After becoming a two-time All Metro Swimmer of the Year, amassing 7 State meet gold medals, 3 State trophies, and cementing himself in infamy on the record board, senior Cooper Scharff will be continuing his swimming conquest at the University of Wisconsin next year. For Scharff, the transition to college athletics is the next stepping stone towards his ultimate goal of Olympic trials. 

“I want to swim in college because I’ve always wanted to make the Olympic trials and go to the Olympics,” said Scharff. “There’s no better place to do that than in college athletics.”

Scharff’s decision to continue his journey at Wisconsin was largely based on their early interest in him. Even as many schools tried to recruit him this past fall, Wisconsin’s efforts stood out.

“I went and visited a few schools last year in April and Wisconsin was the only school that sent people down to give me a tour, and was the only school that genuinely cared about me taking a visit there,” said Scharff. 

Plus, he felt a strong camaraderie with the other swimmers.

“When I eventually took an official visit there it was amplified even more after getting to see the team and the camaraderie and brotherhood they had,” said Scharff. “They were all really close, and it just seemed like it was a good place to be both inside and outside the pool.”

Outside of the pool, Scharff will be studying engineering at Wisconsin.