According to junior Luke Anderson, after the section finals Feb. 24, five Park swimmers qualified for the state preliminary meet.

“I am really excited (for state),” Anderson said. “I am glad that we have a lot of people that made it like with the relay and a few individuals.”  

Anderson, who qualified for the 200-medley relay and the 100 backstroke, said the team’s success further connected the swimmers.

“I was really confident in the team, like we swam really well on the first day and like the day two feel really helped us out with coming together as a team,” Anderson said.

Boys’ swimming coach Amanda Forsberg said she was eager to watch the team compete at Sections and felt pride when every swimmer dropped their time.

“I was excited for them. I was ready to see them swim (at sections),” Forsberg said. “I thought it went phenomenally well. Everyone did really well.”

Anderson said the team has improved throughout the season, a factor that contributed to their success in the section finals.

“I am really happy with how we did today,” Anderson said. “A lot of time drops between days and that is a good like sign to see.”

Forsberg said she looks forward to the state preliminary meet and hopes the five events continue on to the finals.

“It would be really exciting for Park to have state champion. I would be extremely happy,” Forsberg said. “I would love for Alec Pittman to make the second day in the five, and I would love for the medley relay to make the second day in the five, and I would love for Hayden Zheng to make top eight in the tournament as well.”

The state preliminary meet is at 6 p.m. March 2 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.