The "Macalester Scotlight" is a special feature series that runs throughout each sports season and highlights individuals within the Macalester College Athletics Department who have a unique story to share.

Renee Jordan's article in Minnesota 2020

For Macalester College sophomore diver Renee Jordan (Anchorage, Alaska), 2010-2011 was an unforgettable rookie season as she shattered the school record in 1-meter diving, placed second in the MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships in the same event and took a trip to the NCAA Championships, where she placed 12th in 3-meter diving.
 
Despite Jordan's many accomplishments in just her first year of collegiate competition, this hungry competitor feels there is one distinct part of her first collegiate season that was less than perfect and has really motivated her to work even harder this year. Placing fourth in in the 3-meter competition at the Conference championships  was a huge disappointment for Jordan, who felt she should have won the event.
 
“I knew I could have won it and the dives just didn't come out right,” said Jordan. “To get up there and know that I fell short of what I was capable of really hit home for me and has carried into this season. I don't want that feeling again.”
 
Heading into this year's MIAC championships today, Thursday, Feb. 16, Jordan hopes to find revenge on the board in 3-meter and improve upon her phenomenal sophomore performances. Jordan credits her successes so far this year to learning from her mistakes a year ago.
 
“This year I have been working a lot on consistency,” said Jordan. “Last year, that was my downfall at conference.”
 
In 2011-2012, Jordan has been nothing but consistent – consistently good. Jordan heads into MIAC competition with the top 3-meter (6 dives) performance and third best in the MIAC for 3-meter (11 dives).  She also broke her own 1-meter (11 dives) Macalester record with a score of 466.20, and she has already qualified for nationals.
 
Securing another spot in the NCAA championships and locking up titles in the MIAC are goals that Jordan set for herself this year after realizing she had a lot more in her following her break-out first season.
                                                                                                       
“I honestly didn't think I was going to make it to nationals as a freshman last year,” Jordan said. “This really showed me that I didn't have the confidence I needed to compete at the level that I was competing at. I realized that I could really push myself further if I believed in myself a bit more.”
 
Jordan has found that the support of her team has really helped her build the confidence she needs to continue to compete at such a high level. Last year at nationals, Jordan said she was in contact with Macalester teammate and former NCAA championship competitor, Nathan Young. She said having his support and being able to learn from his experience was helpful as she competed in the NCAA competition.
 
As a top performer both on the board and in the water for the Scots, Jordan said she feels it's important to show support for her teammates, just as they do for her, which has become vital to her success.
 
“I definitely take it upon myself to make sure the team knows I am there for them,” Jordan said. “I wouldn't be doing this sport if it were just me. My team is there to push me. It's hard in an individual sport to know when you have support from the team when you are competing with each other. And it's especially hard to know in practice, but during meets we all come together.”
 
Jordan also credits her success to the support and advice she receives from Macalester diving coach Jake Dunn.
 
“I couldn't be where I am without (Coach Dunn),” said Jordan. “Diving is such a mental sport that if you don't have a coach backing you up and forcing you to do dives you're afraid of, you're not going to be able to push yourself to the max. He brings a sense of balance and is great at pushing me when I need that extra boost.”
 
Not only has Jordan learned to push herself to be her best on the board and in the pool, she has also made a splash academically at Macalester this year. Jordan was one of several student-athletes who had articles published in “Minnesota 2020,” an online media forum that focuses on progressive public policy issues.
 
As part of a chemistry course writing assignment, Jordan explored the issue of using BPA, a chemical that has been linked to cancer, to produce plastic water bottles and the recent health concerns that have developed around this issue. Jordan, who has family members who have been impacted by cancer, feels strongly that this area of research needs more attention and supports regulating distribution of plastic with BPA in Minnesota.
 
For Jordan, being recognized for something other than athletic achievement is a welcome divergence from her continuous athletic recognition.
 
“It's nice having an achievement outside of sports,” said Jordan. “I have always excelled in sports and had other academic achievements, but this one was really special.”
 
It's clear that in less than two years, hard work both in the classroom and in the competitive athletic realm have paid off for Jordan and have helped her develop a sense of confidence that will continue to push her through the remaining time she has at Macalester.
 
But this week, Jordan's number one goal is to compete at her highest level at the MIAC championships, doing the best she is capable of and enjoying all the positives that come with being able to compete as a collegiate diver.
 
“It's great to set goals and check them off,” said Jordan, “but in diving, it's more than that. It's knowing that you've done something and worked really hard to accomplish it, and knowing that you're a better teammate and a better athlete and a better person for it. I wouldn't be the same person without diving.”