SACRAMENTO, Calif. – When it came time to select her school for college, St. Francis senior swimmer Chloe Mitchell had a good idea of the atmosphere and environment she was looking for in a program. After taking three visits, Mitchell chose to swim for Fordham next fall.

“Fordham felt more like home,” said Mitchell, who is from El Dorado Hills. “It is a Jesuit school and I love the Catholic atmosphere. The team felt like family and that the men and women practice together and are really close. It was another big part of my decision.”

Mitchell swims for the DART at Arden Hills and practices with boys and girls.

She will swim for Steve Potsklan at Fordham, who is in his 23rd year at the helm of the Fordham men’s and women’s swimming programs. One of the longest tenured coaches at Rose Hill, Potsklan has witnessed the team’s move towards the top of the Atlantic 10, highlighted by the women’s team earning its first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship title in 2010, with the men’s team tying its best-ever finish at the Championship in 2010.

“The academics are incredible and they many resources for their students. The coaches are amazing and have access to some really great facilities,” said Mitchell. 

Mitchell credits her development under her year-round club coach at DART at Arden Hills.

“My coach Brian Nebeta is fantastic,” said Mitchell. “He swam at Cal and has tons of experience being at Arden Hills for 15 years. He is a great coach for me and I adjust really well to his training.”

 Mitchell, who also considered Bucknell and Naval Academy, won two events at the league meet last year, earning All-Delta League honors in both the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events. She helped the team win the league title for the seventh consecutive season and first in the new Delta League. The Troubadour team, which started 130 student-athletes in the meet, showed its depth across the meet and different disciplines, placing at least three swimmers in each championship final and scoring 37 top-16 spots.

“It was really special because a lot of my teammates (at the club) swim for Davis,” recalled Mitchell. “It was really nice to come out and challenge them.”

Mitchell was named to the River Cats All-City team for the second consecutive season and was one of four team most valuable swimmers. She swam a personal-best in the 500 freestyle for the second straight race at the section finals last season, finishing fourth with a time of 4:56.05, an automatic qualifier for the state.

“I would really like to continue my streak of winning the 500 freestyle at leagues,” said Mitchell of her goals this season. “I have won it every year. I also would also like to place in the top three at sections. For the 200 freestyle I would like to go under the 1:50 mark.”

The State Championships are also an option next year but either way she will look back on her time at St. Francis fondly.

“It has been great,” said Mitchell. “I always wanted to go to St. Francis. I am really glad I chose to come to here. Many of my teammates and friends have really impacted my swimming career and made it a super positive experience.”

Mitchell will officially sign with Fordham on Nov. 11 at the St. Francis Signing Day Celebration.