Jake Rifenburg

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

2026: Made 17 appearances and started four games... Struck out 39 batters in 51.1 innings of work on the season... 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.”