Stell’s dream workout is beautifully unhinged in the best way: a fixed-calorie row into an AMRAP of heavy squat cleans, then rest and repeat. This is their fourth year as a Head of House and approximately their ninth Phoenix Cup — true Phoenix Cup royalty.

Outside the gym, Stell’s interests span an impressively wide range: smelling books, eating oysters, jumping big waves at the beach, walking their 17(?) dogs, watching basketball, bingeing reality TV (Real Housewives, Traitors, Love Island), and diving into true crime documentaries. If they were an animal, they’d be a koala — calm, iconic, and impossible not to love.

Their pump-up soundtrack is HAUS, French dance pop, and early ’90s freestyle, and their top media picks include Heated Rivalry, Parasite, Moonstruck, The Beast in Me, Charlotte’s Web, and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs as Told by A. Wolf.

Their controversial question of the day is a true moral dilemma:

Would you trade a finger to instantly become fluent in a language? (One finger = one language.)

Jae is all about long chippers — the longer, the better. This is their second year as a Head of House, with six years participating as an athlete under their belt, making them one of the most experienced Phoenix Cup vets on the floor.

Outside the gym, Jae’s ideal day includes napping, walking the puppers, and dreaming of being part of a winning Phoenix Cup team. If they were an animal, they’d be a golden retriever (matchy matchy energy).

Their pump-up music is anything with a LOT of bass, and their top movies include Wine Country, Elf, The Proposal, Steel Magnolias, and Rudy.

And their controversial question of the day is one that truly divides a room:

Do you wash your can opener?

Audrey is all about a good chipper with a barbell — as long as there are absolutely no thrusters involved. This is her second year as a Head of House (and her third Phoenix Cup overall), and she’s coming in with strong main-character energy. Outside the gym, she splits her time between skiing and singing, which feels like the ideal CrossFit off-season combo.

If Audrey were an animal, she’d be a kookaburra — steady, friendly, and quietly powerful, with a presence that keeps her team grounded and confident. Her pump-up playlist is pure punk pop, and her media taste ranges from Arrested Development and House MD to Avatar: The Last Airbender and Friday Night Lights. 

Her controversial question of the day would cause even the 6:30 class to get heated:

Is an Uncrustable technically a ravioli?

Chase lives for workouts with bar muscle-ups, handstand push-ups, burpees, and the peg board — basically anything that makes you feel athletic and just a little feral. This is his second year as a Head of House (almost winning last year!), and while he’s never competed as just an athlete, he’s fully in his Phoenix Cup era now.

Outside the gym, Chase is all about hiking, gaming across every platform (Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, VR), baking sweet treats, hanging with his cats, and getting lost in a good book. If Chase were an animal, he’d be a jaguar — fast, powerful, and always ready to pounce.

Their pump-up song of choice? Lady Gaga. Always. His top media picks include Grey’s Anatomy, Grace and Frankie, true crime books and podcasts, Game of Thrones, and The Self Healing Mind by Gregory Scott Brown.

And their controversial question of the day is a classic:

F*ck, Marry, Kill — cupcakes, cookies, brownies.

Lakshmi’s favorite workouts are anything with double-unders and power cleans — fast feet, fast barbell, no hesitation. This will be her third year as a Head of House and her fourth Phoenix Cup, making her a true veteran of the floor.

Outside the gym, Lakshmi loves hanging with friends and trying new places to eat, always on the hunt for the next great meal. If she were an animal, she’d be a sloth — laid back, cozy, and fully in her rest-and-recover era.

Her pump-up playlist is pure K-pop, and her favorite reads and watches include The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and K-dramas like Doctor Slump, Suspicious Partner, and Vincenzo.

Her controversial question of the day is one that never fails to spark debate:

Which airplane seat is the best?

Sara’s favorite workout is Holleyman — 30 rounds of cleans, wall balls, and handstand push-ups — even though it doesn’t have her actual favorite movement, the overhead squat. She’s been a Head of House for three years (winning once!),  and a Phoenix Cup athlete for three years, making her a true competition veteran.

Outside the gym, Sara loves listening to K-pop, watching Korean dramas, and eating a lot of food — elite recovery strategy. If she were an animal, she’d be a fennec fox: small, clever, and absolutely not here for nonsense.

Her pump-up music is, without question, K-pop, and her top media pick is Vincenzo. As a certified power reader (300+ books a year), she shouts out Running Close to the Wind and basically anything by T. Kingfisher as recent favorites.

And her most controversial question of the day?

Anytime people disagree with me. Editors note: no one is surprised