Arabella Hall ’23 Will Take Golf Career to New Heights at Wheaton College

 

She could not have been more wrong.

 

Not only was Arabella good enough to play golf in college, but she was also good enough to sign a scholarship with Wheaton College, a Division III school about 20 miles west of Chicago. 

 

“I had to decide whether I wanted to play golf in college or if I just wanted to go to college without golf,” Hall said. “However, this season helped me prove to myself that I was good enough to play in college.”

Eight holes into her Regionals round in late September, she didn’t feel that way. Hall was 10 over par and it didn’t look like she’d be finishing her season well. Hutchison’s team of golfers needed her to put up a good score in order to qualify for State, and Hall was struggling. However, Hall responded like a champion, summoning the strength to shoot even par over the final 10 holes. Her surprise finish helped the Sting make it to State, where Hall continued her good play, shooting two excellent rounds. 

 

Hutchison’s golf coach Mary Murphy said, “The round (at Regionals) started getting away from her but she just bore down. That girl is unreal. Never once has she quit, and I’ve been coaching her since 6th grade. She just wills herself to do things. It’s extraordinary.” 

 

Hall feels indebted to Murphy for believing in her. “I knew I always wanted to play in college but my confidence was lacking, and I am so thankful to have had a coach that always told me I was good enough," Hall said.

Hall said that the overall environment at Hutchison was crucial in her personal and athletic development. “My time at Hutchison has helped me prepare for this day,” she said. “I have had great teachers and coaches who supported me and encouraged me. I am very grateful to have had such a wonderful community to grow up in with teachers and coaches who really care about me.” 

 

Her teachers describe her as the very definition of a scholar-athlete. She currently has a high GPA and has maintained an extremely difficult course load while pursuing a demanding golf career. Hall is interested in the healthcare field and shadowed Dr. Cynthia Sands, a Hutchison Class of 2022 parent and local pediatrician, last summer.

 

She heads north to Wheaton, Illinois, to begin her collegiate career in the fall. Hall said that she just knew it was the perfect spot. “Wheaton is the right fit for me because I love the community there,” she said. “The community is tight-knit and caring, I love that it is a Christian college, and I also love the town. I am so thankful to have found a place that will meet my spiritual, academic, and athletic needs.”

 

It’s not all academics and athletics, though. Sometimes, it's the simple pleasures that can make a big difference. “One of my favorite ice cream places is Kilwins, and Wheaton has one within walking distance of the campus,” Hall added.

 

Though it may have been a Rocky Road for Hall, here’s betting she’s looking at a sweet future in Wheaton.