Jill Emery '92

"It’s the same type of high — you’re on stage, and you have to be 100 percent focused."

Boxing - Golden Gloves

As a thespian, Jill Emery enjoyed her fair share of the spotlight during her years at Bucknell. After performing in a number of Bucknell theatre productions, she moved to New York City in search of her big break. Little did she know that a pair of boxing gloves would soon replace the makeup and costumes.

"Boxing really took the place of acting. It's the same type of high - you're on stage, and you have to be 100 percent focused," Emery says. "The only difference is that if you're not focused in the ring, you get punched in the face."

Her boxing career began in 1998 after helping a friend train in kickboxing. While her previous martial arts experience came in handy - she competed in Shotokan karate in high school - she fell in love with the hand-to-hand aspects.

Emery - whose father, brother, and sister all attended Bucknell - trains at Brooklyn's legendary Gleason's Gym and has skyrocketed up the ranks of female boxers. She won four Golden Gloves titles from 2000 to 2003 and is preparing for nationals, where she will attempt to become the first female amateur boxer to win titles in three different weight classes.

She maintains an intense training schedule, consisting of daily cardio exercise and weight training, and sparring four to six nights a week.

The International Olympic Committee had considered making female boxing a medal event, but recently decided against it. Although there is a chance that it may become an exhibition event in 2012, Emery still plans to go professional later this year.

To pay the bills during her amateur career, Emery called on her former passion and her engineering background and took jobs in the technical areas of theater. She does lighting for fashion, TV, and theatre events. She's also channeled her penchant for fitness into something of a side career, working as a personal trainer at Crunch Gym on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

In addition, Emery trains boxers. Her first student, a male, will compete in this year's Golden Gloves competition.

"I was really impressed with how far along he came with me," she says. "He was my first fighter." But Emery hopes her other student, a female, will take her place as a top amateur.