Boys swimming and diving: Kogler receives MVP award for Ponies

After earning all-state honors for the second year in a row, Jackson Kogler was named the Most Valuable Athlete for the Stillwater boys swimming and diving team at its postseason awards banquet on Sunday, March 3.

The juniors is one of seven all-conference performers for the Ponies, a list that also includes Jackson Avery, Zach Cody, Sam Loken, Tate Sorensen, Cameron Winters and Wyatt Fredeen.

Stillwater finished the season with an 8-2 record, including 7-2 to place third in the Suburban East Conference standings behind Woodbury (9-0) and East Ridge (8-1). The Ponies placed third behind Woodbury and Mounds View in Section 4AA and finished 16th at the MSHSL state meet.

Kogler set school records for the Ponies this season while placing second at state in the 100 backstroke and fourth in the 200 individual medley, posting All-American Consideration times in both events. He was also named the Section 4AA Swimmer of the Year.

Sorensen, who was voted the Section 4AA Diver of the Year after winning his third section title, went on to place ninth in the last of his four trips at state. He ranks No. 7 on Stillwater’s all-time list with a six-dive total of 272.65.

Fredeen, Paul Hartmann, Winters and Loken joined Kogler and Sorensen in qualifying for the state meet.

Also announced at the banquet is that Kogler, Bodie Sheffer and Jaxon Benson will serve as captains for next year’s squad.

Boys swimming and diving

All-Conference: Jackson Avery, Zach Cody, Jackson Kogler, Sam Loken, Tate Sorensen, Cameron Winters and Wyatt Fredeen; State qualifiers: Jackson Kogler, Wyatt Fredeen, Paul Hartmann, Cameron Winters, Tate Sorensen and Sam Loken; Section 4AA Swimmer of the Year: Jackson Kogler; Section 4AA Diver of the Year: Tate Sorensen; All-State: Jackson Kogler; All-American Consideration: Jackson Kogler; Most Valuable Athlete: Jackson Kogler; Captains elect: Jackson Kogler, Bodie Sheffer and Jaxon Benson.