MONROE - Monticello freshman Marissa Berg has been making waves in two worlds this winter swimming for the Green County YMCA Golden Gators and playing basketball for Monticello.
Berg had an amazing USA swimming state meet March 4-6 at the Schroeder Aquatic Center in Brown Deer. She won a state championship in the 50-yard freestyle, breaking a 22-year-old record in the 13-14 year-old division. Berg is in elite company. Her time of 23.15 seconds is tied for the 16th fastest in the country for the 13-14 age group in the history of USA swimming. The American record holder in the 50 freestyle in the 13-14 division is Olympian Dara Torres (:22.44), who is the first U.S. swimmer to become five-time Olympian and the oldest to ever to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic team.
"It felt really good to not only set the record, but to get first and better my time," Berg said. "I knew I could do it. I really just did my best."
The time by Berg, 14, would have broken the 15-18 year-old record, but she will have that opportunity next year. She also finished third place for the most points at the state meet in the 13-14 division.
"It definitely was pretty cool to know that I have a chance next year to get it," she said.
Green County Golden Gator swimming coach Mark Lang was impressed with Berg's performance.
"It's quite an accomplishment," Lang said. "Everything has to go right for that kind of time for a 14-year-old."
Berg swam six events at the USA state meet and she finished top six in each one. In addition to the 50 freestyle, she finished second in the 100 freestyle (:51.40), second in the 100 breaststroke (1 minute, 6.16 seconds), fourth in the 200 individual medley (2:08.83), sixth in the 100 butterfly (:59.80) and sixth in the 200 freestyle (1:56.20).
Swimming has been a natural fit for Berg. Her mother, Robin is an aquatics director at the YMCA at Madison East. Marissa started swimming when she was 6 and swam on the New Glarus summer swim team. She now swims for the Green County YMCA's Golden Gators and the Monroe Area Swim team in the summer.
In an age when many high school athletes specialize in certain sports, Berg is a rare four-sport athlete. She plays volleyball in the fall, swims and plays basketball in the winter and will play softball this spring.
"She puts a lot into being a great athlete," Lang said. "She has great focus. That is one of her best attributes. She has tremendous drive and heart. It's nice for me to coach an athlete like that. I'm privileged to coach her."
She has excelled as a swimmer and thrived as a starter for the Monticello girls basketball team in her first year.
"I think her basketball compliments her swimming," Lang said. "Her swimming compliments her athleticism in basketball."
Berg said she loves being involved in sports. After she finishes basketball practice she has about an hour or a little more to relax, work on homework and then it's off to swimming practice in Monroe.
"It's definitely something I like to do," Berg said. "I just feel like I need to do them. I don't mind doing it. I have a lot of friends. Sometimes it's hard, but I keep going."
Berg and her Monticello basketball teammates have the unenviable position of playing No. 1 ranked Black Hawk in a WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal at 7 tonight.
"We have nothing to lose," Berg said. "No one expects us to win. We are the underdogs. Every team is beatable. We just have to give it our best shot."
Berg had an amazing USA swimming state meet March 4-6 at the Schroeder Aquatic Center in Brown Deer. She won a state championship in the 50-yard freestyle, breaking a 22-year-old record in the 13-14 year-old division. Berg is in elite company. Her time of 23.15 seconds is tied for the 16th fastest in the country for the 13-14 age group in the history of USA swimming. The American record holder in the 50 freestyle in the 13-14 division is Olympian Dara Torres (:22.44), who is the first U.S. swimmer to become five-time Olympian and the oldest to ever to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic team.
"It felt really good to not only set the record, but to get first and better my time," Berg said. "I knew I could do it. I really just did my best."
The time by Berg, 14, would have broken the 15-18 year-old record, but she will have that opportunity next year. She also finished third place for the most points at the state meet in the 13-14 division.
"It definitely was pretty cool to know that I have a chance next year to get it," she said.
Green County Golden Gator swimming coach Mark Lang was impressed with Berg's performance.
"It's quite an accomplishment," Lang said. "Everything has to go right for that kind of time for a 14-year-old."
Berg swam six events at the USA state meet and she finished top six in each one. In addition to the 50 freestyle, she finished second in the 100 freestyle (:51.40), second in the 100 breaststroke (1 minute, 6.16 seconds), fourth in the 200 individual medley (2:08.83), sixth in the 100 butterfly (:59.80) and sixth in the 200 freestyle (1:56.20).
Swimming has been a natural fit for Berg. Her mother, Robin is an aquatics director at the YMCA at Madison East. Marissa started swimming when she was 6 and swam on the New Glarus summer swim team. She now swims for the Green County YMCA's Golden Gators and the Monroe Area Swim team in the summer.
In an age when many high school athletes specialize in certain sports, Berg is a rare four-sport athlete. She plays volleyball in the fall, swims and plays basketball in the winter and will play softball this spring.
"She puts a lot into being a great athlete," Lang said. "She has great focus. That is one of her best attributes. She has tremendous drive and heart. It's nice for me to coach an athlete like that. I'm privileged to coach her."
She has excelled as a swimmer and thrived as a starter for the Monticello girls basketball team in her first year.
"I think her basketball compliments her swimming," Lang said. "Her swimming compliments her athleticism in basketball."
Berg said she loves being involved in sports. After she finishes basketball practice she has about an hour or a little more to relax, work on homework and then it's off to swimming practice in Monroe.
"It's definitely something I like to do," Berg said. "I just feel like I need to do them. I don't mind doing it. I have a lot of friends. Sometimes it's hard, but I keep going."
Berg and her Monticello basketball teammates have the unenviable position of playing No. 1 ranked Black Hawk in a WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal at 7 tonight.
"We have nothing to lose," Berg said. "No one expects us to win. We are the underdogs. Every team is beatable. We just have to give it our best shot."
