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sherman merricks Sherman Merricks Is Everything He ever Wanted To Be Story by: Jacki Donaldson
S
herman Merricks’ mother,
what he wanted to do with his life.
Sherman worked in an administrative
a single mom who worked
After graduating from Southeastern
job for a while. But he found himself
tirelessly to raise Sherman
University (a small, private Christian
unsatisfied and continually looking
and his younger sister, told her kids
college in Lakeland), where he played
for the right professional path.
when they were young that despite
basketball for four years, he and his
“I kept searching for what was
their disadvantaged background, they
wife, Cristina, wanted a change of
going to be my career,” he said. “And
could do anything.
location.
I knew it was not going to be in an
Sherman, now 35 years old and the
In 2005, the father of one of
office.”
founder and owner of Gainesville’s
Sherman’s teammates invited
Sherman’s career was destined to
Dynasty CrossFit, believed his mom.
the young couple to visit him in
be in a gym. But first, it was in his
“I latched onto what she told me,”
Gainesville, where he served as a
garage.
Sherman said. “I am now everything
pastor at The Rock Church. Sherman
One of Sherman’s Gainesville buddies
I wanted to be and more.”
and Cristina liked what they saw, and
introduced him to CrossFit workouts,
Sherman, originally from Winter
they made Gainesville their home.
and knowing that Sherman was
Haven, Florida, was not always sure
Employment followed, and
miserable in his job and had worked
