Dec 16, 2008 - Claremont, Calif. - Harvey Mudd College student and 2007-08 Athlete of the Year Jenni Rinker ‘11 was named Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SCIAC) Female Athlete of the Week for December 1-7.

Rinker, a sophomore from Eagle River, Alaska, who competes on the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) swimming team, won three individual events and was on two winning relays as the Athenas beat Caltech at home 165-52 and won at Pomona-Pitzer 163-77 during that week.

In the team’s win over Caltech, Rinker won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:59.06, and was on the winning 200-yard freestyle relay (1:45.37). She was the only woman to win three events against Pomona-Pitzer. She won the 50-yard freestyle (25.29) and 200-yard backstroke (2:11.96) and had the fastest split (53.47) on the winning 400-yard freestyle relay that set a Haldeman Pool record with a time of 3:39.67.

Rinker is the SCIAC record holder in the 200-yard backstroke and the reigning SCIAC champion in the 100-yard backstroke. She was also a member of four SCIAC championship relay teams last year and was named honorable mention All-American for her individual and relay performances at the National College Athletic Association Division III championships.

“Jenni does a great job of managing HMC’s intense academic load and swimming’s demanding practice schedule,” said Charlie Griffiths, head swimming coach and assistant professor of physical education for CMS. “It is not an easy task, but Jenni knows she’s at her best as a student and as an athlete when she can fit both into her day; that balance is critical for her.

“Jenni has come up big for the CMS Athenas at conference and nationals and also in several important dual meets for us in the past season and a half. She loves to race and competitive environments bring out her best.”