Barrington High School athlete 'loved by everyone,' teammates, coaches say

High school is a challenging time for many. Moving to a new school in a different state can make it even harder.

But Luke Harrod Hutson, 18, of Barrington flourished under these circumstances, leaving a lasting impact on those who knew him, friends said.

Hutson was killed in an accident July 5 while he was riding on a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle in Breckenridge, Colorado. He had moved to Barrington from Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, as a junior, immediately joining the varsity football and hockey teams at Barrington High School.

"He would never say it, but you could kind of tell he was a little nervous going into his new school, knowing no one," hockey team captain Parker Ritter said. "Instantly, he was loved by everyone."

Hutson's teammates and coach remembered him as a hard worker, dependable and happy. And Hutson wasn't one to shy away from the physicality of the game, hockey coach Steve Martins said.

"He was one of those players that coaches love, because you didn't have to worry about his desire to work," Martins said. "Him doing that really set the tone for our team."

Game and practice time for football and hockey often overlapped, but Hutson's commitment to both teams never wavered. According to Martins, Hutson often brought a football mentality to hockey.

Friends and teammates have been circulating the hashtag #LiveLikeLuke across social media platforms, often accompanied by kind words and photos.

To #LiveLikeLuke is to "live life to the fullest, enjoy the world around you, and make sure you appreciate the impact that people have on your life," Martins said. "That's a testament to how Luke lived."

Hutson was enrolled at Indiana University with plans to start this fall. His memorial service was held Friday in Fox Point, Wisconsin.

Hutson's siblings, Rachel and David, have created the The Luke Harrod Hutson Foundation in his honor. This foundation will provide annual football, hockey and church mission trip scholarships to Barrington and Whitefish Bay area teens. Donations are being collected in a GoFundMe account: www.gofundme.com/pnyj3g-live-like-luke/donate. More than $25,000 had been raised as of Friday.

"He was always the happiest kid that you knew," Ritter said. "He just wanted to be happy and have fun."