Billy Hutchison, Colorado College, Men's Lacrosse - Character & Community

Billy Hutchison, Colorado College, Men's Lacrosse - Character & Community

BILLY HUTCHISON OF COLORADO COLLEGE,senior on the men’s lacrosse team from Westpoint, Conn., has been selected the SCAC Character & Community Male Student-Athlete of the Week for the week beginning May 10.

The SCAC Character & Community award honors the efforts of student-athletes who excel in the field of athletics, and also serve their campus and community.



Ever since the versatile Hutchison joined the men’s lacrosse program in the fall of 2017, he has exemplified leadership by willingly changing positions and roles in an effort to do whatever he could help the Tigers succeed.

Hutchison started his career as a long-pole midfielder, played wing on the face-off unit, was a key member of the man-down unit, and during the last two seasons, has developed a reputation for being one of the best close defenders in all of Division III men’s lacrosse.

Hutchison’s most important role on the team is that of co-captain and he became one of the few players in program history to receive the honor in multiple seasons. It’s no coincidence that his arrival coincided with one of the most successful eras in the program’s history.

“Billy is the best leader that I’ve coached since I’ve been here, and that says a lot because I’ve coached some amazing leaders,” head coach Sean Woods said. “He knows how to pick you up when you are down and let you know when you need to do something better. I love his communication skills with our team and all the guys love being around him.”

In addition to his leadership, Hutchison has displayed the hands and stickwork of an offensive threat as well as the intensity and determination to excel in the midfield and defensive zone, all while wielding a long stick.

During his freshman season when the Tigers posted a 13-2 record and earned an at-large to the NCAA Division III men’s Lacrosse Championship, Hutchison played in all 15 games, including three as a starter. In his first season, he ranked fourth on the team with 32 ground balls and tied for sixth with six caused turnovers. He also produced four goals and five points in the offensive zone.

As a sophomore, Hutchison helped the injury-ravaged Tigers post an 8-7 record and win the SCAC championship with a 13-10 victory over Southwestern University. He finished sixth on the team with 20 ground balls and eighth with six caused turnovers. He also scored for goals for the second year in a row.

Last year, his first as a team captain, Hutchison anchored the Colorado College defense that posted a 5.33 goals-against average and held its opponents to just 32 goals in six games. The Tigers were 6-0 and were climbing in the national rankings when the season was shut down following the 14-10 victory over Baldwin-Wallace University on March 12.

This season, Hutchison has helped lead CC to an 11-3 record, which included the program’s first-ever victory over an opponent ranked in the top five of the Unites States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association’s Division III Coaches Poll. The Tigers recorded a dominating 31-11 victory against Southwestern in the SCAC championship game, are ranked in all three national polls and earned the program’s eighth NCAA tournament appearance.

Hutchison, who was named the Defensive MVP of the SCAC championship game, started all 13 games and ranks second on the team with 12 caused turnovers and tied for fourth with 27 ground balls, both of which are career highs.

At the same time, Hutchison excelled in the classroom, compiling a 3.50 grade-point average as a political science major. He also worked for three years in the Colorado College equipment room and is an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Just as he has done on the field and in the classroom, Hutchison applied his leadership and time management skills to a multitude of community service projects throughout his four years at CC.

In addition to his varied roles within Colorado College program, Hutchison worked tirelessly to make the game accessible to kids who would not have been introduced to the sport.

He organized CC’s participation in the 1st Annual Harlem Lacrosse Classic, and was the driving force behind the Tigers surpassing their team goal of $7,500. Harlem Lacrosse uses the proceeds to introduce the sport to kids in low-income urban areas and place full-time program director in schools to maintain a constant presence in the lives of the students they serve.

Likewise, Hutchison also joined teammates Brooks Brown and Anders Erickson in creating a partnership with Denver City Lax, which creates opportunities for youth in underserved neighborhoods by providing access to lacrosse and then engaging participants in year-round lacrosse training, academic guidance, and enrichment experiences. The Tigers competed in a 5k fund raiser and participate in a big-brother pen pal program to share their collegiate experience with aspiring players. 

In November 2020, Hutchison planned and executed the team’s Lacrosse Mustache Madness campaign that raised more than $20,000 for the HEADstrong Foundation, which offers financial, residential, and emotional support to families affected by cancer. Colorado College was one of 135 men’s lacrosse programs from all three NCAA Divisions that participated, and CC placed first in the national tournament-style competition that raised more than $400,000.

At the local level, Hutchison planned and coordinated the team’s ‘Trivia for Tessa’ event, an annual evening that raises money and awareness in an effort to battle sexual and domestic violence. All proceeds from the team trivia event that draws more 250 participants are donated to Tessa, a sexual violence shelter and resource center in Colorado Springs.

Hutchison’s hard work continues to pay dividends, on and off the field.

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