Jake Rifenburg

Height:
6-2
Weight:
195
Position:
LHP
Class:
First-Year
Hometown:
Downers Grove, Ill.
High School:
Benet Academy

Career Highs:
Innings Pitched……………….................…5.1, last vs Michigan State (4/3/26)
Strikeouts……………………………............5, vs Michigan State (4/3/26)
Fewest Hits Allowed (min. 5 IP)..................4, last vs Michigan State (4/3/26)
Fewest Earned Runs Allowed (min. 5 IP)...1, at Oregon (3/21/26)

2026: Recorded his first career win after throwing 3.1 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit in a 5-4 win over Boston College (2/21) … Improved his record to 2-0 after receiving the win against Omaha (3/7) … Set and matched a career high in innings pitched against No. 21 Oregon (3/21) and Michigan State (4/3) with 5.1 innings of work and no walks in each game … Set a career high in strikeouts (five) against Michigan State (4/3) … Posted at least 2.0 innings and 0 walks against Rice (2/13), No. 5 Georgia Tech (2/28), Omaha (3/7), No. 21 Oregon (3/21) and Michigan State (4/3) … Set a career high in strikeouts (six) against Purdue (4/10).

High School: Posted a 1.28 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 60 innings as a senior … Ranked the #12 left-handed pitcher in Illinois by Perfect Game … Earned first-team All-Conference and All-Area in his junior and senior seasons … Racked up 70 strikeouts in 54 innings for a 2.07 ERA as a junior … Part of the first-ever Benet Academy team to play for a state championship as a senior … Selected to play for Team Illinois in the 2024 High School National Championship tournament in Omaha … Won conference scholar/athlete award his senior year … Earned honors with highest distinction in all four years … National Honor Society Student.

Personal: Parents are Rob and Nancy Rifenburg … Father Rob played basketball at Case Western … Great uncle Dick Rifenburg played football at Michigan and in the NFL for the Detroit Lions.

Why Northwestern: “I chose Northwestern because it's close to home, has great academics, and is a highly competitive Power 4 School.”