CrossFit Willowbend

Joel Hill is our Sales and Business Development professional and is passionate about both personal and professional life. "It’s been said that I ‘jump in with both feet’ into whatever I am committing to," he says. "I am passionate about creating an environment and equipping my staff and members with the tools, equipment, systems and vision to deliver tangible results and progress toward their individual goals."

Though not a coach, Joel loves CrossFit and played both football and lacrosse in high school. As the President of the Texas A&M Men’s Lacrosse team, he helped lead the team to back to back division titles and earned USILA 1st Team All-American honors as a Senior. He has also pursued training in Krav Maga and currently holds a Level 3 Certification. Joel is married and has three children.

For inspiration, Joel cut a page out of a lacrosse magazine more than 20 years ago and it still hangs in his office. The picture is of an All-World Team USA lacrosse player throwing the ball against a wall practicing, and says, "Even the best can get better."

Co-owner and Coach Libbie Hill is passionate about CrossFit Willowbend community and ensuring each member has the tools needed to constantly improve. From sending video links to working after class, she goes the extra mile to give personalized feedback and assistance to our CrossFit Athletes. "CrossFit has changed my life. I love seeing the excitement on an athlete’s face after they set a new ‘PR’ (Personal Record) or start to see improvements on a particular movement," she says. "While I'm certainly grateful for the physical strength I have gained through CrossFit, the mental and emotional strength gains are priceless. The community atmosphere and constant encouragement really help each member reach their fullest potential."

After having three kids, Libbie joined a local runners club and became very active in distance running. She has completed three marathons and numerous half-marathons. She enjoys team road relays and especially trail running events. She found CrossFit on a whim, after trying a few classes at a handful of boxes and choosing CrossFit Willowbend as her home box.

CrossFit has been a part of my life since 2008, so I guess you could call me one of the “OGs.” I just moved to Texas in 2017 but originally from Ohio and was voted most athletic in my high school class of 2004 where I participated in cross-country, basketball, track, and cheerleading. Unfortunately I had a career ending knee injury my senior year of basketball. Instead of athletics, I pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training, with a minor in Athletic Coaching, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kent State University, Ohio, in 2009 in hopes to help athletes return to the activities they loved.

In my professional career I have worked as an athletic trainer at the DI, DIII, high school, and semi-pro levels, mainly with sports such as football & basketball. In 2012, I graduated from Arkansas State University with a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science where I was fortunate to publish one of the first ever studies on CrossFit entitled CrossFit Effectiveness and Demonstration of Successful Program Objectives©; while at ASU I also worked as an educator and men’s rugby athletic trainer. After college, I worked full time at Black River Technical College in Pocahontas, AR as the Physical Educator for the college and Assistant Physical Trainer for the Law Enforcement Training Academy for 5 ½ years.

Like I said earlier, I started CrossFit in 2008, and it was just with some friends in a Kent, Ohio high school weight room, where we created our own unique programming and followed CrossFit.com whenever possible.  That gym went on to affiliate as SPC CrossFit, and has seen much success over the years including a 3^rd place finish at The CrossFit Games, a great story of humble beginnings. I became a Level 1 CrossFit trainer in July 2011 and started working at CrossFit 870, in Arkansas, when they opened in August 2011 and continue to work there until moving to Texas in 2017.

Coming soon!10

Coming soon!