Metzler Wins 400-Yard IM, Casey Wins 200-Yard Freestyle

PHARR, Texas (Feb. 27, 2026) – For the second day in a row, two Cowboys claimed individual MPSF titles, this time in the 400-yard individual medley and the 200-yard freestyle. Additionally, the Pokes also made the podium with second place finisher, and a relay third place finish.

“Really fun day with so many highlights,” said head coach Dave Denniston. “We have dominated in being on the top of the podium this week. We have been on the podium more than any other team here, and I think a lot of people are taking notice of that.”

He added, “The guys have done a phenomenal job this week. We have another day in front of us with a lot to still happen.”

The Cowboys currently sit in third with 510 points. They only trail to Air Force with 564.5 points and UNLV with 559.5.

400-YARD IM

Senior Alex Metzler and freshman Jackson Kogler swam in the 400-yard IM “A” Final, finishing first and second on the podium, while going 3:44.10 and 3:46.00, respectively. Metzler now owns the school, pool, MPSF and meet records in the event. This marked Metzler’s second individual title and Kogler’s second time making the podium during this week’s MPSF Championships.

In the “B” Final, juniors Cameron Knox and Derek Long took second and seventh in the heat with times of 3:54.39 and 3:58.63. Knox finished 10th overall while Long finished 15th overall.

200-YARD FREESTYLE

Junior Simon Casey earned his first MPSF individual title in the 200-yard freestyle, taking first with a time of 1:33.80. Senior Caleb Ozenne also swam in the “A” Final, finishing eighth and logging a time of 1:38.25.

Sophomore Luke O’Connor came in third in the “B” Final with a time of 1:38.96, finishing in 11th overall. Also in the “B” Final, junior Adam Pannell swam a 1:39.40 to take sixth in the heat and 14th overall.

100-YARD BUTTERFLY

Freshman Jack Boysen was the sole Cowboy to make the “A” Final in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing in sixth with a time of 47.23.

Fellow freshmen Travis Ayers, Edward Rhoe and sophomore Gray Sisco raced in the “B” Final. Cisco finished fourth in the heat off a time of 47.92, placing 12th overall. Rhoe and Ayers finished seventh and eighth in the heat, logging times of 48.92 and 49.22.

100-YARD BREASTSTROKE

Sophomore duo Griffith Orloff and Joe Morales went fourth and seventh in the “A” Final with times of 53.45 and 54.06. In the “C” Final, senior Christian Louie took fourth, logging a time of 55.18, good for 12th overall.

100-YARD BACKSTROKE

Three Cowboys competed in the “A” Final of the 100-yard backstroke. Junior Cameron Knox, senior Collin Davis and freshman Travis Ayers finished fifth, sixth and seventh with times of 47.93, 48.05 and 48.38, respectively.

400-YARD MEDLEY RELAY

The Cowboy 400-yard Medley Relay team of Kogler, Orloff, Boysen and O’Connor finished in third place after going 3:12.69, out-touching fourth place team Cal Baptist by nearly a second.

PLATFORM DIVING

“Both Kael and Jonah got PRs in the final, as well as Connor in the prelims,” said head diving coach Mark Murdock. “Seeing them all do well on the towers was very cool.”

Sophomores Kael Kropf and Jonah Mann represented the Pokes in the Championship Final, finishing in fourth and eighth with scores of 331.05 and 290.55.

Junior Bruno Grau and freshman Connor Liddle competed in the consolation final, going second and fourth with scores of 270.55 and 253.00.

UP NEXT

Day four of the MPSF Championships will continue tomorrow with the swimming prelims at 9 a.m. MT and the team diving event. Finals action for both swimming will begin at 5 p.m. MT.

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