Hall of Fame
Bill Sipperly was one of the most dominant midfielders of Hobart’s early NCAA championship era, a faceoff specialist whose toughness, possession control, and scoring ability helped propel the Statesmen to national prominence and multiple titles.
A central figure in Hobart’s rise to the top of Division III lacrosse, Sipperly anchored the midfield during a remarkable stretch that saw the Statesmen reach four consecutive NCAA tournaments, play in three national championship games, and capture the 1980 and 1981 national titles. His ability to control possession at the faceoff X provided Hobart with a consistent competitive advantage, often setting the tone for the Statesmen’s high-tempo, disciplined style of play.
Sipperly’s dominance was recognized nationally during his senior season in 1981, when he received the Iroquois Nationals Award as Division III Player of the Year and the Fran McCall Award as the nation’s top midfielder. Those honors reflected both his individual excellence and his central role in one of the most successful teams in program history. He also earned All-America recognition as part of a Hobart squad considered the era’s elite.
While exact faceoff statistics from the era are incomplete, contemporary reports placed Sipperly’s career success rate well above 67 percent—an extraordinary mark that underscores his technical skill, strength, and competitive focus. His impact extended beyond faceoffs; he contributed 43 career goals and nine assists, including a standout senior season in which he produced 26 goals and seven assists, illustrating his ability to influence games offensively as well as in possession battles.
Perhaps the clearest measure of Sipperly’s influence is found in his work on loose balls. He finished his career with 334 ground balls, a total that still ranks among the best in program history despite missing complete statistical records from his final season. His relentless pursuit of possession embodied the physical, disciplined identity that defined Hobart lacrosse during its championship ascent.
Sipperly closed his collegiate career in fitting fashion, leading the North to victory in the prestigious North-South Senior All-Star Game while winning 10 of the 15 faceoffs he took—one final demonstration of the skill set that made him one of the top midfielders of
his generation.
In addition to his lacrosse success, Sipperly also contributed to Hobart football for two seasons, underscoring the athletic versatility and competitive drive that defined his time in Geneva.
Following graduation, Sipperly’s accomplishments continued to be recognized within the lacrosse community, including induction into the US Lacrosse Hudson Valley Chapter Hall of Fame. His legacy at Hobart endures as that of a possession-defining midfielder whose work at the faceoff X helped fuel championship runs and establish the program’s national reputation.
