As her senior year is underway, Kaitlyn Benedict continues to prove why she is an asset to the Lady Owls’ varsity basketball team.
Benedict started playing at a very young age. “I started playing basketball when I was in third grade at St. Raymond’s CYO. I grew up with Rising Stars AAU, Level Up AAU, and Lightning AAU,” she explained. From Lynbrook to travel basketball, she has had the chance to experience playing multiple positions: “I play shooting guard now, but when I originally started playing basketball, when I was younger, I grew super early, so I was a lot taller than everyone else, leading me to be a center/big man.”
Benedict has been around the game for a very long time, so she knows what it takes to play at such a high level. She offered some advice to younger basketball players: “Repetition is key, and practice is so essential for growth. Learn to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.” As for her biggest supporter, the answer was easy: “My mom.” While Benedict’s basketball journey has been extensive, she was still able to pinpoint her favorite memory: “My teammates and coaches I met along the way. The girls that I met in seventh grade I’m still so close with now.” Benedict has committed her whole life to the sport of basketball. In fact, it was the only sport she ever played. “Yes, I was so dedicated to basketball [that] it wasn’t a hobby growing up, it was my life,” she explained. Benedict’s goals for this year are to win counties and go to states.
Benedict is very admired by her teammates and coaches alike. Head coach Koren Pena has witnessed Benedict’s immense growth as a player over the last three years. “Kaitlyn attended Holy Trinity High School her freshman year, so I did not coach her then. However, when Kaitlyn did come back to Lynbrook her sophomore year, I was extremely impressed with her level of passing, shooting, and ball handling. During the next two seasons that I coached her, I’d seen so much growth in her. Her maturity as a ‘floor leader’ has grown and her confidence as a player has grown as well,” said Pena.
Beyond her work on the court, Pena admires Benedict’s leadership outside of the game setting. “Kaitlyn works extremely hard not just during the season but more importantly during the off season. She continues to attend basketball clinics and workouts on her own time, and it’s paid off immensely,” Pena shared. Pena has no qualms regarding the team’s success, thanks to Benedict: “I have the utmost confidence in Kaitlyn. She’s not just a skilled player but a true student of the game. When she is on the court, I know the ball will be taken care of and the offense will be executed. She is reliable and steady. And as a coach, there isn’t much more that I could ask for.”
Benedict’s teammates also recognize her dedication and skill. “During practices, she leads the lines and goes first. If someone needs help in a drill, she offers to explain and demonstrate what to do. She is an amazing teammate and friend to all,” senior Gabrielle Jaghab commented. Senior Sophia Dwyer added, “She is a very vocal player who is always looking to help her teammates. She is a great role model for the younger girls on our team, and she plays a crucial role in our success.”
Just like Pena, Jaghab is confident on the court with Benedict by her side: “ I 100-percent trust Kaitlyn to make a shot whenever needed.” Dwyer agreed: “She is a very talented and experienced player who is always making the right decision. On both offense and defense, she makes the right play, which allows our team to perform well. Not only does she have an incredible shot, but her passing ability is something people will rarely be able to compete with. Kaitlyn is an amazing player and ultimately helps our team succeed each time we step on the court.”
