On Campus: High school girls swimming teammates Barton, Dahl collide at D-II nationals

For three years as prep athletes, Marisa Barton and Nikayla Dahl were teammates on the Crystal Lake co-op girls swimming team.

“We got so close in high school,” said Barton, a Prairie Ridge graduate who is a sophomore at the University of Tampa.

When Barton and Dahl, a Crystal Lake South graduate, reunited last month at the NCAA Division II swimming championships in Indianapolis, there was plenty to celebrate.

While Barton and Dahl, a sophomore at Missouri’s Lindenwood University, were preparing for the 200-yard freestyle relay, they broke the calm of the event.

“In high school, we had a special handshake,” Barton said. “It’s really long and it probably looks ridiculous. We did it at nationals, and my parents taped it.”

“We were wishing each other good luck,” Dahl said. “I just love her. I was so happy for her.”

Both local athletes earned first-team All-America honors in the event. Tampa finished fourth in 1: 33.13, with Barton swimming the first leg. Lindenwood finished eighth in 1:33.85 with Dahl swimming the final leg.

“It was awesome,” Dahl said. “We were both pretty nervous.”

Barton went on to help her team finish eighth in the 400 free relay in 3:26.9 to earn a second first-team honor. She achieved honorable mention All-America status in the 50 free individual race by placing 15th in 23.42.

“I’ve done a lot better job at handling pressure before big races,” Barton said. “Just getting the experience out of this was great.”

Although Dahl took 51st in the 50 free as an individual, her time of 24.24 matched the second-best effort in Lindenwood’s history in the event. She also helped the Lions place 10th as a team with 160 points, almost double their total from last season’s national meet.

Dahl said a team training trip to Colorado this season paid major dividends.

“The team really started to click,” she said. “On our off days, we would go on these 12-mile hikes.”

Barton and Dahl both said they enjoy the 50-yard distance for its intensity.

“It takes a competitive person,” Dahl said. “You have to be really aggressive.”

Enjoying success at nationals also made the former high school teammates agree on another goal.

“Now I can’t wait to go back,” Barton said.

Heidelberg hotshot Mitsch: McHenry's Mikaela Mitsch has helped the D-III Heidelberg University softball team to a seven-game winning streak.

Mitsch leads the team in five offensive categories, including batting average (.458), home runs (four) and RBIs (24). The junior catcher has helped Heidelberg to a 16-4 record and a tie for first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference with a 5-1 mark.

Mitsch ranks second in the conference in home runs and fourth in batting average and RBIs.

Southern Conference star Stevens: For the third time this season, Prairie Ridge grad Kirsten Stevens has been named the Southern Conference Softball Pitcher ofthe Week.

Stevens, a sophomore left-hander for Georgia’s Mercer University, was honored Monday after going 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA, striking out 14 batters and walking none in a pair of complete-game wins against Western Carolina.

Stevens (17-6) already has surpassed her victory total from last season. She leads the conference in wins and strikeouts (142). She ranks 11th in Division I in wins this season and 23rd in strikeouts.

Kisman shines: Crystal Lake Central grad Jackie Kisman is batting .327 while ranking second on the team in hits and runs scored this season for D-I Oakland (Mich.) University's softball team.

Kisman has produced 33 hits and 19 runs for the Golden Grizzlies (12-15) while starting 26 games as a the team’s second baseman and leadoff batter. Kisman also ranks second with seven stolen bases.

Snedeker winning at Wesleyan: McHenry's Kyle Snedeker is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA this season for D-III Illinois Wesleyan's baseball team.

In four appearances, the sophomore has allowed only two earned runs. On March 22 in his lone start this season against Concordia University Chicago, he did not allow an earned run while striking out four in 5 1/3 innings. IWU won the game, 12-8.

The Titans (11-4) are tied for first place in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with a 3-0 record.

• Barry Bottino writes a weekly column about local college athletes for the Northwest Herald. Write to him at BarryOnCampus@hotmail.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryOnCampus.