Hutchinson News

Saying goodbye
Family and friends mourn loss of Hutch student whose life touched many.By Kathy Hanks - The Hutchinson News - khanks@hutchnews.com

Chris Sullivan broke his personal record in pole-vaulting this track season. Earlier in the winter he placed third in 6A state wrestling.

The 17-year-old Hutchinson High School junior was currently setting a goal to take first in wrestling next year.

His mother, Jenny Sullivan, describes her son as a disciplined athlete who could be ornery at times.

On Tuesday, family and friends were grieving, in disbelief, trying to understand the unfathomable: Why had Chris attempted suicide Friday, leaving his loved ones to gather around him at Wichita's Wesley Medical Center, waiting for his passing?

"We called people in to say their goodbyes," she said.

By Tuesday evening, people were still coming.

"He was a big-hearted, fun-loving, sometimes ornery kid," his mother said. "He cared about everybody."

Chris is the son of Jenny and John Sullivan and the brother of Nicole and Trevor Sullivan.

She didn't realize the magnitude of his connections until the people began pouring into the hospital. Chris' life touched hundreds of people - classmates, coaches and church family have been flocking to his side to say their goodbyes.

"I wish I knew why he did this," said Jonathan Peterson, a classmate and wrestling buddy. "This was totally out of the blue."

He described Chris as a brother who was always there for him, bringing him up when he was down.

"He was an amazing kid and an amazing wrestler," Peterson said.

Shane Goetz, another friend and HHS wrestler, also stayed by Chris' side.

"He was one of those people you always wanted to be around," Goetz said. "He'll never be forgotten. I'll just always remember the good times."

The suddenness has blindsided everyone, including Mike Garcia, his wrestling coach.

"I never, never saw it coming," Garcia said. "I was just talking to him on Thursday about things that were coming up in June and July."

Setting goals and working toward them were part of Chris' character, Garcia said.

"It has been real tough. He was a favorite and was fun to work with. He had that wrestler's mentality. He was somewhat fearless and wanted to do his best."

While this spring's windy weather made pole-vaulting even more of a challenge, Chris managed to break his record by vaulting 12 feet, said Hutchinson High School head track coach Bret Eckert.

"He was passionate about pole vaulting," Eckert said. "When Chris found something he liked to do, he went after it full force."

He was also the kid who kept things lively over at the pole-vaulting pit.

"Chris was a free spirit," Eckert said, though well-grounded. "The kids knew where they stood with him. He would tell you how he felt whether you wanted to hear it or not. He was not afraid to offer his opinion."

Along with wrestling and track, Sullivan also played soccer.

It's a tragedy that no one can understand, Eckert said.

An active member of South Hutchinson Christian Church, Chris helped serve communion, was active in Kids for Christ and was the main puppeteer in the church puppet program.

"He was so good with kids, portraying Bobbie the Puppet," said his pastor, Jeff Arnold. "I challenged him to go to bible college. He would have made a fine young minister; he was a good man already."

"Through the puppet Bobbie, he told the kids at his church to love Jesus and have a relationship with Jesus and believe he died on his cross for our sins."

Arnold said comfort comes in the fact that he was a Christian.

"Let's not pass up an opportunity to speak well of others, let's encourage and not tear down, and let's not be so focused on ourselves that we don't see the pain in others," Arnold said. "If we do that, Chris' memory can live on."

After Sullivan dies, his organs will be harvested, with his family's hope that others could live through Chris' death.

"He was young and healthy and it seemed like a fitting outcome," Jenny Sullivan said, as she continued to keep a vigil by her son.

A concert of prayer, originally scheduled to pray for Chris' recovery, will be held at 7 p.m. today at South Hutchinson Christian Church, at the corner of First Avenue and Poplar Street in South Hutchinson,

"We'll be praying for Chris' family and friends, and everyone who knew him and is grieving at this time," Arnold said.

Through her immediate grief and shock, Jenny Sullivan urged young people that if they are feeling suicidal to please talk to someone.

"There is no problem that should come to this," she said.