By Kali Evans
She feels like everyone is judging her every move, her every step, and listening to her every word. This is what junior star athlete Jillian Barr goes through every day. She faces immense pressure from the others around her.
¨Imagine all eyes on you 24/7,” Jill says. “You have to think carefully about how you perform.¨
Pressure makes diamonds. Throughout Jill´s track career she has broken many records including the 60-meter hurdle record, long jump record, and the 1,600-meter relay record. For basketball she´s made all-county teams, all-sectional teams, set the all- time rebounding record for Delta, and has surpassed 1,000 career points.
Jill got her 1,000 points and set the all time rebounding record in the same night. Delta was playing their first round of sectionals in the Connersville gymnasium. It was a RUSH. Swish.
After Jill got her 1,000th point, she looked over her shoulder to see all her teammates on the ground doing the ¨row the boat celebration.” She was overwhelmed with feelings and emotions. She heard the whistle blow.
Since the team was playing in a sectional game you can’t stop the game if a player gets their 1,000 points. Head coach Tyronda Benning called a timeout. Her whole team ran out, yelling, screaming, hugging and rejoicing!
¨It was a fever dream,¨ Jill says.
It was a wholesome memory and left Jill feeling hungry for success.
Jill continues to strive to break her records every day.
She says she gets her edge as an athlete by ¨putting my faith in with my athletic career which gives me strength and peace.¨
Not to mention Jill thrives off her speed, agility and leadership.
¨Jill is a lead by example type of player. She is a role model to a lot of the girls on the team and treats everyone like family,¨ junior teammate Elizabeth Bamidele says. ¨Jill is always there to pick you up on your worst day. She is your best cheerleader.¨
Sophomore Harper Timmerman also describes Jill as a silent leader.
¨When she does speak up and give tips on how to improve their skill it means so much more,” Harper says. “She is hardworking and determined and is always pushing her teammates to give more.¨
Jill is more than just an athlete or a leader. She is a friend.
Harper describes her friendship with Jill as easy. Whenever they are together Harper doesn’t have to worry about being judged. Their friendships include a lot of laughter.
Jill, Harper and one of their other friends went to a friendsgiving event. They ate a bunch of food then went to Walmart to mess around. Jill and another one of her friends shut Harper in a container and locked it, then left. Then Jill and her friend left the container in the middle of the aisle. Harper was banging on the container because she was trapped.
All of a sudden a breath of fresh air! Harper was getting rescued! A random guy had opened the container and let her out. He looked scared and confused.
Then the group of three girls all picked out hideous outfits and put them on. After their Walmart shenanigans were done they headed to Taco Bell.
These are just some of the many laughs and giggles Jill and Harper shared.
It’s safe to say Jill is a young woman full of many talents and attributes. Jillian Barr really does have it all.
