Knox College Prairie Fire

Widely regarded as the heart of the team, Ripperger provided leadership and mentorship to teammates and was one of the central figures in Knox College baseball during the mid-1980s. A key contributor to the 1986 Midwest Conference Championship team, he served as team captain during his senior season, batting .488 with 13 home runs in 24 games.

Over his career, Ripperger was a two-time Team Captain, two-time Team MVP, and a three-time First Team All-Conference selection (1984–86). He was also recognized as a 1985 COSIDA Academic All-American, reflecting strong performance both athletically and academically.

Ripperger was part of the 1986 baseball team that earned Hall of Fame induction in 2019.