NDHSAA NEWS RELEASE - OCTOBER 24, 2024

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The North Dakota Officials Association (NDOA) announced the 54th induction class to its Hall of Fame as determined at its Fall Board of Directors meeting. The NDOA has inducted 166 officials into its Hall of Fame since the inaugural class in 1965. Plaques commemorating all Hall of Fame members are housed in the North Dakota Athletic Hall of Fame, located inside the Jamestown Civic Center. Inductees are:

David Klundt - Fargo

David Klundt is working his 43rd year as a registered official. He is currently officiating football and baseball. Klundt has dedicated his career to officiating for over four decades, registered in basketball for 41 years, football for 35 years, baseball for 25 years, and softball for three years.

Throughout his officiating journey, Klundt has had opportunities to contribute to the sports community. He served as a basketball workshop supervisor and completed two terms on the North Dakota Officials Association (NDOA) Board and served as a clinician at numerous basketball and football officiating camps. As a member of the Red River Valley Officials Association and currently the High Plains Officials Consortium, he has taken on responsibilities in assigning basketball officials and currently oversees and assigns baseball umpires. At North Dakota State University, he has taught several basketball and football officiating courses.

Klundt has had the opportunity to officiate 16 NDHSAA Class A Boys Basketball State Tournaments, five NDHSAA Class A Girls Basketball State Tournaments, one NDHSAA Class B Girls Basketball State Tournament, four Class A Boys Basketball State Championship games, has been the white hat for five NDHSAA Dakota Bowl Football State Championship games, one NDHSAA Class A Baseball State tournament, and one NDHSAA Class A Softball State Tournament. He also officiated many high school district and regional playoff games in basketball, baseball, and football.

In recognition of his dedication, Klundt was named the North Dakota High School Boys Basketball Official of the Year in 2008. Klundt also received the Special Recognition Award from the North Dakota High School Coaches Association in 2023. Klundt’s collegiate officiating career spans 35 years, during which he has officiated football, basketball, baseball, and softball at various levels, including JUCO, NAIA, NCAA Divisions II and III, and NCAA Division I women's basketball and baseball. His highlights include working many collegiate playoff games, including national quarterfinals in NAIA football and NCAA Division III women's basketball. 

Currently, Klundt serves as the supervisor of football officials for the NAIA North Star Conference.

In addition to his officiating career, Klundt has dedicated 35 years to the Fargo Park District, where he currently serves as the Aquatics and Recreation Manager. He resides in North Fargo with his wife, Heather, and they are proud parents to two daughters, Kathleen (21) and Jennifer (20).

Dale Weston - Fargo (formerly Sarles, ND)

Dale Weston began his officiating career in 1987, and was a registered official for 32 years, officiating boys and girls basketball for 32 years and high school football for 15 years. Weston is a native of Sarles, North Dakota, graduating from Border Central High School in 1985. He went on to complete his undergraduate and graduate degrees at North Dakota State University.

Weston worked his first District Tournament in 1993, working the District Boys Tournament in Williston, North Dakota. Weston would go on to officiate over 40 NDHSAA District and Regional basketball tournaments for both Class B and Class A boys and girls basketball. Weston officiated in 10 NDHSAA State Basketball Tournaments, working three state championship games. Weston also officiated one NDHSAA Dakota Bowl Football State Championship game in 2004 as the head linesman. Weston worked seven North Dakota Lion’s All-Star basketball games and had the privilege of officiating basketball for the Special Olympics. Weston was recognized as the North Dakota High School “Official of the Year” in boys basketball during the 2011-2012 season. Weston was the President of the Red River Valley Officials Association and served on the Board two different terms.

Weston also was a women’s collegiate basketball official for 17 years, working in the Northern Sun, MIAC, Dakota Athletic, Mon-Dak and MCC conferences. He worked Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA basketball.

Weston loved officiating high school basketball and cherishes the many relationships made with coaches, players, and fellow officials, who all made the job a complete joy. He thanks all of the past officials that gave so much time and effort to mentor him and helped him achieve this award. Weston always tried to “give back” and help younger officials in their careers. He is proud of those he helped along the way.

Weston acknowledges the great support he had along his career from his wife Kristi and daughters Paige and Bailey. Paige is a schoolteacher in Colorado Springs, Colorado and married to Stuart Jackson. They have one daughter, Finley Jackson. Bailey is a speech language pathologist at West Fargo Horace High School and is married to Alex Werk. They have one son, Cameron Werk.

Weston currently works as a farmland appraiser and a farmland real estate agent working in eastern North Dakota and NW Minnesota and resides in Fargo.

Rick Ripplinger - Bismarck

Rick Ripplinger began officiating in 1991 and was a registered official for 29 years. He started officiating as a way to give back to the sport that did so much for him.

During his time as an official, Ripplinger officiated hundreds of events across the upper Midwest including 25 NDHSAA Wrestling State Tournaments and 29 NDHSAA Regional Wrestling Tournaments. Ripplinger also worked many college events in North Dakota & Minnesota, including Regional and National Tournaments.

Ripplinger is currently the head girls wrestling coach at Bismarck Legacy High School.

Ripplinger and his wife Cindy own and operate Capital Trophy in Bismarck. They have five children, Lexi, Rylei, Logan, Reagan, and Ryan.