I’ve been a competitive athlete since I started swimming at age five back on the east coast. Since then, I’ve tried every sport you can think of (seriously, try me). After graduating college, I struggled to find an athletic outlet that held my interest.

Although I wasn’t born in Seattle, moving to the PNW felt like coming home. I spent much of my childhood traveling between states and countries, developing a passion for culture and the environment. After trying multiple sports during my adolescence, I ultimately decided to pursue competitive soccer in college.

My name is Riley Hughes (she/her). I have been doing CrossFit since 2015 after I graduated from college and needed a new athletic outlet (former collegiate softball athlete).

I’ve been part of Slate Strength and conditioning as an athlete since September 2019 and started coaching in 2022. My background in coaching branched out of coaching wrestling at Nathan Hale High School. What I love most about this community is how accepting, loving, and coachable the athletes are and how amazing the team is. I enjoy getting to know the athletes and they inspire me to be a better coach and athlete myself.

I was born and raised in Seattle, WA and moved to the Bay Area where I played collegiate basketball at Sonoma State University. I spent several more years down there and had different opportunities to coach basketball at the college level, while also gaining experience working with at-risk youth and families through the foster care system.

I decided to take up functional fitness after doing football and wrestling at Cleveland high school in South Seattle. I found Slate on Craigslist at the time. Don’t know if people use Craigslist anymore.

I grew up on a small farm in Oklahoma and joined the military right after high school. I found CrossFit in 2008 while preparing to try out for the Navy wrestling team. I immediately fell in love with the training, the community, and the results.

Born and raised in Seattle, I grew up participating in every team sport available. I draw on my positive experience in team sports to foster a thriving community at Slate Strength & Conditioning. As a community we focus on functional, whole body fitness that is accessible to all people no matter their current level of fitness. These are the things I value at Slate and guide me as both an owner and a coach.