Ripon College Days

Issue date: 1/27/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Photo submitted Grit. Junior forward Martin Esters has played great off the bench for the Red Hawks while embracing the role of Sixth Man.

After a hot start to the conference season, the Ripon Men's Basketball team has hit the inevitable bump in the road. Prior to road games played at Lake Forest and Illinois College during the weekend of Jan. 22-24, the Red Hawks had played their way to a convincing spot at number two in the Midwest Conference standings, trailing only St. Norbert, and by only one game.

Throughout the first two months of the season, Ripon lost consecutive games only once. Head Coach Bob Gillespie's flock was flying high, riding a jet stream of momentum to a 9-3 (5-1) record. Not only was the team's record stellar, but talent on an individual level has proven to be sublime.

"I don't think our success has been about any one thing," said Gillespie. "Probably the biggest difference between this year's team and last year's is the improvements we've made on the defensive end."

The one-two punch of junior point guard Scott Gillespie and sophomore forward Aris Wurtz continues to amaze, as the two average around 40 points per game combined. Additionally, the Red Hawks have proven that on any given night, another player can soar to the front. Seasoned veterans such as forwards Alex Tomsheck and Martin Esters as well as guard Andy Perrine have proven to be scoring threats at any moment.

"I think that it is great that any number of those guys can have a break out game," said the younger Gillespie. "I really think it is hard for other teams to match up because we have a number of guys that can really have break out games."

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise for Ripon this season has been the development of first year guard Taylor Koth from Cedarburg, Wis. Koth has scored in double figures multiple times this season and worked his way into the starting lineup. Koth's positive contributions have gotten the attention of his coach. "Taylor is very athletic and has great strength. He's got a scorer's mentality and can defend very well on the perimeter."

And still, despite all this talent and potential, the Red Hawks were undoubtedly going to come across the inadvertent error; the proverbial pitfall.

Gillespie knew that things were going to get tougher. When asked about the weekend trip prior to departure, he seemed worried not only about basketball, but traveling. "We're going to be playing in Chicago on Friday night and then bussing four hours. We won't get in until 1 or 2 in the morning. It's gonna' be tough."

Continued...

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