June 19, 2009

RIPON, Wis. – Ripon College will see their athletic Hall of Fame expand to 120 members at Alumni Weekend, June 26-28, with the addition of three former student-athletes. The new additions include two-sport stars Matt Becker '99 and Crystal Helm '97 and former running back Don Roca-Dawson '94. All three of them left their mark in their respective sports at Ripon and will be honored with their induction into the Hall of Fame at the Alumni Awards dinner on Friday, June 26 at 4 p.m. in Pickard Commons on the campus of Ripon College.

Matt Becker '99

Becker excelled at both soccer and basketball during his time at Ripon College, accumulating many prestigious awards during his career. As a soccer player, he was voted First-Team All-Conference, while leading the team to conference championships in both his junior and senior seasons. He also received First Team All-State honors during his junior season. On the basketball court, Becker was named Second Team All-Conference as a junior and First Team All-Conference as a senior, helping Ripon to a conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in both of those years. He is sixth in school history in career steals (137) and free throw percentage (.816).

"To have a place on the wall with so many other unbelievable athletes and coaches is truly humbling. I can honestly say that athletics at Ripon was and is a huge part of my life," Becker said. "The lifelong friends I have made and experiences I had are things that I will treasure forever. Ripon College is a special place and to be recognized in this way means a great deal to me." 

A native of Delavan, Wis., Becker currently works as an insurance agent for Johannesen Farrar Inc. He also serves on the Lakeland Safety Council, the Education Committee of the Lakeland Builders Association and the Board of Directors of the Delavan-Darien School District Foundation. Becker resides in Milwaukee, Wis. with his wife, Kelly Johnson-Becker '99.

Crystal Helm '97

Helm competed in both basketball and track & field for the Red Hawks. As a basketball player, Helm was named Second Team All-Conference during her junior and senior seasons. As a sophomore, during the 1995-96 season, she helped Ripon capture their first-ever Midwest Conference Championship. She still ranks among Ripon's career leaders in blocked shots (32) and rebounds (619). In track, Helm was a four-time NCAA National qualifier in the javelin. She earned NCAA All-American honors in 1995, while also being honored as the Overall Outdoor MVP in 1996 and the Outdoor Field MVP in 1995, 1997 and 1998.

Helm hails from Brillion, Wis. and currently works as a physical education/health teacher for the Seymour (Wis.) Community School District. She has been a varsity level coach or assistant coach for volleyball, swimming, basketball and track & field. Helm currently resides in Menasha, Wis.

"It is a great honor to be inducted into the Ripon College Athletic Hall of Fame and be among so many prestigious athletes. To be among some of the greatest athletes to have gone through Ripon College says a lot and is just unbelievable," Helm said. "I look back at what Ripon helped me achieve and I cannot say enough about how lucky I was to have the opportunity to participate in basketball, track & field, and receive an extraordinary education all in one. I want to thank everyone who has made this dream come true for me as an Alumnus of Ripon College and now a Ripon College Athletic Hall of Fame Athlete."

Don Roca-Dawson '94

Dawson's name can still be seen towards the top of the Ripon College football record books. He is tied for the school record for career rushing touchdowns (39), while ranking second in career rushing yards (3,812) and all-purpose yards (4,238). As a senior, Dawson ran for 1,482 yards and 16 touchdowns, both of which rank second for a single season in school history. He also set several single-game records during his career, including two during a game against Knox College in 1993. During that game, he set new school records, which still stand today, by rushing for 293 yards and five touchdowns. That performance earned him Player of the Week honors in both Don Hansen and USA Today publications. In 1993, he was named All-American and All-Conference. Dawson was regularly listed as a division leader for yards per carry in the NCAA News publication and several of his records are still listed in the Midwest Conference Football Record Book.

Dawson began his football career in Glen Rose, Texas and is currently the chair of the Incarnation Parish's ministry to the unemployed, "Connections". Dawson lives in Orland Hills, Ill. with his wife, Carrie Roca-Dawson '94.