Coming off of a successful season, the SPA-Highland cooperative boys swimming team has set a high bar for this year. Three swimmers, including SPA sophomores Karsten Runquist and Sam Matenaer, qualified for the state competition. Runquist and Matenaer advanced to the section semifinals, and the team placed first in the Tri-Metro conference.

“Our goals are to get more swimmers to state, win conference again, get a higher spot at sections and beating Central High School. I think we are capable of doing all of those things,” Runquist said.

“We have a small team that is pretty young, but we still have pretty strong swimmers,” sophomore Sam Matenaer said. “Boys swimming has a new coach [Abby Holmquist] this year and we’re excited to be able to work with her. Last year we made sections and I think this year we will be even stronger.”

According to Runquist, the team consists of roughly 40% SPA students.