Athlete in the spotlight: Jillian Benn

by Joseph Landini
Pierce Arrow

"I love recreational stuff, running around, and working with kids," Jill Benn said about becoming a Sports and Recreation Management major. Aside from playing lacrosse for the Ravens, Benn focuses on her studies with a bright future in mind. "I want to have a good family and a nice job." After she graduates in May, Benn plans to get a job and attend graduate school to further her education.

Sticking with Sports and Recreation, Benn works for the intramural program on campus as well. When asked how the intramural program has helped her, she responded, "It helped me because I learned another angle of recreation, because I was not dealing with younger children but older students." Benn has been employed by Campus Recreation since the fall of 2010.

As of April 8, the Franklin Pierce women's lacrosse team is 5-4 overall, with a 2-3 record inside the Northeast 10 conference. Benn, a senior defensive player, is playing her last season in a Raven's uniform and maybe in any lacrosse uniform. "It is going to be sad not playing competitively anymore. This is something I have been doing my entire life," she said.

During this season, Benn is one of the team leaders in ground balls with 25, while she is tied for the lead in game winning goals. Reflecting on her lacrosse team as a whole, she said they, "dig down when tired." In her long career with the Ravens, Benn has started in over 50 games for Franklin Pierce.

The long-term goal for Benn is to manage the New England Patriots. While watching the Patriots, she enjoys snacking down on her favorite food of tortilla chips and dip. At the end of the day, she loves to watch her favorite movie whenever she can, "Sixteen Candles."