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10/11/2023 09:45 AMFriendship has been the biggest conveyor for Aiden Hutchinson when it comes to him becoming connected with a sport, and so it is almost fitting that when it comes full circle, he got the chance to cultivate new connections across the country through a round, plastic disc.
The North Branford senior is a two-team T-bird athlete by playing soccer and hockey, first starting with hockey as a youngster and becoming involved in soccer through a friend. On the pitch, Aiden was an All-Shoreline Honorable Mention in 2022 as North Branford’s netminder en route to capturing the team MVP award, and is now a captain this fall. On the ice in the winter, Aiden was part of a state-semifinalist squad, yet he additionally takes flight with ultimate frisbee for the Thunderbirds (finishing second in the 2023 State Tournament) and took a memorable summer vacation.
In August, Aiden ventured to the National Youth Club Championships for Ultimate Frisbee in Colorado with the Connecticut Harpoon team, which is made up of the top Ultimate Frisbee athletes in Connecticut that opt to participate.
“One of my friends introduced me to frisbee, and it became my passion. It is very different from other sports; there are no refs and you are your own ref. I like the togetherness of it and everyone trying to improve themselves. We are all friends because of the sport,” says Aiden. “Being at Nationals was an amazing experience. It is crazy to practice during the high school season for two months with kids from Connecticut, and then travel halfway across the country and meet other players. The fields were huge and you could see the mountains in the background. We also watched other matches when we did not play; it was like a big family.”
The hustle and bustle of the flight itinerary and preparation took a toll on Aiden and the team, though they still made the most of the venture with unbridled passion and enthusiasm for the sport and competition.
“The trip was nerve racking at times,” Aiden says. “We tried out a new offense, and the practices were tricky, but we got used to it. Going to the airport and meeting everyone so early in the morning was tiring, but we had a lot of excitement bottled up through the flight.”
Most impressive on the soccer pitch, Aiden’s 2022 campaign with his multiple league-level and squad-tier accolades was his rookie campaign as a starter. It also shined a light on the true dividends of dedication to a particular goal.
“I have gotten better, faster, and stronger through playing multiple sports; I have been playing year-round since my sophomore year,” Aiden says. “Last year at goalkeeper, I saw myself getting better daily. It pushes me to my limits and helps me get better mentally and physically. It also helps me with keeping my cool.”
In terms of the physical benefits of staying steady as a constant moving locomotive, Aiden has acquired great steam and momentum when it comes to sharpening his repertoire and skill set, and staying swift.
“The aspect of keeping in shape all year helps me with all sports,” says Aiden. “Soccer has helped me with my hand-eye coordination for the other sports. The quick movements off the puck, or cuts you need to make with frisbee, have also helped with soccer. They are all really intertwined; they are all different, too, but they each help me with the others.”
Aiden is the embodiment of a quintessential leader and teammate, according to North Branford boys’ ice hockey squad Head Coach Ralph Shaw.
“Aiden is a three-sport athlete that possesses all the attributes that a coach is looking for,” says Shaw. “Aiden is dedicated and determined to do his best. He is a team player, a guy you can count on to be the first on the ice. I am looking forward to his senior year.”
Whether it is using his gloves to stop a striker on offense, pacing the puck down the length of the rink, or letting it rip with the frisbee in his hands, Aiden is now bolstered mentally for years to come, with the knowledge that throwing in the white towel never brings up any beneficial factors. He adds that even through suffering defeats, it can bring about even greater personal victories in the grander scheme of things with life.
“I have learned through sports you can never quit, and giving it your all really matters,” says Aiden. “In hockey, we lost in the state semis last season, and then with soccer, we went through a long losing streak before we won our first game last fall. But it taught me that you never know when you will get another chance, so you have to put your all into it no matter what. Even reflecting on the smallest errors can help you get better at things.”