RIPON, Wisconsin – After reaching the Midwest Conference semifinals for the third consecutive season, the Ripon men's tennis program has been picked to finish fifth in the league this season as the MWC Preseason Coaches Poll was announced on Wednesday morning.
Grinnell, who has won the last 18 Midwest Conference championships, has been selected to win the league once again in 2024. The Pioneers also enter the spring season ranked 36th in the national preseason rankings by the ITA.
In 2023, Ripon went 6-13 overall and 3-3 in MWC play before falling to the aforementioned Pioneers in the MWC Tournament semifinals. First-year head coach
Sam Brickley brings back eight players with collegiate tennis experience, highlighted by
Ty Rondestvedt,
Caleb Sippel and
Austin Stevens – the trio each had seven dual singles wins last spring. After taking a season off,
Jaden Francis returns for Ripon after sporting a 10-9 singles record during the 2021-22 season. One freshman,
Corey Mooney, joins the fold as well this spring.
Ripon opens the 2024 spring campaign on Saturday (February 3) as the Red Hawks face UW-La Crosse in Appleton at 12 p.m. The home opener for Ripon is Saturday, February 17 as the Red Hawks take on Wisconsin Lutheran at 9 a.m. and Wartburg at 3 p.m. inside the Willmore Center. The 2024 Midwest Conference Men's Tennis Team Tournament is slated for Friday, April 26 at the Nielsen Tennis Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
2024 Midwest Conference Preseason Poll
1. Grinnell (6 first-place votes) - 36 points
2. Lake Forest (1) - 31 points
3. Cornell - 26 points
4. Lawrence - 18 points
5. Ripon - 17 points
6. Illinois College - 13 points
7. Monmouth - 6 points
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