Pitt State team to be featured in national “Cast in Steel” competition series

A team of Pittsburg State University Manufacturing Engineering Technology students will be featured in the national competition series "Cast in Steel," produced by the Steel Founders' Society of America and set to air in July.

The series, which will premiere with Episode 1 on July 9 at 7 p.m. CST on YouTube via the @CastInSteel channel, follows university teams from across the country during the 2025 season as they designed and recreated a historically-inspired George Washington sword replica - a nod to the nation's 250th birthday - using modern engineering, steel casting, manufacturing, and testing techniques.

View a 60-second teaser here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XHHY23fUcjUr9Gjc1QD5aDKD0qFsSb6o/view

Each year, the competition challenges student teams to design and manufacture a functional metal object, then test those objects under real-world conditions.

"Ultimately, we see who has the best combination of the use of the casting and engineering process, of alloy design, and of performance of the weapon to determine a winner," said Matthew Draper, technical director for the competition and deputy director of the nation's Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program which supports the Department of Defense.

Pitt State's team created the "Silverback Sword," earning third place overall and second place for best performance in the national competition.

The 2025 Pitt State team included:

• -Gabe Galindo

• -Joshua Kanarowski

• -Starzia Gray

• -Brandon Edwards

The team partnered with Monett Metals in Monett, Missouri, which served as the project's foundry partner.

Draper said the "Cast in Steel" experience is designed to mirror real engineering challenges, including failure and iteration.

"Weapons will fail - but that's part of it. As engineers, we learn through failure," he said. "Every single student in this competition is going to learn something. That's an opportunity. Someday, they'll be the ones who design and build your automobiles, inspect your bridges, and build tanks to defend our country. They are the future of America."

Pitt State has built a strong reputation in the national competition, with consistent high-performing finishes in recent years:

• 2026 - Horseman's Axe: Best video

• 2024 - Halligan Bar: Grand prize, best performance, and most authentic

• 2022 - Celtic Leaf Sword: Third place in casting

• 2021 - Thor's Hammer: Best performance; runner-up for best technical report

• 2020 - Bowie Knife: Best cast guard and pommel
• 2019 - Viking Axe: Most captivating design

About Pittsburg State Manufacturing Engineering Technology

The Manufacturing Engineering Technology program at Pittsburg State University stands out for its state-of-the-art laboratories and a fully operational Metal Casting Center (foundry), managed by expert faculty and equipped with modern casting tools.

Strong partnerships with industry alumni and organizations provide students with real-world experience, while a legacy of success in the national Cast in Steel competition highlights the program's quality. Pittsburg State is one of only 30 institutions in North America supported by the Foundry Educational Foundation, which is dedicated to securing the future of the metal casting industry.

Cast In Steel TV page:
https://www.castinsteel.net/tv-show

YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@CastinSteel