Trainers

Neil Khant
Head Trainer – CrossFit Level 1 Certified
USAW Level 1 Sports Performance Coach Certified
CrossFit Football Certified
CrossFit Endurance Certified
Movement and Mobility Certified
CFNA Owner
crossfitnaperville@gmail.com
Neil@CrossFitFootball.com
630-452-5148

I have lived in Naperville since the early 1980’s. I attended Licoln Jr High, Naperville Central High School and have two degrees from Northern Illinois University. Today I am still living in Naperville with my wife and three children. My ties to Naperville run deep as my parents, three brothers, brother and sister-in-laws and many of my friends also live in Naperville.

Many years ago I was competitive in gymnastics, wrestling and diving. I spent many years after college trying to find ways to maintain my competitiveness. I joined soccer leagues, did a couple of triathlons. Nothing really stuck. I was looking for ways to maintain my fitness that was not a complete chore. After a while, life got in the way. I got married had kids, worked all day. The last thing I wanted to do was work out. But I kept trying to get back into it. I hit my thirties and the metabolism dropped and I began gaining weight. So back to the gym…Again. I did the typical run on the treadmill or jog and body building style isolation exercises. I was getting stronger and had great cardio, or so I thought. Then I found CrossFit. I didn’t understand the scaling aspect and jumped in head first. I couldn’t even finish my first workout. I began doing as much research as I possibly could into this fitness program. With encouragement from CrossFit Headquarters and others with the CrossFit community, I became certified as a CrossFit Trainer. I opened CrossFit of Naperville in December of 2008. I am over forty and I’m in the best shape of my life. With CrossFit it has been fun, no longer a chore.

My goal here is to assist you in meeting your fitness goal. I believe that CrossFit is the quickest way to get truly FIT. I look forward to delivering a fun and exciting atmosphere for you to discover new levels of fitness and achieve goals you never thought possible!

Justin Wilhoit
Trainer – CrossFit Level 1 Certified
wilhoitj@gmail.com
(309)287-2509

Hello, I’m Justin and welcome to CFNA.  I’m from a small town in Southern Illinois.  Growing up I spent most of my time outside playing sports or some other outdoor activity.  During my freshman year of High School I moved to a bigger town in Central Illinois where I continued in athletics.  While in High School, I was fortunate enough to be able to play “both ways” on the football team.  I also ran as fast as I could on the track team and enjoyed Olympic Weightlifting.   After High School my original plan was to go to college, but decided not to and joined the US Air Force instead.

For the next 4.5 years I got up way to early in the morning, got yelled at a lot, learned how to shine boots and fold t-shirts, matured, worked out a lot (meaning ate a bunch of food, took all the latest supplements and lifted heavy weights to look good, but wasn’t really in shape…Basically, a wanna be body builder), got my hands dirty working on aerospace equipment, and traveled all over the world.

Then, Uncle Sam let me go back home…Shortly thereafter; I started my college life at Illinois State University.  While at ISU, I continued to think I was in the best shape of my life while flexing in the Rec Center mirror doing barbell curls and tricep extensions.  The fact was, I couldn’t have been more out of shape.  I realized this when a good friend of mine introduced me to a program called CrossFit.  Wow!  My eyes were opened to the world of fitness and for the first time, even after going through the military, I realized the true definition of being “in shape” and the true potential of the human mind and body.

After College, I moved to Naperville and have been here ever since.  My passion for CrossFit has continued and needless to say, I have been pursuing this lifestyle ever since.  I am very passionate about helping others achieve a happier and healthier life.  My goal is to partner with you in achieving and surpassing your personal and fitness goals so that the rest of your day outside of CFNA is better because of it.  Changing lives for the better is what inspires me, but what keeps me coming back are the clients, trainers, and wonderful community we have here at CrossFit of Naperville.

Tom Moon
Trainer-CrossFit Level 1 Certified

Much like all our trainers, I have always lived a very active life. As a youth in Texas, I got a very early start playing football (second grade), and other sports. I played all the way through high school, and when I could no longer play football I picked up rugby, which I played through college, and continue playing today. One might ask, “What does this have to do with CrossFit?” The answer to that question I believe is character. I don’t remember any blocking patterns or coverage schemes since I last stepped on the field, but I do remember the virtues I learned. Humility, honor, fair play, discipline, commitment, selflessness, patience, and pride are just a sampling of the lessons I learned from a life of

athletics. It is this sort of lifestyle that drew me to CrossFit. I remember my first session like it was yesterday. Above the door at CrossFit Tri-cities the mantra “leave your ego at the door” is written. Very quickly, I learned that if you do not leave your ego at the door, it would be taken out there for you. Feeling lightheaded and completely humbled never felt so good. I was clearly out of my comfort zone and yet I had never felt so welcome any where, and by a group of total strangers! It was a familiar feeling, yet different in so many ways. I was reminded of the misery/laughter of double day football practices in the

