Charlie Hanchett ’97 was a three-sport threat for the Bears. On the football field, his speed and athleticism made him a versatile weapon for coach Barry Giller. One game in particular illustrates his role as a multi-faceted menace. On October 10, 1996 he torched Mercy for 282 all-purpose yards (122/kickoff return, 108/punt return, 52/receiving), frustrating the Monarchs throughout the game. As a junior he helped the Brook go 6-2, the most wins since 1978 and the first winning season since 1989. In his senior year he set a school record for receptions in a season (51) to help him earn the Buyers Football Award for performance and a spot on the All-County Team.
On the basketball court, he was an important leader during his senior season for a team that struggled in league play. For his efforts he garnered the Taft Boys Basketball Award. While Hanchett’s all-around ability made him a star in the fall and winter, it was in the spring that he exercised his true calling.
Following in the tradition of his brothers, Toby ’92 and Sam ’95, Charlie excelled on the lacrosse field. He twice garnered All-County recognition and was a vital cog for two Division Championship teams, including the 1997 squad that set a school record with 14 wins. In one memorable performance, he notched a hat trick in a 7-5 upset win over West Islip, the 10th-ranked large school team in New York State. Hanchett finished a memorable senior season among the team leaders in points with 29 goals and 31 assists.
Hanchett’s success on the lacrosse field continued at Gettysburg, one of the premier Division III programs in America. While playing with the Bullets, Hanchett established himself as a reliable scorer for a team that won four consecutive Centennial Conference Championships. His 3 assists in the 2001 title game helped the ‘Burg to a 15-7 victory over Washington College.
In 2000 and 2001 Hanchett was sixth on the team in points with 26 and 28, respectively. During Gettysburg’s memorable run through the NCAA tournament in 2001, he tallied four goals and an assist, including a goal in the National Championship game vs. Middlebury.
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