It all clicks, thanks to the sisters Dix

With four starters, 10 seniors and 80 percent of the scoring gone from the defending Mid-Suburban East champs, this could have been a long and trying spring for Prospect's K.C. Dix.

But with the Knights piling up goals and wins faster than even their coach imagined, and with her sister, Meg, performing far beyond her 15 years, K.C. is enjoying every moment of her senior season.

"I thought it would be kind of difficult, but it's been good," she said.

Has it ever. With Lauren Fairburn (78 goals in 2007) and Emily Schiavone (43) graduated, senior Sarah Sohn and juniors Michelle Schueler, Molly Nordyke and Megan Phillip have been invaluable for the surging Knights (10-1, 7-0).

Junior Giovannina Penze is having a dream season in net, while K.C. (team-leading 28 goals) and Meg (second with 27) are a nightmare 1-2 combination for opposing goalies.

"We really look to pass it to each other, too," said K.C., who recorded 19 goals as a junior. "(Meg) knows how I play, I know how she plays. Like our dad always says, 'You guys work so well together.'"

And their father would know what it takes to succeed in the pool.

Ken Dix, an 18-year veteran firefighter and paramedic with the Mount Prospect Fire Department, holds a 27-year-old Prospect swim record in the 400 free relay (3:14.2) with Scott Kemp, John Osowski and Matt Stadler. The four took sixth in state (3:16.96) in the event in 1981.

"We had such a strong team and the relay really stood out," said Dix, who met his wife, Katie, while the two were lifeguards at Kopp Pool in Mount Prospect. "It's going to be a tough record to beat."

Dix also coached his daughters with the Mount Prospect Sharks for four years, although he admitted it was a challenge separating his roles as parent and coach.

"The only one that liked me was K.C.," he joked. "Now I sit on my hands more and I try to keep my mouth shut!"

Meg takes a more vocal approach as she calls for the ball and provides constant encouragement for teammates while she waits to get into the game.

"She has a lot more confidence than I ever had," K.C. said. "When I was a freshman I was very timid."

Meg looked anything but shy five minutes before the start of Prospect's 15-4 win against Rolling Meadows on April 2, taking center stage during an impromptu dance contest along the side of the pool.

"Oh, you saw that?" said Meg, blushing. "That's so embarrassing!"

An embarrassment of talent is more like it. In addition to training during the preseason's District 214 Unified Water Polo Camp (DUWP), Meg played golf for Prospect in the fall and plays forward on a park district roller hockey team.

Hockey? Did you get in fights growing up?

"No."

"Oh, please, yes you did!" K.C. said as the two started laughing.

"In hockey I get a little hot-headed!" Meg finally admitted with a smile.

So there's little chance of intimidating or outworking this freshman phenom in the pool or on any other athletic field.

"Meg had a ball in her hand before she could walk," her dad said. "She's been a jock since Day 1."

"Meg has a natural sports ability," said Prospect coach Dick Mortensen, still sporting the 'I'll shave when we lose a game' goatee. "I don't have to teach her the little things like getting to the loose balls and taking a shot when you're open. It's just the little rules of water polo I have to teach her."

If they want, Meg and K.C. can seek the advice from their older sister, Liz, a redshirt sophomore (hip surgery) who swims and plays water polo at Iona.

Liz was a standout at Prospect, holding the school's 200 medley relay record on three occasions, the 200 free record twice and was a four-time all-conference and all-sectional swimmer.

As a three-time all-state water polo goalie, Dix finishing her extraordinary career for the former Wheeling/Prospect co-op with a mind-boggling 33 shutouts.

"When you were coaching her, you didn't even realize what a strong athlete and what a strong person and exceptional leader she was," said Buffalo Grove girls coach Shayna Mortensen, who coached Dix all four years with the WildKnights. "It's not until a kid like that is gone that you look back and you go, 'Wow.'"

The same could be said of Ken's younger brother, Chris, a three-year state-qualifier who held the Prospect 100 breaststroke record (1:01.4 in 1995) until Andrew Bowman broke his mark this past season (1:00.69).

"It's good, as long as Prospect keeps improving," said Dix, a 1995 Prospect grad who swam the 50 free, 100 free and 100 breaststroke during four years at Eastern Michigan. "As swimming progresses the times are unbelievably fast."

Despite their family's success in the pool, none of the Dix sisters felt extra pressure to succeed because of their last name.

"It helped because everybody kind of knew your name and there were high expectations," K.C. said. "I worked hard and I wanted to get up (on the record board) too."

Mission accomplished. K.C. currently holds the 200 freestyle relay record (1:41.23 in 2006-07) with Sohn, Nordyke and Julia Andracki. K.C. was part of the 200 medley relay record (1:51.89) in 2005-06 with Liz, and Julia and Amy Andracki, before this All-American qualifying time was lowered the following year (1:51.24) by current record-holders, K.C., Sohn, and the Andracki sisters.

K.C. remains undecided on where she'll be in the fall -- she'll swim at Augustana if she follows her father's footsteps to Rock Island -- and Meg will be the only Dix sister competing at Prospect for awhile.

Their youngest sister, Gracie, is 8 years old. But with back-to-back East titles a possibility, there's still time for them to put 'Dix' into the Knights' record book. Again.

"I'm very proud of them, they both have worked so hard," Liz said.

For the next few weeks, enjoying that hard work together.