Chris Morgan '01 played two sports at Ripon College and is one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of the school. On the baseball diamond, Morgan was a four-time First Team All-Conference selection and a First Team All-Region performer as a senior. That helped Ripon win the MWC Championship all four years Morgan was on the team, while also qualifying for the NCAA Tournament three times. He was also part of two MWC Championship basketball teams, while helping Ripon to two NCAA Tournament appearances on the hardwood. Morgan was inducted into Ripon's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.

"Chris was one of the few players that I was able to coach in both basketball and baseball," legendary Ripon Coach Bob Gillespie said. "He was a great pitcher, so after his sophomore year, he decided to devote all his energy into baseball."

And what a wise decision that was, as Morgan went on to become arguably the greatest pitcher in Ripon College baseball history. Twenty years after his graduation, Morgan still holds school records for career wins (27), strikeouts (262), and complete games (33). He also graduated with a school record four shutouts, which is currently tied for second in program history, while ranking sixth all-time in Earned Run Average (3.04). One of the best pitchers in MWC history, Morgan ranks second in the conference for career complete games, while also ranking second in wins and fourth in strikeouts.

A native of nearby Eldorado, Wis. and a product of Laconia High School, Morgan was arguably the best pitcher on the team from the day he stepped on campus. As a freshman, he finished with a 5-1 record, including four complete games, 25 strikeouts, and a team-best ERA of 4.27. He followed that up with a sophomore campaign which saw him go 7-5 with eight complete games, one shutout, and an ERA of 2.55.

After dedicating himself to only baseball after his sophomore season, Morgan's career really began to take off, going 6-5 as a junior with 79 strikeouts, which is the second highest total in program history, and an ERA of 3.63, while recording a complete game in all 10 of his starts. He then saved his best for last as a senior with what is arguably the greatest season by a pitcher in program history. In his final season, Morgan finished with single season school records of 9 wins, 101 strikeouts, and 11 complete games, to go along with three shutouts and a career-best ERA of 2.31.

During Morgan's four years, Ripon compiled a cumulative record of 97-56 under the leadership of legendary head coach Gordie Gillespie. One of the signature moments of Morgan's career came in his last start as a Red Hawk at the 2001 NCAA Regional Tournament, hosted by UW-Oshkosh.

"The best win of Chris' career was when he defeated eventual national champion St. Thomas 6-4 in that double-elimination tournament," Bob Gillespie recalled. "It's just too bad that we couldn't have him ready to pitch the very next game, a loss to the same St. Thomas team, when we played them a second time in that tournament."

In his two years as a member of Ripon's men's basketball team, Morgan appeared in 42 career games, recording 54 points, 32 rebounds, and 26 assists, while shooting 34 percent (13-38) from 3-point range.

Morgan and his wife Lindsay have been married for 13 years.


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