Wisconsin's Ripon College announced it will offer cycling as a team sport for men and women beginning with competition in mountain biking next fall. The Red Hawk cycling team will compete at the Division 2 level as a member of the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference against colleges and universities from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio.
Ripon is the first college in Wisconsin to offer cycling as an officially sanctioned part of its athletic program and is only one of several throughout the country. Ric Damm will serve as the team's first cycling coach. He brings 10 years of racing experience with him as a regular participant of the Wisconsin Off Road Series (WORS) and various Wisconsin Cycling Association (WCA) road events.
