by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
Jillion Potter came to UNM with the intention of walking on to the women's basketball team.
Now, as a junior, Potter has become an All-American rugby player for the Lobos.
UNM head coach Shannon Robinson said he considers Potter to be one of the most elite athletes in the country.
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"She is the Brian Urlacher of women's college rugby," Robinson said. "She is a phenomenal rugby player. People should do whatever they can to go see her play, because she is something special."
As a freshman, Potter was trying to decide if she wanted to play basketball for the Lobos. She said she was torn between her love for the sport and wanting to take some time off.
Then, at freshman orientation, a group of female rugby players approached Potter and invited her to join the team. She joined, thinking it might be a temporary thing.
Since then, rugby has become one of the biggest passions in her life.
"I wasn't actually expecting to stay. I was just going to play and see how it was," Potter said. "But in about three months time, I made the U-19 team, and I was hooked. We have a very good team with some players that have made the national team."
Potter said the camaraderie she has with her teammates is one of the biggest positives about playing rugby at UNM.
"We're like a family," Potter said. "All of the players help out each other, and we travel together a lot. It basically builds all your friends and helps you throughout college."
Potter was named to the 2005-06 All-American women's rugby team after her outstanding play over the last year. In addition to competing at UNM, Potter has played with the U.S. U-19 and U-23 squads, which are all-star teams for players under the age of 19 and 23.
Potter is one of just 33 women in the nation to receive first-team honors.
She said she was happy to get the award.
"It was kind of surprising, but I kind of expected it because I was on the U-19 national team and on the U-23 national team," Potter said. "I was really excited, because out of over 10,000 girls who play rugby in college, only 30 or so of them get first-team All-American. I couldn't have done it without Shannon Robinson or without the support of my team."
Playing for the U-19 and U-23 teams helped make her a better rugby player, as well as make new friends throughout the country, she said.
"It was amazing, the bond you make with other players," she said. "You could literally meet someone in New York, not even talk to them for a year, call them up and say, 'Hey, I'm in town. I need a place to stay,' and they'll be like, 'Oh yeah, I played rugby with you. Let's go. Let's party together.' It's a very awesome experience."
Although being on the road so much can be rough sometimes, she would not want to do it differently, she said.
"It's kind of stressful with school going on. I miss a lot of school," Potter said. "I hate to say that I prioritize that way, because I'm not going to give up the experience of going and meeting other people and playing rugby at that kind of level."
Looking back on her accomplishments so far, Potter said she is proud of how far she has come.
"You have to be really serious, I feel like, to be on the national team," she said. "I have an aspiration to go to that next level."
Potter said she spends a lot of time focusing on rugby. She said she wants to continue to play after college and turn professional if she gets the chance.
"I really want to be in the next World Cup," she said. "I actually just got back from Canada to watch this year's women's World Cup, and it's definitely inspiring."
Potter has what it takes to play professionally and is one of the most coachable athletes on the team, Robinson said.
"She's a thrill to coach," he said. "There's just nothing like having somebody who the other team is always looking for. She hits like a train and runs like a deer. She listens to you, and she does what you say."
Potter played basketball and competed in track and field at La Cueva High School. She said the reason she was able to adjust to a different sport so quickly is because of the environment she was in as a child.
"I grew up with a lot of brothers," Potter said. "It was my natural aggressiveness I developed through childhood."
Robinson said he expects Potter to keep getting better. He encourages people to watch her while she is still a Lobo.
"I just want to make sure that UNM fans get out to see her while she's here," he said. "That's just something you won't believe it when you see. Don't miss this circus. When you see her play, she'll hit someone and they'll disappear."