95-degree heat. The biggest difference was that I was not surrounded by meatheads. Instead, I was surrounded by MDs, police officers, professionals, students, carpenters and so on. That new community drew me in. Three years later, I am still humbled every day by the physical demands I face. I have found that it never gets easier, and that anything worthwhile never does. Those of you who come from a familiar background will notice the similarities as I did. For the people who have no idea what I am talking about,

you soon will. CrossFit has enriched my life in countless ways. It has made me a more fierce rugby player and has enabled me to be a more effective firefighter. Even my dog appreciates my heightened energy levels and lung capacity on our weekly runs. Because of CrossFit, I feel eager to take on any challenge life gives and it can do the same for you. As a coach my goal is to share what I have learned so that others can have the same rewarding experiences that I have had.

“Thumbs up? Let’s Do This!”

-Leroy Jenins

“Success is sweet and sweeter if long delayed and gotten through many struggles and defeats”

-Amos Bronson Alcott

Mike Smith
Trainer-CrossFit Level 1 Certified

Luke Summers
(Currently works for CrosFit Football and manages CrossFit Balboa in Huntington Beach, CA)
Lead Trainer – CrossFit Level 1 Certified
USAW Level 1 Sports Performance Coach Certified
CrossFit Football Certified
CrossFit Endurance Certified
luke.r.summers@gmail.com
630-768-4302

Growing up I was always involved in youth sports. I went to high school at Naperville Central, and I committed most of my time there to football and also competed in gymnastics for a year. As many of you who participated in High School sports can attest to, a huge focus on strength conditioning became part of my life. I graduated from NCHS in 2001, and attended North Central College in Naperville where I remained active, and continued strength conditioning. I graduated NCC in 2005, and just like 95% of the people out there who are “staying fit” I continued my conditioning exactly how I was introduced to it. My work outs consisted of 2 hour “back and bi” days, “chest and tri” days, and all other sorts of combinations that included back/chest/bi/tri/legs/abs/cardio all segmented into their own special “day” that I thought they deserved.

Fast forward 4 redundant years of basically the same three week cycle that I would fall in and out of because workouts became repetitive and boring. I decided to run a triathlon. This required me to focus my training on endurance in swimming, running, and biking, and ditch the super sets of 315lb bench press. It was a nice change of pace, and after the triathlon I felt like I was in the best shape of my life. That’s when I was introduced to CrossFit by a friend at work and decided to take it head on. After my first workout I realized that I WASN’T in the best shape of my life, and that this was just the beginning.

Fast forward (again) through 4 months of CF workouts 1 – 3 times a week, to joining CrossFit of Naperville in January 2009. I started working out 4 -5 days a week with Neil, weighing in at 225lbs of “good weight” of course, and feeling fit. The days have gone by and I dropped about 30lbs and I am stronger, quicker, more flexible, and have better wind than I ever have before. I would not be where I am today physically and mentally if I had I continued on with my original workouts.

I’ve become part of a community and workout that I truly believe in and I look forward to “enjoying” every single day, and my goal is to help you experience what I went through. I want to expose you to your true potential, and help you break out of your rut and not only achieve but exceed any fitness goals you have set out for yourself.

Mark Mitrovic
(Currently owns and operates CrossFit Sycamore in Sycamore, Illinois)
Trainer-CrossFit Level 1 Certified
CrossFit Football Certified
markmitrovic@yahoo.com
815-508-4243

Welcome to CFNA!  I grew up in a small town north of Chicago and have continued to live in the Northern Illinois area.  As a kid, I was always active in sports and that continued through high school where I ran Track and Field.  After graduating from Lake Forest High School, I left to attend Northern Illinois University to pursue a degree in education.

During my college years at NIU,  I stayed “fit” by playing pickup basketball and lifting 3-5 days a week.  I was constantly battling nagging injuries and mobility issues that I couldn’t seem to figure out how to solve.

After graduation, I was simply stalled out and bored with my normal routine.  I started looking for something more diverse and intense.  During one of my searches, I stumbled across the CrossFit main site, and I immediately knew that this is what I had been looking for!  My belief was further strengthened when I attempted my first CrossFit workout…. and couldn’t even finish.  As I lay on the ground at the local YMCA trying to regain some semblance of consciousness, I realized I had found the most effective way to become truly “fit.” I dug deep into the CrossFit Journal, and became a sponge.  Trying to learn as much as possible about CrossFit methodology,concepts, and movements, I continued to do WOD’s and began to feel stronger, more fit, and my nagging injuries had disappeared.

CrossFit brings about observable tangible change that you can see and feel.  Not only will you become more fit, you become apart of something larger than yourself.  The community of people at CrossFit of Naperville is strong, supportive, and always has room for more!

