Nicole Zeman Stangl '17 graduated from Ripon College with eight school records for Ripon's women's track & field team, which includes three relays. A three-time conference champion in the Outdoor 400m Hurdles, Stangl qualified for Nationals in that event during her junior season.

As a sophomore, Stangl began to scratch the surface of what she was capable of, finishing third in the 60 meter hurdles at the 2015 Midwest Conference Championships with a time of 9.76. She followed that up during outdoor season that year by winning her first of three consecutive conference championships in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:05.38. Of her three conference titles, that one is arguably the most special, as Stangl was able to accomplish that feat in front of her friends and family at the friendly confines of Ripon's Ingalls Field.

"Hosting the Outdoor Conference Meet in 2015 is one of the best memories I have from my time at Ripon College," Stangl said. "Meet day is always high energy and exciting, but it's so much better to be on your home turf and have a stronger fan section, especially during the conference meet."

As a junior, Stangl again won the Outdoor 400m hurdles at the conference meet with a time of 1:04.81. One week later, she competed at UW-La Crosse's "Last Chance" meet, where she ran a 400m Hurdles time of 1:02.27, which still stands as a school record. That helped her qualify for Nationals in the event, which was hosted by Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

"Competing at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Division III National Track Meet was very rewarding because I was able to see all the work I had put in over the years pay off," Stangl said. "The caliber of athletes competing at that meet was astounding and I had teammates that made the drive to support me, which was a truly special experience."

Stangl would complete the trifecta at the MWC's outdoor meet the following year, winning the 400m hurdles again with a time of 1:04.29. She credits a lot of the success she experienced as a student-athlete to her coach during all four of her years, Kevin Rengo.

"Coach Rengo was such a versatile coach based on his experience as a Decathlete and he not only provided workouts to help me excel, but he explained the science behind the workout programs, which I still carry and use in my life today," Stangl said. "Coach Rengo was influential during my time as a student-athlete because he had compassion for each member of our team and cared about us as people, while wanting us to succeed both on and off the track."

Not only was Stangl a terrific athlete, but she was arguably even more successful in the classroom. A four-time Academic All-Conference performer, she won the MWC's Elite 20 Award during each of her final two years, given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average, participating in his or her respective sport's culminating championship or tournament event. Stangl capped her career by earning a spot on the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team during her senior year.

"Being a student-athlete at Ripon College allowed me to pursue my passion while I completed my educational studies and worked toward my professional goals," Zeman said. "It allowed me to grow as an athlete and as a person. I was taught skills like resilience and perseverance, but also time management and other practical life skills."

A Business Management and Politics & Government major from Sussex, Wis., Stangl was a member of Ripon's Presidential Leadership Program and Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, while also serving as a member of Ripon's Pre-Law Society.

After graduation, Stangl went on to earn a Doctor of Law degree from University of St. Thomas School of Law. She has served as an Associate Attorney for Ruder Ware since June of 2020. She and her husband Mason, who is a Ripon native and played basketball for the Red Hawks, currently reside in Wausau, Wis.


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