Senior Jillian Yelle has proven herself to be a standout on the South Windsor Girls Lacrosse team. Yelle is currently a captain and a 4-year varsity player for the Bobcats.
As a versatile player, Yelle generally plays midfielder for South Windsor High School. The Girls Lacrosse team has highlighted Yelle as a key figure as she earned All-Conference honors in her sophomore year attending South Windsor. All-Conference honors is the highest form of recognition for athletes with the votes from other coaches after being nominated by her own.
Her teammates also find her to be an extremely reliable option in any position on the field. Sophomore Molly Willard has been playing since second grade and with Yelle for the past two years on varsity as a defensive player.
“Jillian is a team player who pushes everyone else on the field to do their best and work hard,” Willard said.
Jillian has been playing lacrosse for as long as she can remember.
“I’ve been playing lacrosse since kindergarten, so 13 years,” Yelle stated. “I volunteer with the youth program because when I was in kindergarten, I remember looking up to the high school girls and wanting to be like them.”
Not only is Yelle a leader on the field but also in her academics. Yelle has qualified for the All-Academic team two years in a row, showing consistency on and off the field.
For Yelle’s Capstone project, she ran the youth lightning team. It’s for in-house level children who are more advanced and they play games against other towns. Without fail, Yelle has incorporated her sport into her schooling, creating a balance between the two.
“I think she was chosen as captain since she is a reliable, inspiring player who helps the team with their communication, skills, and chemistry,” Willard said.
With Jillian’s extensive experience on the team, she’s grown even more fond of lacrosse over the years.
“My favorite thing about lacrosse is the quick pace,” Yelle said. “I think doing trick shots are really fun and I am finally implementing them into my game more. I’m never bored on the field, and when I’m practicing, there’s always so much to improve on.”
Yelle is one of the most experienced and well-versed players, she has recently committed to Chatham University, a division three school in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. However, to get to this level, she has had to overcome many challenges in her sport.
“My struggles with lacrosse were learning to play at a higher level,” Yelle said. “I started playing club later than most people, so I had to adjust to the faster pace and the game at a more advanced level.”
Yelle aims to end her final season strong and create more valuable memories with her team.
