Upper Iowa University Athletics Hall of Fame
David Ripley, class of 1962, was a two-year letterman for the Peacock wrestling team. Since graduating from UIU, he has had a distinguished career on the mat as a wrestling coach. He has been a teacher and a coach for the past 31 years, including 28 years at Riceville.
After spending one season as an assistant coach at South Tama, Ripley coached two years at Lamont before going to Riceville.
At Riceville, Ripley compiled a 244-71-1 record with 21 conference championships. He has also won numerous other tournament championshiups. In 1979, he was named the Class 2A Iowa Wrestling Coach of the Year. A year later, he led Riceville to a second place finish at the state dual meet. The Mason City Globe Gazette named him Area Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1984.
Ripley is also a past president of the Iowa Wrestling Coaches Association.
Furthermore, on top of wrestling Ripley has coached baseball for the past 11 years, compiling a record of 183-165-5 with five conference titles. In 1980, he was selected to serve as an assistant coach for the all-star game.
He also works with the football program and has been the junior high boys’ track coach for several years. In 1991, Ripley received the Iowa Football Coaches Association Junior High Football Coach Award.
