diff --git a/utilities/utils.py b/utilities/utils.py
index c709320..c3868b3 100644
--- a/utilities/utils.py
+++ b/utilities/utils.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import nextcord
 import pandas as pd
 from sqlalchemy import distinct, select
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session, aliased
+from sqlmodel import col
 
 # pylint: disable=import-error
 from database.db import engine
@@ -32,12 +33,12 @@ def autofill_categories(guild_id: int, group_id: int, category_begin: str) -> "d
         # search database for all category names
         subq = (
             select(CategoryGroup)
-            .where(CategoryGroup.guild_id == guild_id)
-            .where(CategoryGroup.id == group_id)
+            .where(col(CategoryGroup.guild_id) == guild_id)
+            .where(col(CategoryGroup.id) == group_id)
             .subquery()
         )
         cat_group_alias = aliased(CategoryGroup, subq)
-        stmt = select(Category).where(Category.group_id == cat_group_alias.id)
+        stmt = select(Category).where(col(Category.group_id) == cat_group_alias.id)
         categories_dict: dict[str, str] = {cat.name: str(cat.id) for cat in session.scalars(stmt)}
 
     # if string empty, return all category names
@@ -45,7 +46,6 @@ def autofill_categories(guild_id: int, group_id: int, category_begin: str) -> "d
         return dict(list(categories_dict.items())[:25])
 
     # else find all categories that start with category_begin
-    # TODO is it better to have sql handle the starts with or python?
     categories: dict[str, str] = {
         cat_name: cat_id for cat_name, cat_id in categories_dict.items() if category_begin.lower() in cat_name.lower()
     }
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def autofill_groups(guild_id: int, group_begin: str) -> "dict[str, str]":
     """
     with Session(engine) as session:
         # Select all groups in guild.
-        stmt = select(CategoryGroup).where(CategoryGroup.guild_id == guild_id)
+        stmt = select(CategoryGroup).wherecol((CategoryGroup.guild_id) == guild_id)
 
         # dict has to have key values of same type for discord.
         group_dict: dict[str, str] = {group.name: str(group.id) for group in session.scalars(stmt)}
@@ -102,16 +102,16 @@ def autofill_users_in_group_category(guild_id: int, group_id: int, category_id:
         # get all categories in the group
         subq = (
             select(CategoryGroup)
-            .where(CategoryGroup.guild_id == guild_id)
-            .where(CategoryGroup.id == group_id)
+            .where(col(CategoryGroup.guild_id) == guild_id)
+            .where(col(CategoryGroup.id) == group_id)
             .subquery()
         )
         category_group = aliased(CategoryGroup, subq)
 
         # If no category id, get all users in group.
         if category_id == 0:
-            subq = select(Category.id).where(Category.group_id == category_group.id)
-            stmt = select(distinct(Score.username)).where(Score.category_id.in_(subq))
+            subq = select(col(Category.id)).where(Category.group_id == category_group.id)
+            stmt = select(distinct(col(Score.username))).where(col(Score.category_id).in_(subq))
 
         else:
             # get all users in category_id
@@ -148,8 +148,8 @@ def autofill_users_in_guild(guild_id: int, user_begin: str) -> "list[str]":
         list[str]: All users with submissions in the guild.
     """
     with Session(engine) as session:
-        group_ids = select(CategoryGroup.id).where(CategoryGroup.guild_id == guild_id)
-        category_ids = select(Category.id).where(Category.group_id.in_(group_ids))
+        group_ids = select(col(CategoryGroup.id)).where(CategoryGroup.guild_id == guild_id)
+        category_ids = select(Category.id).where(col(Category.group_id).in_(group_ids))
         stmt = select(distinct(Score.username)).where(Score.category_id.in_(category_ids))
         users_list: list[str] = list(session.scalars(stmt))