The Sunlight Ski Team isn’t a big group, but judging by the number of qualifiers for the J4 Junior Olympics, it has more than its fair share of success.

While four qualifiers isn’t a huge number, it’s exceptional when considering the Sunlight Ski Team only has five J4-aged racers on its squad.

“It’s been a good year for us,” Sunlight coach Harry Maybee said. “When most of your kids make it, it’s really good.”

On the boys’ side Matthew Snyder, Connor Riley and Dakota Stonehouse qualified for Sunlight, while Glenwood’s James Schindler, who races for Aspen, also made the cut. Whitney Setterberg was the lone female qualifier.

The J4 (11-12 years old) Junior Olympics start today with practice runs at Steamboat Springs. The super-G is slated for Thursday, followed by the giant slalom and slalom on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

“The results are not the main issue for us with the kids,” Maybee said of the JOs. “The pressure is in the qualifying races. Once they make the Junior Olympics they can relax and enjoy themselves.”

Setterberg, young J4, qualified with a rank of 29th in the Rocky Mountain Region, which includes Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Arizona. Her high finishes during the qualifier were 16th in the slalom and 22nd in the giant slalom. The top 33 racers in the region advanced to JOs to compete against the Central Region (Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan).

For the boys, the top 49 racers in the region advanced to JOs. Snyder was the high qualifier for the Sunlight boys, ranked 32nd, with a 17th in the super-G and a 22nd in the giant slalom.

Riley enters in 36th, one spot behind Schindler. Schindler’s top finish at the qualifier was 18th in the slalom, while Riley posted a 22nd.

Stonehouse comes in ranked 46th with a 29th in the slalom qualifier.

“For the boys its really the second year of racing for all of them,” “I’m really proud of all these kids.”

This is the first trip to JOs for all four of the Sunlight Ski Team qualifiers.