Ripon Christian isn’t finished racking up the awards for the 2022-23 academic year.

This one is for the entire athletic program, as Cal-Hi Sports crowned the Knights as the Division V State School of the Year. One of the smallest schools in the Sac-Joaquin Section, Ripon Christian celebrated historic moments from the fall season to the spring, capturing six SJS titles and a state championship.

“We at Ripon Christian are very appreciative of Cal-Hi Sports’ recognition of the outstanding athletic achievements this school year,” Athletic Director and boys volleyball coach Kevin Tameling said. “It is a testament to the commitment and coordination of the coaches, student-athletes, and surrounding community. 

“Even if that same success on the court, field, and course is not duplicated in future years, Ripon Christian Athletics has been and will be committed to developing the student-athletes to be servant leaders that seek after Jesus Christ while competing for the glory of God.”

Orange County powerhouse Santa Margarita Catholic is the overall Cal-Hi Sports State School of the Year for the second time (1997-98).

Other schools recognized: De La Salle of Concord (boys sports only), Whitney of Rocklin (Division II), Campolindo of Moraga (Division III) and University of San Francisco (Division IV).

Led by MaxPreps All-American Jordan Vander Veen, Ripon Christian’s girls volleyball team rolled to its 18th SJS Division V championship and second California Interscholastic Federation state crown, finishing 35-6. The Knights were bumped up to the more competitive Division IV bracket for the state tourney and, as the No. 9 seed, had to knock off two higher-seeded schools in San Francisco and one in Cottonwood to reach the NorCal final, where they held on to defeat visiting Head-Royce from Oakland in the four games.

Ripon Christian logged 775 roundtrip miles for NorCals and trekked another 720 for the state final held at Santiago Canyon College in Orange. The Knights swept SoCal No. 1 seed Central Valley Christian in three competitive sets.

It’s the second overall state championship for the girls volleyball squad. Head coach Kayla Kootstra and assistant Melissa Blanco were players on the 1999 team that captured the Division V title.

Also in the fall, third-year coach Phil Grams and standout quarterback Trey Fasani delivered the first SJS football championship in school history.

The Knights (11-3) held off Woodland Christian in the SJS Division VII that proved costly, as three of their top players — two-way lineman Jacob Kowes, wide receiver Griffin de Abreu and tight end/defensive end Thys Van Der Hoek — went down with season-ending injuries.

Despite the key absences, RC more than held its own in its first-ever NorCal Bowl Game, ultimately falling to Trans-Valley League power Hughson 31-28 in Division V-AA after leading by 18 points through three quarters.

Productive outside linebacker and three-sport star Eli Terpsma, along with the ailing Van Der Hoek, quickly transitioned into the basketball season. They keyed Ripon Christian’s run to its 12th SJS banner earned after a thrilling 58-54 win over Fortune Early College at Golden 1 Center.

The Knights (26-8) won 18 straight en route to the NorCal Division V final. Within reach of a fifth all-time NorCal title for boys basketball, they were denied by Sierra of Tollhouse, 47-41.

Ripon Christian garnered three more Section titles in the spring.

Christian Manes’ boys golf team three-peated in the SJS Division VI

Tournament, making it six in all for the program. And it wasn’t close, as the Knights carded a 417 against runner-up Big Valley’s 486. Cade Van Groningen, the lone graduating senior on the team, led the way at 3-over-par 74 for second place. Wyatt Hayes earned MVP in the Southern Athletic League.

Tameling and the boys volleyball team successfully defended their SJS Division IV championship after playing through its toughest schedule yet, facing some of the top teams in the process.

The Knights (25-6) were anchored by All-SJS Team selections Joel Van Groningen and Josiah Reif, along with senior setter Justin Hofman, who is also the starting point guard on the basketball team. Ripon Christian coasted through the Section playoffs, sweeping Encina Prep in the end.

The NorCal Division IV champ a year ago, RC took a giant leap into the competitive Division II field this past spring. The fifth-seeded Knights dropped a five-set heartbreaker at No. 4 Moreau Catholic.

Lastly, Ripon Christian’s baseball team (23-8) had an exciting run to its second-ever Section championship, coming back to beat higher-seeded Woodland Christian in the best-of-three semifinal before routing Turlock Christian 11-3 in the Division VII final.

John de Visser’s talented Knights did not have power-hitting corner infielder Kowes all season as he continued his recovery from multiple knee injuries from football, but Southern League MVP Dustin Hoekstra, offensive spark plug Grant Sonke and Terpsma made up for the absence.

Ripon Christian got to compete in the NorCal baseball playoffs for the first time and was awarded the No. 1 seed in Division IV. The Knights knocked off Firebaugh 15-7 in a wild opener but lost to eventual champion Lowell 7-6 in the semifinal. Lowell is a much larger school out of San Francisco with close to 3,000 students.

Cal-Hi Sports recognized RC baseball as the Division V State Team of the Year.

Other noteworthy achievements for Ripon Christian:

• ·        The girls cross country team placed fourth in Division V in the SJS Championships.
• ·        The girls soccer team (19-3-3) reached the SJS Division VI semifinals.
• ·        The coed tennis team lost a 5-4 heartbreaker to Amador in a Division II semifinal, one year after making the final round for the first time in 33 years. In addition, the boys doubles team of Jaden Bohn and Drew Meester took second in the SJS Individual Coed Tournament, becoming the first Knights since 1993 to make the finals.
• ·        Freshman swimmer Faith Fasani made school history by winning the SJS frosh-soph 50-yard freestyle title. She also took second in the 100 free.