BELOIT, Wis. -- The Ripon College men's and women's swimming & diving teams delivered a strong midseason showing at the three-day Beloit College Midseason Invite, competing Friday and Saturday against a field of five programs. With multiple A-final swims, season and personal bests across the roster, and impactful performances on the boards, the Red Hawks continued to build confidence heading toward the winter phase of the season.

The Ripon women put together one of their strongest collective efforts of the season, finishing third of five with a team score of 526. The Red Hawks received major contributions across strokes and event groups, helping them maintain a firm grip on third place throughout Saturday's finals.

Ripon's sprint group led the way, highlighted by strong finishes from freshman Peyton Washington (Milwaukee, Wis., Divine Savior Holy Angels) and senior Natalie Weidner (Portage, Wis., Portage HS), who both reached the A final in the 50 and 100 freestyle. Washington placed second in the 100 free and third in the 50 free, while Weidner added two top-four finishes of her own, giving Ripon critical points in the sprint events.

In the backstroke and distance races, senior Grace McCrery (Marion, Ohio, Harding HS) and junior Ella Olive (Menominee, Mich., Marinette HS) each advanced to finals in both the 200 backstroke and 500 freestyle. Sophomore Kiarra Kahl (Monona, Wis., Monona Grove HS) also provided a lift for Ripon in the middle-distance events, reaching the A finals in the 200 breaststroke and 200 IM while turning in one of her strongest weekends of the season.

The women continued to shine in the IM events as well, with junior Lily McGuire (Crystal Lake, Ill., Crystal Lake South HS) picking up a finals appearance in the 200 IM, helping Ripon close out the meet strong. With finalists spread across nearly every discipline, the Red Hawks showed both depth and balance in one of their most complete meets to date.

The Ripon men finished fifth with 214 points, powered by several standout individual performances and a surge in finals swims.

Leading the way in the pool was senior Cooper Herr (Ashwaubenon, Wis., Ashwaubenon HS), who continued his strong fall season with a runner-up finish in the 100 freestyle and a second-place showing in the 500 freestyle. Herr's consistency in both sprint and distance events gave Ripon valuable scoring in some of the meet's most competitive fields.

Senior Brendan Kile (Verona, Wis., Verona Area HS) also stepped up with multiple finals appearances, scoring in the 100 fly, 100 free, and 200 IM across the two-day stretch. Senior Sean Rath (Glen Ellyn, Ill., Glenbard West HS) added more depth for the Red Hawks with a finals swim in the 100 free and another scoring performance in the 200 IM.

One of the weekend's biggest moments came on the diving boards, where junior Corey Mooney (Greenfield, Wis., Greenfield HS) delivered a second-place finish on the 1-meter board. His performance marked one of the highest individual placings for the Red Hawks and provided key Saturday points for the men's side.

Despite competing only Friday and Saturday, the Red Hawks made the most of their opportunities, earning both season and personal bests, building on valuable race experience, and earning several top-three finishes across both teams. With momentum building, Ripon now shifts its focus toward winter training and the next phase of the season.

The Red Hawks next competition is Saturday, Jan 17, at home against Lawrence and Carroll. The Double Dual starts at 11 am.