A special year, without specialization

MOUNT VERNON - Specialization isn't a prerequisite to excellence. Libby Ryan and Lily Dahlstrom are proof of that.

Ryan and Dahlstrom, a pair of athletes at Mount Vernon High School, will conclude a memorable school year this week at the Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, home of the state softball tournament.

Four-sport athletes aren't uncommon, especially in the smaller schools. Four-sport state-tournament athletes are.

The just call them the Quad Squad.

'It's been a lot of fun,” said Ryan, a sophomore shortstop. 'Not a lot of people get to experience something like this.”

The area Quad Squad roster is select. There's Ryan and Dahlstrom, who were members of Mount Vernon's state runner-up volleyball and track teams, state-qualifying basketball team and the softball team, which opens Class 3A state-tournament play at 7:30 Tuesday night against Benton Community.

And there's junior Macie Weber of Cascade, a four-event state placewinner in track, a seventh-place runner at state cross country and a role player in basketball and softball. Cascade faces North Union in a 2A first-rounder at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

High school athletics are a huge commitment, and there's not necessarily an offseason. Take that, and multiply by four, and it can be a dizzying, but rewarding, whirlwind.

'Starting in August, I have volleyball, then in November I start pitching and basketball begins,” said Dahlstrom, a junior. 'Hitting begins in December, and I want to stay sharp for track, the hurdles.”

But Dahlstrom couldn't imagine anything else.

'No,” she said when asked if she ever thought about giving up a sport and lightening her load. 'I never considered that.”

Success surely helps. Since November, Dahlstrom and Ryan visited the U.S. Cellular Center, Wells Fargo Arena and Drake Stadium. This week, it's the Rogers Sports Complex.

That's four sports with three different coaches - Maggie Willems in volleyball and track, Dennis Roloff in basketball, Robin Brand in softball.

'We want the kids out for multiple sports,” Brand said. 'In a school our size, we NEED kids out for multiple sports.

'We know there will be conflicts, but the sport in season always has priority.”

The fifth of nine kids in an athletic family, Ryan was the libero on the volleyball team (leading the Mustangs in digs at 5.2 per set). She scored 9 points per game in basketball and was a triple placewinner at state track, including a championship in the 1,600-meter relay.

This summer, she is hitting .413 with a team-high 27 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. She was a center fielder last year, a shortstop this year.

'It was hard at the beginning, but I had the support of my teammates. They were very positive with me,” she said.

A back-up in volleyball and basketball, Dahlstrom qualified for state track in the 400 hurdles and the shuttle hurdle relay. She is 16-5 as a pitcher this season with a 2.32 ERA, and is hitting .267.

In a year full of highlights, neither Ryan nor Dahlstrom hesitated to mention their highest of highs - a comeback victory over Center Point-Urbana in a basketball regional final.

'It felt surreal,” Ryan said. 'A few days later, it still felt surreal.”

The Mustangs are hoping for some similar surreal moments this week. They have won 29 of their last 33 games after an 0-5 start.

'I think we're ready,” Ryan said. 'Everything is clicking. We could be a hard team to beat.”

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com