MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine head swimming and diving coach Nick Rodionoff today announced that four prep standouts have signed their National Letters of Intent, which will allow them to start competing for the Waves in 2009-10.
Rodionoff’s fall signing group includes swimmers Shannon Adkins (Granite Bay, Granite Bay/Granite Bay HS), Rachel Dekar (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School) and Jacquie Kimmel (Chula Vista, Calif./Eastbay HS) and diver Jenna Tenwolde (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS).
“These four ladies are going to make an immediate impact,” Rodionoff said. “This group is the best we’ve ever signed early.”
Following are capsule biographies on each of the recruits:
Shannon Adkins (Granite Bay, Calif./Granite Bay HS)
Events: Freestyle, Backstroke, and Individual Medley
Adkins is a High School All-American who helped lead her team to a sectional title in 2007 while competing in several events. She is also a former Rookie of the Year honoree and received the team’s Most Inspirational Award in 2007.
Adkins’ top times include a 53.50 in the 100 free, a 59.78 in the 100 back and a 2:12.11 in the 200 individual medley – marks which would rank her as the second fastest swimmer on this year’s Pepperdine team.
“We first heard about Shannon from Kayleen Hicks (Chico, Calif./Chico HS), and as an All-America talent, she can really help us in any event from the sprints to 500 free,” Rodionoff said.
Adkins is spending this season serving as team captain for the Sierra Marlins Swim Team based in Folsom, Calif. With the Marlins, Adkins has received two Academic All-America citations as well as the squad’s Most Motivational Award.
“Coach Nick’s positive attitude and his emphasis on improvement while keeping swimming fun is one of the reasons why I choose Pepperdine,” Adkins said. “But I also chose it for its academic excellence, emphasis on good moral character, and the incredible chemistry between the team members. I felt an immediate bond with the girls I met when I visited campus.”
Rachel Dekar (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan./ Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School HS)
Events: Breaststroke, Butterfly and Individual Medley
When Dekar joins the Waves next season she’ll be one of just three Midwesterners on the roster, joining Samantha Jacobi of Aurora, Ill., and Tanya Thomforde of Northfield, Minn., and only five of her future teammates will have to travel further then she will to get to Malibu.
But the flights back and forth home will be well worth it as she receives a first-class education while keeping Pepperdine perched near the top of the PCSC standings.
“I chose Pepperdine because of its excellent academic reputation, strong swim program and because it’s a supportive community with strong values,” Dekar said.
A Student Ambassador for the Michigan H.S. Athletic Association, Dekar has already collected seven All-America titles in between the 100 breast and 200 medley relay and recently won a state title in the 200 IM.
Dekar, a Dean’s List and honors student, has also won state crowns in the 200 medley relay and 100 breast. She is a 12-time all-state honoree and has been named to both the all-area and county first teams for the past four years.
Dekar’s personal best of 1:02.66 in the 100 breast not only stands as Michigan’s all-division state record, but would easily stand as Pepperdine’s varsity record if she was already here competing. So would her lifetime best of 2:20.36 in the 200 breast.
Her additional personal records include a 2:07.71 in the 200 individual medley, a 58.33 in the 100 fly and a 54.15 in the 100 free.
“The reputation of this university has grown by leaps and bounds and that’s what I think allowed us to sign Rachel,” Rodionoff said. “She is an exceptionally talented swimmer, and is arguably among the best recruits we’ve ever had.”
An Academic-All American and two-year varsity letterwinner in lacrosse, Dekar also owns the Oakland County record in the 100 breast and in 2008 was selected for the ’08 MHSAA Dream Team for Girl’s H.S. Swimming.
Away from high school, Dekar has been part of the Blue Dolphins-club national team participant with the Birmingham YMCA since she was 12 years old. A Great Lakes Zone Champion in the 50 and 100 breast, Dekar claims four team records and since 2004 has ranked among the YMCA Top 16 in the 100 and 200 breast and the 200 and 400 medley relays.
Jacquie Kimmel (Chula Vista, Calif./Eastlake HS)
Events: Sprint Free, Backstroke, Individual Medley
Kimmel, the younger sister of current Pepperdine junior Dani Kimmel, is a two-time High School All American in both 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke and defending San Diego CIF champion in both events.
And it goes without saying that she’s looking forward to swimming for one year with her big sister, who is the Waves’ current record holder in the 100 and 200 breast with times of 1:05.16 and 2:22.79.
The younger Kimmel, considered a pure sprinter, also chose Pepperdine for its great location and faith-based curriculum.
"Jacquie is an exceptionally good swimmer - you have to be to win CIF championship," Rodionoff said. "It will be nice to have her competing alongside her sister during Dani's senior year."
Jenna Tenwolde (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Dana Hills HS)
Events: 1- and 3-meter springboard diving
Rodionoff already considers Tenwolde to be one of the most experienced divers he’s brought to Pepperdine even though she hasn’t competed as the collegiate level.
What Tenwolde does have going for her is the fact that she’s a High School All-American and two-time national qualifier who has finished as high as fifth at CIF Masters and the California State High School meet.
Additional individual honors she’s collected include Crown Valley Divers’ Best Attitude and Most Accomplished Awards.
“I chose Pepperdine for its great business program, the right kind of diving program I was looking for in college, and the religious/serving environment I wanted,” Tenwolde said.
Pepperdine swimming and diving is currently off from competition during the winter break. The Waves return to action the weekend of Jan. 3 and 4 for the UC Irvine Invitational before coming home Jan. 17 for a dual with Cal State Northridge.
Copy by Chris Macaluso (Pepperdine sports information)
