Bishop Stang Unveils New Tennis Courts After Decade-Long Wait

Donation from Hutchens Family allows high school to build new courts on campus.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:37pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a tennis court scene broken down into overlapping planes of navy, green, and gold, conveying the energy and excitement of the new athletic facility.The new tennis courts at Bishop Stang High School will provide a modern, on-campus facility for the school's teams and community.New Bedford Today

After nearly 10 years of having to travel to a public park in New Bedford for tennis practices and matches, Bishop Stang High School in Massachusetts has unveiled a new set of five tennis courts on its own campus, thanks to a $1.1 million donation from the Hutchens family.

Why it matters

The new courts provide a much-needed home facility for Bishop Stang's tennis teams, eliminating the time and logistical challenges of traveling to an off-campus location. The Hutchens' donation is the largest individual gift for a single project in the school's 67-year history.

The details

The old courts on the Bishop Stang campus were in poor condition and unsafe for student use, prompting the school to seek a solution. The Hutchens family, whose son played on the tennis team, recognized the need and decided to fund the project, which involved demolishing the old courts and constructing the new ones over several months.

  • The project began in late June or early July with the demolition of the old courts.
  • Construction finished at the end of October 2025.
  • The first match on the new courts was played on April 8, 2026.
  • The official ribbon cutting ceremony was held on April 9, 2026.

The players

Bishop Stang High School

A private Catholic high school located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

Hutchens Family

A local family who donated around $1.1 million to fund the construction of the new tennis courts at Bishop Stang.

Jason Hutchens

A member of the Hutchens family who recognized the need for new tennis courts when his son played on the Bishop Stang team.

Gisele Hutchens

A member of the Hutchens family who noted the importance of the new courts for the school and community.

James Benson

The President of Bishop Stang High School, who spoke at the ribbon cutting ceremony to acknowledge the Hutchens family's generosity.

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What they’re saying

“My wife and I and the kids thought it would be a great donation for the school, and for the campus, for the kids, just to be playing on their own campus versus the public park.”

— Jason Hutchens, Hutchens Family Member

“It's wonderful to see that it's going to be useful for years to come.”

— Gisele Hutchens, Hutchens Family Member

“Sixty-seven years later, we gathered to greatly acknowledge the extraordinary generosity of the Hutchens family.”

— James Benson, President, Bishop Stang High School

What’s next

The Bishop Stang tennis teams will continue to use the new courts for their home matches and practices, providing a much-improved experience compared to the previous decade of traveling to an off-campus location.

The takeaway

The Hutchens family's generous donation has transformed the tennis program at Bishop Stang High School, giving the student-athletes a state-of-the-art home facility and strengthening the school's athletic offerings for years to come.