Ball State University Athletics
Mary Brinkoetter Named 2005-06 Judy Cress Memorial Scholarship Recipient
April 28, 2006 | Women's Swimming and Diving
The award was initiated 19 years ago to honor a Ball State female student-athlete who has achieved high athletic and academic credentials. The scholarship was established in honor of Judy Cress, who passed away in October of 1987 after spending 10 years as secretary to the women's athletics director at Ball State.
During this past season, Brinkoetter earned First Team All-Mid-American Conference status at the 2006 MAC Championships after scoring a team-high 44 individual points at the meet. She finished third in the 400 Individual Medley (4:28.45) for 16 points, fourth in the 200 Backstroke (2:04.83) for 15 points and sixth in the 200 Individual Medley (2:06.36) for 14 points.
In addition, she helped guide the 800 Freestyle Relay squad to a fourth-place time of 7:37.00 and the fifth-place 400 Freestyle Relay team to a clocking of 3:29.91. On the year, Brinkoetter competed in all 16 meets for the Cardinals, collecting 28 top-three times - - including nine first-place clockings - - and was a member of four first-place relay squads.
A two-time Academic All-MAC selection, Brinkoetter also gained Second Team All-MAC accolades after the 2005 MAC Championships, in which she turned in a then-school-record clocking of 2:03.26 in the 200 Backstroke to finish second. She also placed fourth in the 400 Individual Medley (4:26.85) with the third-fastest clocking in school annals, seventh in the 200 Individual Medley (2:08.02) and was a member of the seventh-place 800 Freestyle Relay team that clocked in with the second-fastest time in the BSU record books at 7:37.09.
As a freshman, she placed 15th at the 2004 MAC Championships in the 200 Backstroke (2:07.89).
The fourth swimmer in school history to be presented the Judy Cress Scholarship, Brinkoetter - - the daughter of Tom and Pat Brinkoetter - - is majoring in biology at BSU and maintains a 3.608 grade-point average.
