On Thursday, May 15, 2025, Quakertown seniors Garis Tocco & Freddy Hipple were recognized for committing to compete in lacrosse at the collegiate level. (Photos provided courtesy of Jennifer Banas/QCHS)
Coach Tony Carty: “You could not talk about two more different people than Fred and Garis. Fred said 12 words all season, and Garis said 12 words on stage while you weren’t listening. They’re completely different people yet they’ve all come to the same place in their life where they decided to play college athletics. It doesn’t happen by accident. The people (who do it) have worked hard. They’ve done countless hours of practice. They’ve been with their teams, they’ve loved their teams, sometimes they’ve argued with their teams, and sometimes they’ve complained with their teams, but like a big family, this is what happens.”
Freddy Hipple – Wilkes University (Lacrosse)
Major: Undeclared Science
Final list of colleges: Wilkes, King’s, Penn College of Technology
Reasons for choosing Wilkes: “I really liked the community, the chance to play lacrosse, and I was very interested in their engineering program.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in lacrosse at the collegiate level? “I started 
playing lacrosse my freshman year, and I really enjoyed the sport and knew I wanted to continue playing it at the next level. My recruiting process started with me going to club lacrosse tournaments which college coaches were scouting at.”
Coach Tony Carty: “Fred was one of those kids that literally played almost every single position on the field in lacrosse. We had him face off, we had him play midfield. I pulled him back on defense. Pretty much the only thing I didn’t do to Fred was put him in the cage, and I thought about doing that a few times as well. Fred is one of those kids - we have a motto in lacrosse, and I don’t even think Fred or his parents know this, and ‘It’s hustle, hit and never quit.’ It’s literally Fred. The coaching staff sat down after our first couple years coaching, and we decided there had to be something that we had to say, some motto we had to live by. Fred and a few others on the team came to mind, and that’s where that motto came from. Fred’s going to do great. I know that because he comes to practice every single day and works, and he works, and he works, and he works non-stop. I know him as a human being. I know his parents – they’re wonderful people, and I’m sure Fred, on the next level, will do awesome things professionally, but also make some very happy coaches at Wilkes.”
About Freddy:
Favorite food: Seafood
Favorite TV show: The Office
Favorite music: N/A
Garis Tocco – Lycoming College (Lacrosse)
Major: Business
Final list of colleges: Lycoming, Delaware Valley, Centenary
Reasons for choosing Lycoming: “To continue my lacrosse career”
What was the progression that led you to competing in lacrosse at the collegiate level? “Lycoming gave me a good opportunity to continue playing the sport I love as well as getting an education.”
Coach Tony Carty: “Garis started with baseball, and baseball didn’t work out, so he came to me about a week into lacrosse season in 10th grade and said, ‘I’d like to play lacrosse.’ I said, ‘Have you ever played lacrosse before.’ He’s like, ‘No.’ I said, ‘Do you really want to play?’ He said, ‘I just want to do something.’ Over the next three years, I have had some of the most endearing and probably angry conversations with Garis that you could ever have, but what I do know about him is this – the things that make him challenging are the things that make him great. Isn’t that the way kids are? They start off these little sixth graders that came through with all the challenges that they have, and every single aspect of their personality becomes the best aspect of their adulthood. And that’s what I think for all these kids, but especially my two. They’re part of the Quakertown lacrosse family. They will always be welcomed back here, and one day, I hope one of them is head coach of the program because once a Panther always a Panther.”
About Garis:
Favorite food: Chicken Wings
Favorite TV show: Criminal Minds
Favorite artist: Ian
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