RIPON, Wis. - A lot of athletes grow up dreaming of becoming a conference player of the year in one sport. Tom Becker '05 doubled down on that dream, as he was named Midwest Conference Player of the Year in both soccer and basketball for the Ripon Red Hawks. With both of Becker's older brothers playing at an All-Conference level for Ripon's soccer team in the 1990s, Tom entered Ripon in their shadows, but by the time his career was finished he had made a name for himself. He joined his brother Matt in Ripon's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015, the first year he was eligible.
"Because of my brothers, I've always taken on a role of great responsibility," Becker said. "Facing challenges every day to meet those standards and expectations in both school and athletics is something I've taken great pride in my entire life."
One of the best soccer players in school history, Becker was a First Team-All-Conference selection both years that he played. He finished his career as the school record holder for assists (20), currently ranking second, while also recording the second-most goals in school history (31). Becker's career was highlighted by his 2004 season, which saw him set single season school records that still stand today for goals (21), assists (11), points (51), goals per game (1.31), and points per game (3.19), en route to conference player of the year honors. He also broke a school record with six goals in a game against Monmouth College that season.
"To say that Tommy had a storied career, would be like saying Aaron Rodgers is just a regular quarterback," legendary Ripon basketball coach Bob Gillespie said. "That's how good of a player Tommy was at both sports."
As great as his career statistics were, the amazing thing is that he accomplished them in just two years of soccer and three years of basketball. Originally a walk-on for Bruce Pearl's basketball team at UW-Milwaukee, Becker played four games for the Panthers as a freshman. One factor in his decision to transfer was the opportunity to play both sports at Ripon, while also having a familiarity with Coach Gillespie, who had heavily recruited him out of high school and had coached his brother, Matt.
Despite playing just three seasons for the Red Hawks, Becker is one of only 32 players in Ripon men's basketball history to score more 1,000 career points, ranking 29th with 1,043. A native of Delavan, Wis., he also ranks second for career steals with 162, which was a school record at the time of his graduation, and sixth in assists (326). Just months after receiving the MWC Men's Soccer Player of the Year award, Becker added Men's Basketball's POY award to his mantle as a senior. That season saw him score 516 points, ranking 16th in program history for a single season, while breaking the school record for steals in a season with 67, which was nearly three per game. He was selected as Second Team All-Region and Honorable Mention All-American at the conclusion of that season. Becker also earned Ripon's S.N. Pickard Award, given to the best all-around male and female athlete on the basis of athletic ability, scholarship, character, and college loyalty.
"Tom was an outstanding point guard," Gillespie said. "One year, he played all 40 minutes in a game against Grinnell's up-tempo offense. With about 30 seconds left in the game, Tommy stole the ball, drove the length of the court, jumped up with two feet and dunked the ball for what was probably the only dunk of his career. Our entire team stood up with their mouths open, thinking 'there's no way anyone would have the energy and stamina to do that after playing 40 minutes against Grinnell. Our team forgot though...this was Tommy Becker. He made plays, he scored goals, and he continued to amaze everyone during his entire career."
For Becker, all the awards and accolades are great, but there is one moment and honor that stands out to him still to this day, which happened to come in defeat.
"After we lost the conference championship game at the end of my senior year, I was standing in the middle of the court, not believing that my college career was officially over. Coach Gillespie then came up to me, gave me a hug, and told me that he loves me," Becker said. "Throughout the years, as I've replayed that game millions of times in my head, I always end up with a smile on my face because I realized at that moment that I was one of Coach's guys and that is the highest award that I'll ever achieve in my athletic career."
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