Johnson & Wales University Providence

Four-year, two-sport collegiate student-athletes are rare. To start for four years in two sports is rarer. In Laura Hutchison, however, Johnson & Wales had a four-year, record-breaking, two-sport standout who fashioned an equally stunning academic career. A native of rural Jamestown, Pennsylvania, “Hutch” was a leader of the rapidly developing softball and basketball programs. A two-year basketball captain, she started nearly 100 games in her hoop career. In 2000, she was a forward on the first Wildcat women’s basketball team to reach a conference championship game. Her softball achievements are eye-popping. Graduating in 2002 as JWU’s all-time leader in eleven pitching categories, from innings pitched, wins, and strikeouts, to appearances and ERA, she also topped the list in several offensive categories, including plate appearances, hits, and extra-base hits, among others. A three-year softball captain, she was a perennial Dean’s List student, graduating with a GPA of nearly 3.50.