Conlin showed versatility; Swiderski commits to Oakland U.

This column has highlighted many terrific local athletes over the years.

Even Daily Herald athletes of the year, such as Rolling Meadows grad Maddie Conlin.

The Cook County 2011 Female Athlete of the Year earned the award for her performances in basketball, soccer and swimming.

Even in college, she showed her true athletic nature, as she excelled in a sport she tried for the first time - rowing.

Conlin earned two varsity letters at Notre Dame. She was a member a member of the 1V4 that finished 12th at nationals in 2015. That was the highest finish that year and one of the program's highest of all time.

Conlin rowed in all four Conference Regattas, finishing first or second each year. The Irish finished first in the Big East her freshman and sophomore years.

They moved Atlantic Coast Conference the next two years and placed second to Virginia in Conlin's junior and senior year.

Conlin rowed in the head of the Charles Regatta in Boston her senior year and a member of Student Athletic Advisory Committee while tutoring numerous athletes during her four years in South Bend.

Today, Conlin works for Bain and Company, a consulting firm in Chicago.

Swiderski to Oakland U.

Senior Adeline Swiderski will become one of the few softball players from St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights to play at the Division I level.

The Lions' 2016 co-MVP and all-area selection has received and accepted an offer to play at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich.

Lions coach John Scotillo is thrilled for his catcher and third baseman from Elgin.

"I am very happy for Adeline," he said. "She works year round to be a better player and she improves each year. She had a break out year as a junior and will be one of our three captains this year."

Swiderski hit .480 with 33 RBI, 15 doubles and 29 singles in last spring. She broke a school record by going 6-for-6 in one game and also led team in doubles last year and as a sophomore.

"Her dedication is an example for others," Scotillo said. "And more importantly she is a friend to all."

In addition to the opportunity to pay D-I softball, Swiderski chose Oakland because of its physical therapy program. She plans to attain a pre-physical therapy degree and doctoral degree.

Oakland coach Connie Miner calls Swiderski a very powerful young athlete and a great leader.

"She is very vocal which is needed behind the plate," the coach said on the school's website. "She gives us depth at the corners and brings amazing positive energy with her everywhere she goes which is contagious. I look forward to Adeline being a strong leader on our team early on."

Rowing II

Prospect graduate Erin McGovern, a former associate Editor-in-Chief for the school's newspaper (Prospector), is still in the business working for the school paper at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

But she has also added a new endeavor to her resume.

McGovern is president of the Miami University Rowing Club.

"The MURC has taught me a new kind of personal discipline," she said on the school's rowing website. "And it's given me a family that has already changed my college experience."

The sophomore, majoring in biology and Spanish, is in her second year on the rowing team.

"Of all the sports I've ever participated in, I've never experienced anything like the sense of competition and companionship that I've found in rowing," she said on the website.

"It has redefined for me what it means to be an athlete; not only do you learn more about the sport every day, but you learn more about who you are as a person and your ability to push yourself to succeed."

As as a senior at Prospect, McGovern attended the 2013-14 National High School Journalism Convention in Washington D.C.

She earned an honorable mention in the 'Story of the Year' contest, making her story one of the 10 best in the nation.

Hersey duo

In the second win for Carthage College women's basketball team at the Music City Classic in Nashville, TN, two former Hersey standouts combined for 22 of the team's 48 rebounds. Junior Morgan Harris (12 rebounds) and freshman Maggie Berigan (10 rebounds) helped lead the Lady Reds to a 76-45 win over Allegheny College as they went 2-0 in the tourney.

• In a 65-50 win over North Park, Harris registered a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds as the Lady Reds improve to 8-4, 3-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Harris also had a double-double in the Lady Reds' 59-56 loss to visiting Elmhurst with 14 points and 10 rebounds along with 6 assists.

• Carthage sophomore Monica Masini (Palatine) had 9 rebounds, 8 points, 3 assists and 1 block in a 59-56 loss to visiting Elmhurst.

Men's cross-country

North Central junior Argeni Bailon (Palatine) earned Academic All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin honors.

Bailon, a three-time award winner, competed in five races for the Cardinals, including a season-best fifth-place finish at the CCIW Championship.

He represented North Central at the Division III Midwest region and National Championships.

North Central claimed its 43rd CCIW title, 27th Midwest region Title and 17th national championship.

Barrington Hall of Fame

Barrington High School athletic director Mike Obsuszt has announced that the seventh induction to the school's Coaches' Hall of Fame will take place on Friday, Jan. 27.

The class of 2017 includes Anton Rasmussen, who coached football, wrestling and track and field.

The group induction under "Friends of Athletics" is the football chain crew of Bob Moos, Mike Feit and John Feit.

The presentation will take place at halftime of the girls varsity basketball game against Conant (7:30 p.m. start time).

Each inductee will receive a duplicate of the plaque that will be permanently displayed in the trophy case area.

A short reception for inductees, their families and current Hall of Famers will be held in the wrestling gym beginning at 6 p.m.

Men's swimming

Augustana freshman Adam Smith (Palatine) won the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:27.63 during the Vikings' 184-93 loss at Carthage.

• Augustana freshman Ben Peinsipp (St. Viator) took second (50.35) in the 100 freestyle.

• Carthage sophomore Sam Gabriel (Prospect) was part of the winning 200 medley relay team (1:35.94) when the Red Men topped visiting Augustana 184-93 at the Koenitzer Aquatics Center. Gabriel also took first place in the 100 back with a time of 52.37.

Men's basketball

Carthage senior guard Kevin Kozil (Hersey) ended a 17-4 run by North Park when he hit a 3-pointer with 9:31 remaining in the first half to cut a 14-point deficit to 11 as the Red Men (9-3, 2-2) went on to win 82-76.

Kozil finished with 7 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 blocked shots.

• Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com.