Cool Cross Fit Maneuvers

The image shows a group of people, likely students, participating in some kind of physical activity or exercise in a school gymnasium. The background includes an American flag and various sports equipment, suggesting this is taking place in an educational setting.

North

Apr 3 2026 8:00 AM

For a second year in a row, North Elementary School students in the Flip the Trip Club had the chance to meet with Des Plaines CrossFit instructors to learn the importance of staying active, while picking up some cool maneuvers in the process!

A man with a beard wearing a gray t-shirt with "DES PLAINES" printed on it stands in a room with a window and other people visible in the background.

A person in athletic attire is lifting a heavy barbell on a stage, with various logos and branding visible in the background.

A young girl with long dark hair is smiling brightly in a room with shelves and plants in the background.

A young boy in a striped shirt stands with his arms raised, surrounded by sports equipment and a blue wall with a "#1" graphic.

CrossFit instructor, Mr. Carl Marella, started his presentation by showing the students two weightlifting moves using a lightweight PVS pipe - the "power clean" and the "push jerk."

A young girl with dark hair stands in front of an American flag, her expression thoughtful.

A young woman in a black shirt and glasses is sitting at a table, with a blue wall in the background.

A young woman in a pink shirt sits on the floor of a gymnasium, holding a wooden pole in front of her with both hands.

A man stands in a gymnasium, with posters advertising movies on the walls behind him, and two people visible in the background.

The students watched a short video of a female athlete who currently holds a title for this exercise and they were shocked to see how much weight she could lift.

A person in a gray shirt is performing a gymnastics move, while another person in a colorful shirt is observing in the foreground. The background features a blue wall with various objects and decorations.

The image shows a group of people, including a young boy, standing in a gymnasium-like setting with a blue and white striped wall in the background.

A person in a black outfit is performing a yoga or dance pose on a wooden floor, with a blue background and wooden panels behind them.

Then it was time to head to the gym to learn the exercise themselves.

A man is performing an exercise on a piece of equipment in a gymnasium-like setting, with other people visible in the background.

A young girl in a black shirt with a colorful graphic design is holding a long wooden pole in a brightly lit indoor setting with red cones in the background.

Two individuals are engaged in what appears to be a physical activity or performance on a blue and white floor, with a large advertisement banner visible in the background.

In the power clean, the athlete lifts the barbell from the floor to their shoulders in one swift motion.

A young girl in a bright pink outfit is holding onto a ballet barre in what appears to be a dance studio with wooden walls.

A man in a gray shirt stands on a basketball court, facing a woman in a black shirt who appears to be observing or interacting with him, with a basketball hoop and blue and white striped walls visible in the background.

A young person wearing a panda-themed sweater is holding a long wooden pole in a brightly lit indoor setting with a blue background.

In the push jerk, the athlete pushes the barbell over their head with their legs and arms.

A person in athletic clothing is performing an exercise with a barbell in a gymnasium setting, with a basketball hoop and other sports equipment visible in the background.

A young girl wearing a bright pink outfit is standing on a wooden floor in a room with blue walls.

A person in a gray t-shirt and black shorts is standing on a basketball court surrounded by blue walls and lockers.

Mr. Marella had the students stand a good distance apart so everyone had enough room and the students put the PVC pipe on the ground between their legs.

The image shows a group of people engaged in some form of physical activity or exercise in a gymnasium-like setting, with an American flag displayed prominently in the background.

A group of people are engaged in physical activity, with their arms raised, in a gymnasium setting featuring an American flag and basketball hoop.

Two individuals, one in a black outfit and the other in a colorful outfit, are standing in a gymnasium-like setting with blue walls and a patterned floor.

The coach had the students practice the first part of the exercise by doing a squat and then putting their hands up as they stood up.

A young child is holding a long wooden pole in a brightly colored indoor setting.

A young woman wearing a Champion t-shirt is standing in a gym setting, with a blue wall and equipment visible in the background.

Two young children, a boy and a girl, are enthusiastically raising their arms in a dance or exercise class, with wooden lockers or storage units visible in the background.

He then showed them the technique of lifting the bar up to their chin from the squat and jumping up and down in that position with the PVC pipe.

The image shows three children standing on a basketball court in a school gymnasium, with an American flag visible in the background.

A young person in a white shirt and shorts is standing with their arms raised, holding a pair of wooden sticks, in a gymnasium with a blue wall and wooden panels in the background.

A young woman is lifting a barbell overhead in a fitness center with blue and wooden walls in the background.

They practiced the individual parts of the exercise a few times and then put it all together and did the full power clean and push jerk with the PVC pipe.