CH Fitness and Performance

CARA HEADS SLAUGHTER, OLY

Owner, Head Coach

Olympian / International Coach / USAW Hall of Fame

Cara Heads Slaughter is one of the most sought-after weightlifting coaches in the DC metro region providing guidance to over 100 athletes and coaches each week. Certified as a USAW International Coach, Cara has served as a competition coach at every level- local, national and international, including as a coach at the 2016 USA Olympic Team Trials. Athletes under Cara's guidance have earned numerous medals at national and international competitions. Additionally, Cara is certified as a IWF Coach Course Instructor and a USAW Coach Course Lead Instructor. Cara has been appointed by USA Weightlifting to assist at numerous USAW training camps, as a Team Leader and Team Coach of international teams, and as a presenter at the USAW Coaching Symposium.  READ MORE...

IFY ACHEBE, M.S., CSCS

Coach, Youth Strength and Conditioning Program

Ify Achebe is a graduate of Marymount University where she earned a BA in Human Performance and Athletic training. At Marymount, she distinguished herself as a triple sport athlete, playing NCAA basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse. She earned her master’s degree in athletic counseling/sports psychology from Springfield College in Massachusetts.  She holds certifications in strength and conditioning and is also a certified massage therapist .

Since 2012, Ify has served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Washington Little Caps, a youth-age elite hockey program. At the Little Caps, Ify oversees the strength and conditional program for their youth athletes that range in age from 10 through 18.

Ify is responsible for developing and overseeing the CHFP Youth Strength and Conditioning Program.

CHRISTINE CARDWELL

Coach, Operations

Christine Cardwell has competed in the sport of Weightlifting for several years, setting numerous Masters local weightlifting committee records, and earning medals nationally and internationally as a Masters athlete.

Certified as a USAW Level 2 Coach, Christine oversees the day-to-day operations of CHFP as well as serve as an assistant coach during training, clinics and camps.

CONOR LYNCH

Coach, Mobility

Conor Lynch has competed and coached in almost every sport under the sun, from baseball and swimming to football and golf. 

In the past five years he has focused on strength and conditioning, accumulating over 4,000 hours of coaching experience with youth, adult, amateur and competitive athletes. 

A CrossFit Level 2 Trainer with certifications in mobility, kids programs and sports performance, you can most often find him staring at you across the room wondering why your shoulder is at such an awkward angle and how he can fix it.

TIM McINNIS, PhD,CSCS,RSCC

Coach, Programming, Online Coaching

Dr. Timothy McInnis has been involved with weightlifting as both an athlete and coach since 2004. Tim holds a PHD in Sport Physiology and Performance from East Tennessee State University (ETSU).

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He was the Head Weightlifting Coach at the USOC-designated Olympic Training Site for Weightlifting at ETSU from 2012-2014. Prior to that he was an assistant coach at the USA Weightlifting High Performance and Development Center at Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS).

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Tim is responsible for developing the strength and weightlifting programming for CHFP national and international-level athletes as well as oversee the CHFP Online Coaching Platform.

SARAH SAMAD, CSCS

Coach, Strength and Conditioning Programming

Sarah Samad is a USAW Level 2 Coach and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Sarah coached Division I strength and conditioning for 5 years at schools such as Virginia Tech and University of Maryland. Sarah has been competing in weightlifting since 2014, following competitive experience in bodybuiding and powerlifting

Sarah assists with the CHFP Youth Development Program and is responsible for developing strength and conditioning programming for CHFP athletes.

HEATHER KRAUSE

CHFP Weightlifting Team Coordinator

Heather Krause has competed in the sport of Weightlifting for several years, competing nationally and internationally as a Masters athlete. 

Heather is certified as a USAW Level 1 Coach and coordinates all CHFP Weightlifting team activities at local competitions as well as manage and support Masters-age team members competing nationally and internationally.

ANGELICA CHRISTOPHER

Coach, Open Workouts

USAW Level 2 Coach

CATHERINE DOYLE

Coach, Open Workouts

USAW Level 1 Coach

CARRIE EVAVOLD

Coach, Open Workouts

USAW Level 1 Coach

SARAH HOUHOULIS, DC

CHFP Athlete Care Provider

Dr. Sarah Houhoulis provides chiropractic and wellness services to CHFP athletes in support of our athlete care program. Dr Sarah graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in San Jose, California after receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Biopsychology from James Madison University. She is a certified Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism coach, and has completed numerous Herman Wallace courses for treating pelvic floor dysfunction. Dr. Sarah grew up dancing but discovered powerlifting in chiropractic school, and now competes as an elite-level powerlifter. Training and competing has given Dr. Sarah an understanding of the necessity of exercise as a treatment for physical, mental and emotional conditions. Along with prescribing specific exercises, Dr. Sarah applies chiropractic therapy, dry needling, Active Release Technique, mobility and stability training, and breathing techniques to help her patients recover as quickly as possible.