“As long as you can beat yourself, it’s going to be a good meet,” senior Nate Peterson said after an exciting meet against Mesabi East at the SHS pool Jan. 8.

Peterson believes that personal goals are very important to focus on when facing strong competitors. Although the Spartans did not win, Peterson is very proud of his teammates and the accomplishments made so far this season.

Throughout the meet, many of the swimmers set personal records. Though Mesabi East was ahead in score throughout the meet, the Spartans were glad to have done well personally.

Head coach Bill Punyko said that it is important to have realistic goals, such as beating personal records, especially when competing against strong teams or individuals. He teaches the swimmers that they should set multiple goals that they believe they are capable of achieving, and that they should continue to seek better results while focusing on constantly improving.

“If you set a goal for yourself, and that’s the only goal that you have, and that’s the most important goal you have that you can achieve, and you never get there, it can be a demotivator,” Punyko said.

Freshman Ryan Peterson, who attends Northwestern High School, is also apart of the team. He is enjoying the opportunity to swim with such a supportive team and to be apart of a sport not offered at his own school. During the meet against Mesabi East, he competed in the 200 yard individual medley and dropped 11 seconds since his last time swimming that event.

“Being a freshman, I’m not going to be the best. You have to beat your own times, make your own goals,” Ryan Peterson said.

By the end of the meet, Mesabi East won with a score of 105-55.

Next up for the Spartans is the Duluth East Invite on Jan. 12.