Aug. 20, 2007

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Academic All-American and two-time All-Patriot League selection Chris Renninger (Darnestown, Md.) has been elected by his peers to serve as Navy's team captain during the 2007-08 golf season.

"The captain's job is to represent the team both on the course and at the Academy and I'm honored that my teammates believe I can do that," said Renninger. "Being selected a leader among my fellow athletes is one of the highest compliments I can be paid."

Renninger is coming off his most accomplished year at the Academy, excelling on and off the links. Renninger owned the team's low average for the 2006-07 year, posting a 75.6 stroke average and top 20 finishes in five tournaments. He closed out his junior campaign by finishing as the runner-up at the 2007 Patriot League Championship. He garnered First-Team All-Patriot League honors after turning in a 3-over par 213, just a stroke back from medalist Matt Czarnecki of Holy Cross.

A chemistry major who boasts a 4.00 grade-point average, Renninger stands No. 1 in his class of more than 1,000 students. He has earned a 4.00 GPA in seven consecutive semesters, while being named to the Commandant's List five times, the Dean's List four times and the Superintendent's List twice. In June, he was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America At-Large Second Team selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), and a month later he became just the second golfer in the league's history to be named the Patriot League Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year (former Navy All-American Billy Hurley is the other). He is only the third non-senior in Patriot League history to receive the award and first since NBA veteran and Colgate graduate Adonal Foyle claimed the award in 1995-96.

"I am confident that Chris will provide great leadership by example for our team, both on and off the golf course," said 17th-year Navy golf coach Pat Owen. "Chris has demonstrated that hard work and perseverance pay off. In three years he has developed from a raw prospect, into one of the finest players in the Northeast. He is also a very selfless leader, always placing the interests of the team first. We look forward to a great season with Chris at the helm!"

As the captain, Renninger not only wants to lead Navy to a win over Army in the annual Star Competition, as well as a league title, but he also has high hopes to help create an environment where "every member of the team can excel."

"The captain's main responsibility is to look out for the welfare of each team member, whether it be in the classroom, in military matters or on the course," added Renninger.

The Navy golf team, which lost just one letterwinner to graduation (Jeremy Garner), kicks of the 2007-08 season when it plays host to the annual Navy Fall Invitational Sept. 8-9 at the United States Naval Academy Golf Course.