Jessica Stokes, April Spotlight

Meet Jessica Stokes—a high school history teacher, competitive swimmer, and proud Graviton member!

Jess has been training at Graviton for a total of two years, most recently returning after rediscovering just how impactful strength training can be—not only for her athletic goals, but for her confidence, energy, and overall well-being.

Jess first joined Graviton after her masters swim team dissolved during the pandemic. “[I was looking to] have a defined workout each day, a time to be there, and structure to what I was doing with technique instruction involved,” she says. She had never lifted with barbells before, but was drawn to the thoughtful programming and supportive coaching.

Jessica swimming a 10K in Vermont.

After a year away focusing on swimming, Jessica came back with a new goal: see how fast she can swim by the time she turns 50. “I discovered that I was stronger when I first went back to swimming from the training I had been doing at Graviton,” she says. “I now have a dedicated strength training regimen so I’ve been back at Graviton and have seen really good results so far!”

This spring, Jessica dropped over 30 seconds in her 1,000-yard freestyle and set a New England record in the 200-yard IM, hitting her goal time of 2:24. She also tackled her first-ever Spartan Race with a Graviton crew—something completely outside her comfort zone. “We had a great time and I was very proud of myself afterwards.”

Jessica and her spouse, Rick.

Beyond performance, Jessica says the biggest shift has been in her mindset. “The biggest thing that’s changed in my life is a bigger appreciation for strength training and how good it can make me feel in all aspects of my life,” she reflects. “Whether it’s getting groceries out of the car, whether it’s feeling good in the pool or just feeling confident and healthy in general.”

For Jessica, the magic of Graviton lies not just in the workouts, but in the community and in the coaches, whom she credits for her transformation. “The graviton community is a really important aspect of my membership here, and it is really built because of the coaches. They all care about us as people and as athletes, they challenge us but they also support us in our individual goals.” On the community, she notes that, “It can be difficult to find a [fitness] community that is challenging enough and also interested in socializing and enjoying one another’s company and for me, Graviton has become a great home for both of those.” 

We’re so grateful to have Jessica as part of the Graviton family—and can’t wait to cheer her on as she chases her goals and inspires others along the way!