APPLETON, Wis. - Ripon entered the Wisconsin Private College Championships Saturday afternoon with some stiff competition awaiting them. Fellow Midwest Conference schools Beloit, Carroll, Lawrence, and St. Norbert joined Carthage and Marquette for a dip in the pool. In the end, that competition was just too much for the Red Hawks, as the men finished sixth, while the women placed fifth.

Parker Heaps put up the best showing by a Red Hawk in the men's competition. Heaps finished second in the 500 Yard Freestyle with a time of 5:15.86. Heaps also placed third in the 1650 Yard Freestyle with a time of 18:03.45, earning six points for the Red Hawks. Ryan Hendricks also had a top three finish, as he swam a time of 1:06.73 in the 100 Yard Breaststroke, which was good enough for third place.

The women's team was led by the relay team of Erin Oakley, Laura Yunger, Davida Smith, and Becca LaClair. That team finished third in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay with a time of 1:55.53, earning the Red Hawks 12 points. The Red Hawks finished fifth as a team, in front of both Beloit College and Marquette University. Ripon was just three points behind fourth place St. Norbert College.

The Red Hawks will have next week off, before swimming in their final meet of the season. Ripon will compete at the Midwest Conference Championships at Grinnell on February 9-11.