Rick Ripplinger Takes Over as BSC Women's Wrestling Head Coach
Bismarck State College has welcomed a new head coach to their women’s wrestling team, Capital Trophy owner and former Legacy High School girls’ wrestling coach Rick Ripplinger. Ripplinger joined the college in May and has already begun working to recruit women for the team, which will be entering its second season in the fall.
Ripplinger himself wrestled from 6th grade through his fifth year at Valley City State University, where he received a degree in education. His work drew him into a career in the construction industry and eventually into an entrepreneurial role when he bought Capital Trophy, a company he co-owns with his wife, Cindy.
Throughout that journey, wrestling remained a part of Ripplinger’s life. He helped out at wrestling youth programs and officiated the sport for 31 years. He said his own son’s wrestling path helped him fulfill some of his desire for
coaching.
“[Coaching] was something I’d always wanted to do, but [I] never had an opportunity,” Ripplinger said. That was, until his purchase of Capital Trophy brought more flexibility to his life. Then, in 2022, a coaching job opened up at Legacy High School for their girls’ wrestling team. Although he said coaching girls’ wrestling was not something he originally planned for, he took the role.
“Of all of the decisions I’ve made in my life, coaching girls’ wrestling was one of the best decisions I ever made,” Ripplinger said.
There, his work found early success. Led by Rippplinger, the team ended up with 33 placements at state and 10 state championships. Most recently, he helped lead the team to a 2026 state championship win, one of the many achievements that factored into his receiving the 2026 WDA Coach of the Year Award.
“We built something special there,” Ripplinger said of his time with the team. “We were able to develop girls that were in the hall one day and had wrestling shoes on the next, and a few months later, they were placing at the state tournament.” Ripplinger said when BSC’s previous women’s wrestling coach was let go, several people reached out recommending Ripplinger take the role. Although he said he never expected to coach at BSC, he accepted. Ripplinger said he is confident that he will be able to build a successful team.
“To win a national championship at BSC, that’s the goal. I have no doubt in my mind that that’s possible here. … We’re gonna be a good team.”
He said he looks forward to meeting new team members and fostering a team culture centered around hard work, mutual goals, and supportive relationships—a camaraderie he was able to establish at Legacy High School.
“We’re gonna build the same thing here,” Ripplinger said. “I like seeing the progress. What do we start with and what do we end with? … That’s really rewarding.”
Those interested in joining the BSC women’s wrestling team can sign up by going to the Bismarck State Athletics website and finding the women’s
wrestling page.
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