Daniel Hutchinson was a two-sport athlete at Ithaca College, participating in both football and track and field.
Daniel Hutchinson was a two-sport athlete at Ithaca College, participating in both football and track and field.
When starting something new, many go-getters want to make an impact on Day 1. Not Daniel Hutchinson ’23. Ideally, he wants to make a strong impression long before that.
He did exactly that in 2019 before even taking his first class at Ithaca College. His proverbial “15 minutes of fame” came in his first minutes on campus.
Daniel Hutchinson shaking hands with his mother in 2019. See the full video in the link to the right.
At drop-off outside of his new residence hall, he went to say goodbye to his single mother, Beth. What came next should have been muscle memory for a young man who would later compete for both the football and track and field teams at IC, but it was not muscle that was the issue. It was emotion.
As Hutchinson and his mother went to do their signature handshake, he welled up thinking about all that they had been through together, and he had to pull away to regain his composure.
She then did what she had always done. Stern but loving, she encouraged him back to finish what he started, and he, in turn, did what he had always done. He came back, just as he did from an ACL tear. Just as he did from challenges that would have sunk most people.
Little did they know this comeback, which he recorded, would go viral and be seen around the world, capturing the attention of SportsCenter, Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, House of Highlights, and many others.
Though he had not even started at IC, Hutchinson was already making an impression on his classmates and social media users across the globe. He’s now cultivated his own social media identity, gathering nearly 25,000 followers on Instagram.
Four years later, after earning his degree in May, Hutchinson is embarking on the next stage of his life. IC News caught up with Hutchinson and his mother. The following interview has been edited for clarity.
Despite an ACL tear in high school, Hutchinson spent several years on the IC football team. (Photo courtesy of IC Athletic Communications)
IC News: Congratulations to both of you on Daniel’s graduation. How did it feel?
Daniel Hutchinson: Thank you. It felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders honestly.
Beth Wagmeister: Mine too!
Daniel: Yeah, I just felt like so accomplished. I felt like I finally did it, being in the first generation from my family to graduate from college. My sister is the only other one who did it, so it's a really nice feeling to have.
IC News: You had been through so many hardships before coming to IC, including a major injury that left your athletic career in doubt. Did those challenges give you a better sense of confidence at Ithaca College or did you feel like they presented additional challenges?
Daniel: Every hardship I face in life definitely prepares me for the future. So those struggles that I have had to endure definitely set me up for success and allowed me to build up that grit and that confidence to attack any situation and become the best version of myself.
IC News: And what’s next for you?
Daniel: After studying psychology, I really wanted to go help people and make a difference in people's minds and to spread some positivity in the world. I actually just landed a job in Denver as a mental health care technician. I'm going to move there.
Beth: We're really excited about the next chapter for sure.
IC News: Daniel, social media can have a lot of trolls and negativity, but on your accounts and even in person, you seem to stay really positive. Where do you think that message stems from, especially considering the struggles you’ve had in life?
Beth (laughing): He gets it from his mama!
Daniel: No, seriously though. My mom is 100 percent right. I get it from my mom. She started her own business, you know, right before COVID started. That was a very scary time to start something. For her to be able to come out on top and really find success in doing what she's doing motivated me to believe that I can do anything I put my mind to. As long as I believe it, I can do it. My mom gave me this mentality that I can spread our message to thousands and maybe even millions of people one day because I'm really inspired by her.
Beth: Awwwww! I always taught Daniel to see things half full instead of half empty and to try to make a positive spin out of things that are unfortunate.
Hutchinson celebrated his graduation this past May, and is now starting his professional career in Denver.
Hutchinson celebrated his graduation this past May, and is now starting his professional career in Denver.
IC News: What was it like to do your handshake again? You did it at drop-off and then at graduation, literally full circle.
Beth: Well, in the beginning we really didn't do it for anything but our own enjoyment. We really didn't intend for it to ever be so impactful, but it's nice that it has had such a positive impact on so many people. So we just felt like we had to finish it, finish the mission. It just solidified the whole journey, realizing that we've made it and Daniel's made it. We're just so proud of him, so we had to celebrate. We just thought we would go out with a bang, and I think that people really appreciated seeing the beginning and the end of it all. It was a lot of fun.
IC News: What kinds of people have you heard from since all this happened and what have they said about your mother-son handshake?
Beth: The first time, people were just in tears about it. And then after the second one, everyone one was like, “No way! I can't believe four years is over already. I feel like we just saw this!” It felt like time had gone by so quickly, for all of us. I think people just loved seeing our relationship. I actually heard from Jarrett Payton.
IC News: The former NFL player and son of NFL Hall-of-Famer Walter Payton?
Beth: Right. He said this was still the best video on the net, so that was pretty cool to know that he's been following, watching and still loves our video. That was probably the best comment out of all of them, I think.
In addition to the football field, Hutchinson's athleticism was apparent when he was a long jumper for the track and field team. (Photo courtesy of IC Athletic Communications)
IC News: And Daniel, having been a viral sensation but now starting a new job, do you think that social media aspect of your life is kind of over? Are you still going to be in that sphere at all?
Daniel: That's what I’m thinking about right now. I want to continue this social media trend that I'm on, just being able to be as motivational and inspirational as I can. But I think my main focus for now is going to be my career and trying to help the patients that I can in the mental health setting. I'm going to try to keep doing social media too, but my main focus is going to be on the career growth.
IC News: And Mom, what’s your new business?
Beth: It’s called WAG, which is Workplace Accessibility Group, and I am an advocate for people with disabilities and I educate businesses, schools, and every industry about accessibility and making sure we're inclusive for people with disabilities. And I also provide American Sign Language Interpreting for the deaf community.
IC News: Our biggest question is that although you two have been on a long road trip together, how is it you still seem so chipper? How did you maintain this big love fest on a family vacation? What’s your secret?
Beth (laughing with Daniel): This is my best buddy, my baby. Daniel is the youngest, so you know you have got to hold on to the baby as long as possible! But this has been really fun to talk about again. We appreciate the attention and all the support for our relationship and for Daniel's future.