Dean’s List multiple times. “Jacob’s the best kicker in our conference and is one of the hardestworking players I’ve ever been around,” says Head Football Coach Ron Ernst. “He takes his craft very seriously, and he’s a true team player who is cool under pressure.” For Gahart, no kick is too long. He has made five kicks from 43 yards or longer, all of which rank among the 10 longest in school history. In Ripon’s final game this season, Gahart broke the school record for longest field goal with a 54-yarder. It is the second-longest kick in MWC history and was one of three field goals in that game, which ties another school record for most in a single game. “Not every coach puts his full confidence in a player like our coaching staff has done for me. Knowing they have that confidence makes me even more confident that I can make every kick,” Gahart says. Gahart treats every kick the same. In his world, a 50-yard field goal is the same length as an extra point. “Kicking is a little different than other positions,” Gahart says. “Some players get a little more jacked up for big games or moments, but I’m going to have the same focus on every field goal and make the kicks that I’m expected to make.”
2011
Fall Sports Highlights n
consecutive Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference (MWCCC) Division 2 championship. Junior ERIC SMITH and senior RENEE DEBRUIN claimed conference titles in the individual omnium. They were among five riders who qualified for the National Championships where Smith finished fourth in the individual omnium and freshman BEN SENKERIK finished third in the cross country race. The Red Hawks took eighth place among Division 2 schools, their best showing in three Nationals appearances. n
WOMEN’S GOLF: Ripon finished third at the MWC Championships. Sophomore KRISTIN CHRAMOWICZ held a team-best average of 93.2 strokes per round with three top-10 finishes to her credit. As a team, Ripon held the fourth lowest scoring average in the MWC with 374.6 in eight rounds.
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CROSS COUNTRY: Both men and women finished seventh at the MWC Championships held in Ripon’s Ceresco Prairie Conservancy. All-Conference performers were AJ THEW, CORY ZIMMERMAN and MICHELLE MATTER (who broke a school 6K record at 22:09). All three, plus GRACE WINTER, earned All-State, First-Team honors at the Wisconsin Private College Championships, where the women finished third and the men finished fifth.
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FOOTBALL: The Red Hawks notched their 17th consecutive winning season (6-4) and featured one of the best rushing attacks in the country, leading the MWC with 3,370 rushing yards (fourth in Division III and the second-highest total in school history). Four players were named All-Conference: senior offensive lineman KYLE SRNKA, junior kicker JACOB GAHART, senior fullback T.J. PIERCE and senior defensive lineman MATT SWITZLER. Senior quarterback MATT MILLER broke the career rushing touchdown mark with 41.
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MEN’S SOCCER: Junior mid-fielder ALVARO CALLE and senior defender KYLE WOLFF were named All-Conference.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER: Freshman forward BRANDI PELTIER was named AllConference. Peltier scored 25 goals, second in the MWC and a new school record for most in a season. Peltier also shattered school single-season marks for points (56) and hat tricks (3).
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VOLLEYBALL: All-Conference selection KARLYE WEHNER led the team in kills with 244 (2.65 kps). Senior ANDREA ZAK led the team with 425 assists, despite playing in just 15 of the team’s 28 matches due to injury. Zak finished ninth in school history with 868 career assists. Junior LISA AGUILAR moved into seventh on the all-time digs list with 1,067 in her career.
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By Mike Westemeier Sports Information Director n
Ripon Extra: ripon.edu/gahart
CYCLING: Ripon won its third
WOMEN’S TENNIS: Sophomore ELIZABETH AKE led the Red Hawks with a 9-5 record in singles play, competing mainly at the fifth flight. Ake also advanced further than any Ripon player at the MWC Championships, winning her fifth flight quarterfinal match 6-1, 6-2, before losing in the semifinals. W IWNITNETRE 2R0 21 02 1 2
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