'Riley 21' Crossfit workout honors UNC Charlotte hero
Several point out the positive energy Howell always carried with him, and it was with that spirit that his home gym held a workout in his honor on Saturday. The Riley 21 incorporates some of Howell's favorite exercise movements, including bench press, deadlifts, and toes-to-bars. Thirteen members of his family, including his mother, father, and siblings took part in the event. "He just gave everything he had to people all the time," stated Schnell.
"Hero W.O.D.s" are Workouts Of the Day that are named after specific people that made great sacrifice. "Usually they'll take a lot of military folks and those who died in combat and formulate a workout in their honor," Castillo said. "You in some way try to understand their struggle." More than fifty Crossfit gyms worldwide took part in the Riley 21 on Saturday. "Everyone's experienced profound loss in life," sighed Schnell. "We can all come together and recognize when people need support who are going through that."