofty goal, but Ingram’s Team 1 came close, registering 95 lb. of collective weight loss. Joe Sweeney just missed the all-time weight-loss record in the Challenge by losing 46 lbs. during the competition. The additional 5 lbs. lost the week before the Challenge would have earned him the title.
Gains of 25 points have been comparatively rare throughout the history of the Challenge, but Ingram’s Team 1 entered the competition convinced that such improvements were attainable in just three months’ time. “We’re committed to practice what we preach and are very proud to share the podium as this year’s most improved team,” said Sweeney.
Analysis: On Average, Nothing About These Gains Was Average
Fittest Execs Challenge All-Time Top 10
2014 Fittest Execs and Fittest Companies Registration Form
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