GREEN LAKE, Wis. - The Red Hawks lined up on their home course Saturday for the 2021 MWC Championships and turned in a historic performance totaling seven all-conference honors, which is the most in school history.  The women's team finished third overall for their best finish in 15 years (2nd in 2006), and tied the second-best team finish in school history (3rd in 2004).  The men's squad equaled their team finish from 2019 finishing in fourth place overall with 78 points.
 
Taking top honors for the Red Hawks was David Potter as he finished as the MWC Runner-Up, bettering his third-place finish from 2019.  Potter navigated the 8k course in 26:12, battling over the last 400m to hold on to his second-place finish.  Potter's second place finish is the best finish for a Ripon runner only to Dave Billings' individual title in 2005.
 
Junior Sam Forstner has also set a streak of All-MWC honors as he finished in the top-10 overall with a time of 21:17. That follows up his 16th place finish from his freshman year (no contest in 2020 due to COVID). Freshman Niko Martinez-Ortiz debuted in a big way as he finished inside the top-20 for All-MWC honors, crossing the line in 27:39 for 18th place.
 
Senior Makaila Weddle and a trio of teammates contributed to the excellent finish for the women.  Weddle was the top finishing Red Hawk for the third meet in a row as she finished seventh overall for the first All-MWC finish of her career.  Close behind Weddle was Natalie Pakosz and Mikayla Flyte, as they pushed each other through the challenging 6k course to both earn their first career All-MWC honors.  Pakosz finished in 10th place overall while Flyte was 11th, with times of 24:24 and 24:26.  Grace Engebretson then helped establish the school record total for All-MWC honors, as she willed her way to a top-20 finish, coming in 19th place with a time of 24:57 to give Ripon seven total All-MWC honors.
 
Ripon will host once more at Tuscumbia Country Club in six days as teams come for the Ripon Open on November 5.  Following the Ripon Open, both teams will travel back to Colfax, Wis. for the NCAA DIII North Region Championships for a chance to qualify to the NCAA DIII Championships.