Courtesy: UNH Athletics
DURHAM, N.H. – Senior Anna Metzler (Regensburg, Germany) of the University of New Hampshire swimming and diving team continued her dominant racing as of late for the Wildcats this past weekend at the Bruno Invitational.
Metzler was named America East Swimmer of the Week on Monday for performances at the Bruno Invitational at Brown University last weekend. Metzler set a new school record in the 200 IM (1:58.32) on the opening day of the Bruno Invitational. The previous record of 1:58.78 was set at the 2014 NCAA Championships by Katie Mann ’15. Metzler followed up that swim setting a new Coleman pool record in the 400 IM (4:08.21) on the second day of the Bruno Invitational on Saturday. Metzler’s mark of 4:08.21 is a strong NCAA qualifying time currently ranking her 15th nationally that should earn her a spot at NCAA’s in March in the 400 IM. She registered a victory in the 200 back with a time of 1:57.19 in the final day of competition at Brown on Sunday.
“We are really pleased with the way Anna’s season is progressing,” said UNH head coach Josh Willman. “This weekend she was just shy of her PR of 4:07.20 that she set sophomore year just before NCAA’s was cancelled in 2020.”
Metzler was to compete in the 200 & 400 IM in the 2020 NCAA Championships, she recorded the 19th fastest time in the nation in the 400 IM and was the only swimmer in the Top-20 not from a Power 5 conference school.
“While Anna did requalify last spring for the 2021 championships, it was incredibly challenging due to so many extensive training restrictions,” said Willman. “We are thrilled to be back on track to be at her very best for nationals this March.”
Metzler, who was an All-American and America East Swimmer of the Year in 2020, is a 17-time America East Champion and has guided the Wildcats to the last two America East Championships. Metzler is a Biomedical Science major and holds five school records, four America East and one ECAC record.
She was America East Elite 18 Award winner last season, given annually to the student-athlete with the highest GPA at the championship site and Metzler was America East’s and UNH’s Rookie of the Year in 2019. She is also a two-time UNH athletics Performer of the Year.