Senior Moment: Caitlin Hutchison

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State University women’s basketball senior Caitlin Hutchison is shown here being introduced with her family on Senior Day (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – Caitlin Hutchison has been a steadying influence on the hardwood for Ferris State University from the minute she arrived on campus.

A college basketball career doesn’t last forever – even if many of the memories do stand the test of time. Hutchison, with her fellow seniors, is near the end of her college hoops experience at Ferris. Although the 5-foot-11 Riverview native’s senior season has had its rough stretches, the Bulldogs are beginning to hit their stride and appear to be playing their best ball of the long season.

Needing every win it can get its hands on, Ferris took a major step toward qualifying for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament with a 69-66 home win over Lake Superior last Saturday in Jim Wink Arena.

“It was a really emotional game for us and it turned out to be a really emotional win,” Hutchison said. “Obviously, we want to win every game, but you really want to win when you know it is Senior Day and it’s your last home game. It was so nice for us to be able to get that win for so many reasons.”

Hutchison enjoyed watching one of her fellow seniors step up and have one of her best games of the season.

“She is like Superman,” Hutchison said of Ashley Fleming, who had 11 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. “She had a Superman (sticker on under her jersey) and she looked like Superman with how she goes out there and just keeps playing hard. She is amazing.”

As winners of five straight games, Ferris is looking super these days.

“We’re definitely playing better, but we have two more big games coming up this week (at Northwood on Thursday and at Wayne State on Saturday),” said Hutchison, who is averaging 8.3 points and three rebounds while shooting 51.7 percent from the floor, 50 percent from the 3-point line and 78 percent from the free throw stripe. “That’s what we have to focus on.”

In Senior Moments, Sandy Gholston interviewed each of the six men’s and women’s basketball seniors from Ferris State University to find out what some of their thoughts were entering the final regular-season college basketball weekend of their careers. The student-athletes interviewed were Mark Gildersleeve and Jason Holder of the men’s basketball team and Caitlin Hutchison, Jenna Guay, Teghan Thelen and Ashley Fleming of the women’s basketball team.

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com