AUSTIN – True to his personality, Neil Caskey stopped himself from bubbling with joy after winning two individual events Saturday at the University Interscholastic League State Swimming and Diving championships.

The Cypress Falls senior held the lead throughout the 200 free (1:37.39) and 100 butterfly (48.97) by, as he put it, keeping himself under control and not going too hard.

“I’m happy with it,” said Caskey, who won the 200 IM and 100 fly titles at the Texas Swim Center last year. “The 100 was probably my best time. It was my last race and I swam well in my home pool for next year, so I’m happy. …

“I’ve thought about it pretty much every day at practice. It’s what I’ve worked toward.”

The University of Texas commit shared the spotlight Saturday with future Longhorns teammate Jimmy Feigen, a San Antonio Churchill product who set national records in the 50 free (19.49) and 100 free (43.05) about 30 minutes apart.

“What Jimmy is doing is awesome. I’m excited to be up here next year with them.”

San Antonio Churchill won the boys competition with 163 points. Kingwood was third with 136.

Austin Westlake was the girls champion with 253 points, 49 ahead of runner-up The Woodlands. Lamar was 10th with 76.5.

Cinco Ranch’s Jason Ting finished third in the 200 IM (1:52.68) and second in the 100 breaststroke (58.07), and the 200 medley relay was second (1:36.14).

“He (Ting) is very focused and he knows what he wants,” Cinco Ranch coach Christie Patterson said. “He’s never really satisfied. He’s happy that he’s successful and he’s proud of his accomplishments, but he’s always going to drive and do a little bit more.”

In the 200 medley relay, after Jason Buckert swam a phenomenal third leg to bring the Cougars back into contention, Michael Peron sealed the Cougars’ finish to lead Houston. They finished nearly three seconds in front of fifth-place Kingwood, which dominated the Katy regional.

“(Lead swimmer) Thomas (Brisson) didn’t go as fast as he did (Friday) but he still did what he needed to do, but the times are so close that you really can’t even tell at that point,” said Peron, a senior. “Then Jason went a lot faster on his fly so by the time he was done, there were about four lanes with the exact same (time) so I knew it was up to me. But I knew we could at least get second.

“At the beginning of the year, none of us would have thought we’d get any kind of medal at state. Top eight, maybe, but not a medal.”

Cypress Creek was seventh (1:37.64).

Mayde Creek’s Randal Smith was third in the 50 free (20.85) and seventh in the 100 free (47.21) to pace the school to 112 points and a sixth-place finish. They were fourth in the 200 free (1:25.48), and Tim Jones was fourth in the 100 free (46.41).

With senior Shelby Bottoms leading the way, Lamar finished second in the 200 free relay (1:36.9).

Cy-Fair’s Jennifer Lamb, a UCLA commit, improved on her fifth-place finish in the 200 freestyle (1:50.5) by placing third in the 500 free (4:53.31).

“This was my last high school race so I just wanted to go out and go for it,” Lamb said. “I went out faster than I ever have. It was a risk I wanted to take. I didn’t finish as well as I wanted but I’m proud of myself for keeping my guts up. Sometimes I don’t necessarily like to have a strategy. I was feeling good so I decided to go for it.”

Bobcats junior Hudson Rains scored 401.75 points to finish fourth in boys diving. The top placers were from metropolitan Houston.

Memorial senior Chelsea McCorvey was eighth in girls diving.

Stratford junior Hunter Bayley was third in the 200 free (1:39.63) and easily led for the first half of the 500 free before a shoulder problem dropped him to eighth (4:42.9).

Langham Creek’s girls finished fifth in the 400 free relay (3:32.68), in which Austin Westlake set a new national record of 3:23.1.

Stratford’s girls were eighth in the 200 medley relay (1:49.46) and seventh in the 200 free relay (1:38.59).

Mayde Creek’s boys were eighth in the 400 free relay (3:10.08).

For complete individual and team results, including the consolation events, click here.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Because of contractual obligations, The Athlete's Connection is not permitted to sell photos from the state meet.

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