Karalyn Dehn '06 is one of the most decorated players in the history of Ripon's women's basketball team. A two-time First Team All-Conference selection, Dehn's career culminated as a senior when she became the program's third-ever Midwest Conference Player of the Year, earning First Team All-Region and Honorable Mention All-America honors that same season. Just as talented in the classroom as on the court, the Psychology major from Beaver Dam, Wis. also was named First Team Academic All-American during her senior season, while graduating summa cum laude. She was inducted into the Ripon College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.

"They say to surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher, so why not recruit a 6-foot-2, left-handed post player," legendary Women's Basketball Coach Julie Johnson said at the time of Dehn's Hall of Fame induction. "Karalyn lifted our program to new heights by holding herself to a higher standard of excellence both in the classroom and on the court."

That led Dehn to be selected as a finalist for the prestigious Jostens Trophy, which is given annually to one men's and one women's basketball player in Division-III. The award honors players for their outstanding academics, athletics, and community service involvement combined.

"Karalyn was a strong woman who was an honor to coach," Johnson said at Dehn's Hall of Fame induction. "She's truly a shining example of what a Division-III student-athlete should be."

Dehn used that same drive in the classroom that she used on the court, where she became one of just nine players in program history to score more than 1,000 points in her career, graduating with the second-highest point total in school history. Her 1,278 career points currently ranks third in the program, while she also still ranks sixth for career blocked shots (75) and ninth in rebounds (596). Dehn recorded 19 double-doubles during her storied career, which is tied for the second-most in program history.

The scary thing is that those numbers could have been so much better, as Dehn didn't become a starter until her junior season. Once she cracked the starting lineup, the rest is history, as she posted the top two single season scoring outputs in program history including a school record 439 points during her senior season, which saw her average a school record 18.3 points per game. That season also saw Dehn lead all of Division-III in field goal percentage (.652), one year after finishing third in the country with a FG percentage of .632. She still holds the top three single season field goal percentages in program history, while all four of her seasons rank in the top 10 in that category. In what was one of the greatest individual seasons in program history, Dehn also set a school record with 241 rebounds during her final season with the team.

"Karalyn was a graceful post player who finished in the paint and consistently rejected opponents who entered her turf," Johnson is on record as saying. "As a coach, I was guaranteed the jump ball possession every game with her in the lineup."

During her four years with the Red Hawks, the team compiled an overall record of 76-26, winning 81 percent of their conference games during that span, while never losing more than nine games in a season. They qualified for the MWC Tournament all four years, winning back-to-back conference championships in 2004 and 2005.

"My experience at Ripon College was a memorable one and taught me a lot about myself, while helping to develop my character and who I am as a person," Dehn said. "One of my favorite memories was winning the conference championship my junior year at St. Norbert College because it was quite an experience to upset them on their home court."

Like most players, Coach Johnson touched Dehn's life in a way few others did.

"Julie had a tenacious spirit and set high standards for both myself and our team. She expected me to put forth my best effort and pushed me to my limits in order to make me a better player and person," Dehn said. "Her love and knowledge for the game was respected and admired and she was a role model to me while teaching me lessons that I still use in life. I still think of Julie often and hope that I continue to make her proud."

Dehn also credits her late father for helping her become a tenacious basketball player and instilling her work ethic, strength, and drive that showed both on and off the court. She currently works in law enforcement, following in her father's footsteps.


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