By Hannah Dillon

ALDEN — Small size doesn’t necessarily contribute to success. This is true of the Alden-Conger supermileage team, which took first among more than 100 teams at the Shell Eco-marathon.

Because of this success, Rep. Paul Marquart, DFL-Dilworth, and Rep. Shannon Savick, DFL-Wells, visited Alden-Conger School on Wednesday to meet part of the team and learn more about what they do.

Alden has a population of about 650 and Conger has a population of about 150. Despite being small, the cities are on the map after winning the national competition, Marquart said.

This year, Alden-Conger took first in the e-100 category and second in the diesel category at the national competition in Houston, Texas. Their cars were able to break 1,000 miles per gallon, breaking the state record they had set last year. Their car used less than 16 milliliters of fuel for six miles on its best run.

Students on the team said this year the cars for the competition had to be street legal. They had to include lights, turn signals and more to make the car fit for competition. One student said it was “almost like a smart car.”

“Rep. Savick has been bragging for a while,” said Marquart, chairwoman of the House Education Finance Committee.

He said this team is on the cutting edge and is a showcase for the state.

The supermileage team is coached by science teacher Dave Bosma. He said that the team does a lot of work on Sundays and used many of the lessons they learned in welding and small engines classes to build the cars.

Bosma said that despite not being an industrial technology teacher, he brings science to the construction of the cars. He said that aspect is one of their secrets of success.

Different levels do different things, Bosma said — for example, freshmen might not do as much building as seniors, but they are learning what to do in the future. Bosma praised the students for their good work ethic, saying that if he tells them to do something, they do it immediately.

The cars for the competition are built from the ground up. Some parts are reused throughout the years, but Bosma said he likes to rebuild cars every year to give younger kids a chance to learn.

Principal Brian Shanks praised the town of Alden and other surrounding towns as well. The team raises funds for everything and garnered $15,000 over the past year to cover their expenses, Shanks said.

People from all over, including New Richland and Albert Lea, have supported the team, and Shanks said it is because of their success.

Ever since 2007, the supermileage team has been earning at least one first place at a competition. Now, Bosma said that the team will start looking at the 3,500 miles per gallon record currently held in Canada — and more importantly, looking at how to exceed that.