Kicking for a Cause: Bennett’s Quest for Football History and a Lasting Legacy

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Gianna Bennett didn't set out to make history. She only wanted to play football. Now, as a standout kicker for Northwestern College, she's doing both. Bennett grew up loving sports, but football wasn't on her radar until a casual conversation with a middle school coach changed everything. "I started playing football at the end of my sophomore season in high school," she said. "It just kind of happened."

That chance encounter led her to a middle school practice, where a simple challenge set her path in motion. "He told me to make three 30-yarders in a row, and he'd talk to the varsity coach," Bennett said. She did, and by the next day, she was practicing with the team. "There were three weeks left in the season, and I just really fell in love with it."

Bennett's rapid rise from a newcomer to a college kicker is a testament to her work ethic and determination. "I decided I wanted to play in college and started going to camps," she said. That drive eventually led her to Northwestern, where she has become a key contributor on one of the top programs in the country.

FINDING HER FOOTING
Transitioning to college football was a new challenge, but Bennett embraced it fully. "At first it was different for me getting used to being around a bunch of new guys," she said. "I didn't know anybody." Despite the adjustment, her teammates and coaches quickly embraced her. "They've been great. There's no other group of guys I'd want to play with."

Northwestern head coach Matt McCarty has watched Bennett's growth firsthand. "I have always been impressed with Gianna's toughness and willingness to try something that most wouldn't," he said. "She has an outstanding attitude and always makes it about football and doing what is best for the team."

That mindset has helped Bennett earn the respect of everyone in the program. "The team sees how hard she works and how dedicated she is to her craft," McCarty said. "They respect her for that."

CHASING HISTORY
Bennett's impact was immediate. As a freshman, she became the first female player to score in a GPAC game when she knocked through an extra point against Hastings. "It was the first time I stepped on the field," she said. "It was a really cool moment in itself, just getting to play in a college football game."

While the milestone was significant, Bennett viewed it as simply doing her job. "It was an expectation I had for myself," she said. "That's what I've been recruited to do; make extra points and field goals."
Now, she's on pace to break the female all-time scoring record in college football, an achievement she didn't even know was possible until recently. "I didn't really know it was in reach until this summer when Coach McCarty let me know that it is attainable," she said. "I think it'll be really cool when it happens."

Bennett's career points total stands at 52, sitting over halfway to Brittany Ryan's record of 100 career points.

For McCarty, the potential milestone is a reflection of Bennett's consistency and excellence. "It is not easy to do what she is doing as a female playing in a male sport and also not easy to be as good as she is," he said. "She is and will continue to be an impactful player for our program."

A KICKER WITH A CAUSE
Beyond the field, Bennett is making a difference through her partnership with Every Kick Counts, which raises money for Count the Kicks, a stillbirth prevention campaign. "Keith Duncan, who kicked at Iowa, is my kicking coach back home," she said. "He started Every Kick Counts and asked if I wanted to get involved. I just kind of thought it was a no-brainer."

Through the program, supporters can pledge donations per point she scores. "The points that I score on the field directly correlate to how much money I raise," she said. "That money goes directly to Count the Kicks, which educates expectant parents on the importance of counting their babies' movements in the third trimester."

Bennett has seen the impact of the organization firsthand. "I've gotten to meet a lot of families through different events," she said. "I got to meet somebody from my old elementary school that was saved through Count the Kicks. That was really cool to see."

Her commitment to service is one of the reasons McCarty nominated her for the AFCA Good Works Team. "She has a heart of helping others and she is using her gifts to positively impact others," he said. "She is using her platform to make a difference in the lives of so many."

SHAPING THE JOURNEY
Bennett's growth has been guided by several mentors, including former Northwestern All-American kicker Eli Stader. "Getting to play behind him has been one of the biggest blessings," she said. "He helped me learn about kicking in college, college football in general, and honestly just life in college."

Stader's continued involvement with the program has been invaluable. "Now him coming back to coach, it's been cool to bounce ideas off each other and just have someone to talk kicking with," Bennett said.

Another influential figure has been longtime Iowa and Michigan State special teams coordinator LeVar Woods. "He's the reason I'm here," she said. "He reached out to Coach McCarty and told him about me. He's extremely smart when it comes to special teams. It's a really great connection to have."

BALANCING ACT
While excelling as an All-GPAC kicker on the field, Bennett has also thrived in the classroom, earning CSC Academic All-District honors. "I think it's just time management," she said. "It can sometimes be tough at certain parts of the semester and different parts of the season, but having a good support system is really important."

Her advice to incoming student-athletes is simple. "It's going to be okay," she said. "It sometimes seems stressful at times, but it's all going to work out. You'll get it all done."

LOOKING AHEAD
With three years of eligibility remaining, Bennett's goals are straightforward. "I just want to be as consistent as I can and help the team any way that I can," she said. "Obviously the goal is to be perfect and never miss."

When her career is over, Bennett hopes to be remembered for her performance, not just her trailblazing role. "I hope I'm known as a good kicker," she said. "Obviously being a girl is a part of it, but I hope people recognize the kicking aspect of it."

For McCarty, Bennett's legacy is already secure. "She is doing something others have not and doing it at a high level," he said. "Ultimately it is special because she is a great kicker."

And as Bennett continues to break barriers and inspire others, she remains focused on the same thing that brought her to football in the first place; doing her job and helping her team win."

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#10 Gianna Bennett: K; 6' 1"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#10 Gianna Bennett
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: K

Players Mentioned

#10 Gianna Bennett

Players Mentioned

#10 Gianna Bennett