My passion for CrossFit has manifested itself into one clear goal.  To help others discover what I found more than a year ago.  CrossFit can, and will teach you how to push your body further than you ever thought possible, and give you the mental focus and fortitude to take your body there again and again.  You will always have the support of myself, the other trainers, and everyone at the gym, because when you succeed, we all succeed!

Darren Kevloh
Trainer-CrossFit Level 1 Certified

As the youngest of seven children with five older brothers and one older sister, I am no stranger to competition.  My parents didn’t exactly teach or insist on competition with each other, but I felt it necessary to do what I had to in order to ensure that I was never overlooked.  I’ve lived in and around Naperville my whole life.  I’ve taken in the bad, but more importantly the good, of this great town.  I went to all Naperville schools growing up and graduated from Naperville North High School. I was a gymnast in high school and participated in football as well.  Upon graduation, like anyone who was athletic growing up, I wanted to continue to exercise.  Unfortunately, I quickly became bored with the same old thing day in and day out. Or should I say every other day. Which turned to every two days, then once a week. Eventually, I reached a point where I realized I’d had fallen off my entire routine. It was very hard for me to stay focused on maintaining my physique when I didn’t feel or SEE results.  Ultimately, my routine had failed.  Throughout the next four to five years, I would go through little spurts of exercising.  I wasn’t getting results and I wasn’t exactly eating well either.  I needed something but I didn’t know what.

CrossFit came into my life unexpectedly. Through a chance meeting, I came across a CrossFit trainer who was more than happy to share with me a brief overview of CrossFit. After his short description, I became interested, and about a month later I was enrolled in the Elements program.

After my first CrossFit workout, the corniest way to explain it is to say that I was in love.  I can’t say that I found CrossFit. What I can say is that it found me.  I was hooked!  I caught myself doing workouts at home even when I wasn’t at the gym.  I was going five days a week and getting stronger, faster, and more flexible than I ever was before. Pounds of excess weight were flying off of me and there wasn’t anything stopping me.  Within the first three months after my enrollment in January 2010, I had shed 25lbs.  Getting better and better as I continued the WOD’s over the next few months, I had a thought.

Considering my dedication to physical fitness and love for CrossFit, what was the next best thing?  I decided I wanted to share my knowledge and love for CrossFit with others. I want other determined people to see the true potential in themselves.  If they have trouble finding it, I want to help them dig deep into their core and help find the WILL to get what they deserve.  CrossFit has changed my life for the better in every way.  I’ve shed blood, sweat, and tears with my CrossFit family.  Are you willing to give it your everything?

Joe Sipari
Trainer-CrossFit Level 1 Certified
Blauer Tactical SPEAR Coach
Blauer Tactical PDR Coach
CrossFit Running and Endurance Certified
CrossFit Kettlebell Certified
CrossFit Striking Certified
CrossFit Trainer to SPEC OPS police units as well as state academy cadets

Ben Groeneveld
Trainer-CrossFit Level 1 Certified
CrossFit Football Certified

Nate Steele
Trainer-CrossFit Level 1 Certified

Melissa Mills
Trainer-CrossFit Level 1 Certified
CrossFit Football Certified

I grew up in Batavia.  In high school I played soccer, basketball, and was on the dance team.  In college played soccer for a while, and also danced for the company at Illinois State University.  After graduating from Illinois State in 2004 with a degree in Special Education, my activity level dropped.  I got busy with my career, coaching, and life in general.  Every time I tried to get back into a fitness routine, I got derailed.  When I finally reached a point where I realized I needed to do something, I hired a personal trainer.  He told me that the only way to get into shape and lose weight was to do at least 45 minutes of cardio 3-4 days a week.  I hate running!  And the thought of running in place on a treadmill, or climbing stairs that lead to nowhere was the absolute last thing I wanted to spend my time doing.  So I bought some workout videos, and figured that would do.  About this time in my life, my husband was also feeling out of shape.  While I was trying to shed pounds through repetitive videos (ineffectively), he found Crossfit.  I watched him workout in the garage, and thought to myself I will never do that.  That’s crazy!  Flash forward to January 2009, the first time he brought me into Crossfit of Naperville.  I went through that first workout thinking, I will never make it.  But I did!  And I loved it!  There was an energy in the air that drove me to push myself harder than I ever had before.  Now, two years later, I am stronger, leaner and in better shape than I ever have been in my entire life.  Not only do I enjoy the workouts themselves, but the people that make up the community of CFNA are amazing.  I always feel supported, encouraged and driven to do my best.

My goal is to make you feel that same energy and excitement for Crossfit that I feel.  I want you to push yourself to constant improvement, and know that you will be supported and encouraged along the way.  Seeing is believing, so come see how Crossfit can change your life!