Bismarck State College Names Rick Ripplinger Head Women’s Wrestling Coach
Bismarck State College has announced Rick Ripplinger as the second head women’s wrestling coach in program history, adding an experienced North Dakota wrestling figure to lead the Mystics. Ripplinger will oversee the entire women's wrestling program as the team looks to build on its inaugural season, which featured a pair of All-Americans in Rei Ogden and Alexis Schneider.
A native of Rugby, North Dakota, Ripplinger brings a deep background in the sport as both an athlete and coach. He was a four-year standout wrestler in Rugby before continuing his career at Valley City State University, where he was a four-year starter. During his time at Valley City State, he earned conference championships and numerous team awards while completing a Bachelor of Science in Physical and Health Education.
Ripplinger also built a long record of service in wrestling officiating, working high school and college matches across the upper Midwest. That work earned one of the sport’s notable state honors when he was inducted into the North Dakota Officials Hall of Fame in 2025. His broad perspective in the sport, from athlete to official to coach, gives Bismarck State a leader with experience in multiple areas of wrestling competition and development.
Most recently, Ripplinger led the girls wrestling program at Legacy High School in Bismarck, beginning in 2022. In four seasons, his teams produced four top-four finishes at the North Dakota state tournament, including a state championship in 2026. Legacy wrestlers also recorded 33 state place-winning performances during that stretch and reached 10 state championship matches. Ripplinger was recognized for that success as the 2026 WDA Coach of the Year.
At Bismarck State, Ripplinger steps into a role that will require both program leadership and day-to-day competitive direction. His track record suggests an emphasis on accountability, preparation and sustained performance, qualities the Mystics will look to carry into their next phase under his leadership. The hire gives BSC a coach with strong in-state ties and a recent record of building a winning girls wrestling program.
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