Quick Hits With Molly Hutchison

With the 2017 softball season just one week away, GoPack.com caught up with senior Molly Hutchison to discuss her thoughts heading into her final season with the Wolfpack.

Q: Now that you are a senior and we're just a week from starting the season, how are you feeling heading into your final semester of college softball?
A: "I'm so excited to get going on this last semester. It's nice being a senior because you know what to expect because you've had three seasons before. Freshman year I was a little more nervous at this time of the year but I just feel total excitement now."

Q: How did the fall season go and how have things been going with spring practice?
A: Practices have been great. We've made a lot of changes – last year wasn't the best year so we've made a conscious effort to make sure that a year like last year doesn't happen again. We've been working so hard and putting in the extra work where and when we can to get better and prepared for the season, which I feel that we are."

Q: Coach Rychcik put together a tough schedule this season. Being a senior you've already played schedules like this in your career here. How do you think this helps you prepare for the ultimate goal of making to the NCAA Tournament?
A: "In my opinion you get better by playing the best. When coach sets up this nonconference schedule that's so tough, he's doing it so when we go into our conference games we're not seeing anything new. Whatever our conference teams throw at us, we've seen it before. I think that's what's so important about playing a tough schedule is that we're not surprised by anything by the time we get to conference."

Q: How have classes been so far?
A: "Classes are good and I'm getting excited about graduating. I'm not quite looking there yet because we still have the season in front of us and have things to do. So I'm just trying to live in the moment and take it one day at a time since it's all about to be over."

Q: What do you want to do when you graduate (in Dec. 2017)?
A: The goal is to be a food buyer, so I would be the person who decides what products end up on the shelves in grocery stores. I'm pretty open-minded to anything though. That's the goal and that's what I'm working towards but I'm mostly looking to do something that I love."

Q: Looking back over the past three years what is your favorite memory as a part of the team?
A: "There's so many but the one that comes to mind is when Maggie Hawkins hit the walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh against JMU to send us to the Super Regional. Those are moments that might only come once in a lifetime, so when I look back on my career that's one of the first things I think of."

Q: Do you have any favorite memories from being a student-athlete at NC State?
A: "The lifelong friends that I've made. Being on a team you get a different experience in college, but I've made memories and friends with people that I will have around for the rest of my life. That makes me happy. I'd say it's been a pretty positive experience overall being a student-athlete here."

Q: Now that you're almost done with your career, what advice would you give to someone who's just starting out?
A: "People always say how fast it goes by, and that's so true. When you're a freshman, you're just like, 'How does 55 games go by quickly?' and now that I only have close to 55 games left, it's like, 'Man, where did the time go?' So just take advantage of every hardship and of your time. Use everyday to get better instead of just get through. Go out every day with a positive attitude because it makes everything better."

North Carolina State University Athletics

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Molly Hutchison

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