#ThrowbackThursday: Three-time World medalist and two-time NCAA champion Andre Metzger
Share:
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Andre Metzger lifts an opponent for a throw. USA Wrestling file photo
One of the most exciting and unique athletes on the national and international scene during the 1980’s was Hall of Fame member Andre Metzger, who was highly successful on the college and World freestyle levels with a style of his own.
Growing up in Michigan, Metzger not only dominated the USA Wrestling Junior wrestling scene, winning five Junior National titles, but he spent time living and training in Japan in order to improve his international wrestling style. Metzger wrestled constantly, entering tournaments all over the nation and the world to expand his experience and skills.
He signed with the University of Oklahoma, one of the powerhouse programs of his day, and had a great career there, becoming a four-time All-American, and winning NCAA titles in both 1981 and 1982. His Sooner teams place in the top four at the NCAAs three times during his career, taking second in 1981, third in 1982 and fourth in 1980.
Click here for Andre Metzger’s Hall of Fame bio
Metzger was a creative athlete who could score from many positions, and ended up having a move named after him which he developed called “The Metzger.” In this technique, he would change directions on an attacking opponent and hit a big throw. Athletes are still using that move.
He quickly became one of the nation’s top international freestyle wrestlers, right at the time he was competing in college. In 1979, at the age of 19, he won a Senior World bronze medal at 62 kg, at the time the youngest U.S. wrestler to win a World medal. He also won a 1979 Pan American Games gold medal, an amazing feat for an athlete of his age.
Trivia Question: At the 1982 NCAA Championships held at Iowa State, Andre Metzger was one of three future National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Members on the Oklahoma team to win NCAA titles that year. Name them, as well as the Hall of Famer who coached that Oklahoma team. (Answer at the bottom of this story)
Metzger continued to be one of the best U.S. freestyle wrestlers throughout the decade, winning a World silver medal in 1986 and a World bronze medal in 1987. Metzger was also fourth in the 1982 World Championships. He won a second Pan American Games gold medal in 1987. He also won a medal in four Freestyle World Cups.
In 1988, he had intense battles with former Iowa State star Nate Carr for a spot on the Olympic team, a berth which was secured by Carr, who later won an Olympic bronze medal. Metzger’s international freestyle career did not continue much after that Olympic cycle.
Although Metzger was not active in wrestling for many years, he returned to the sport as a coach in Texas, where he is still impacting lives of young athletes. The competitive juices came back after he had turned 50, and he made a run at the 2012 Olympic team and a few U.S. World Teams in Greco-Roman. Metzger was elected to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2017.
Trivia Question Answer: Andre Metzger of OU was the NCAA champion at 142 pounds in 1982. He was joined as NCAA champions by teammates Dave Schultz (167) and Mark Schultz (177), both who became National Wrestling Hall of Fame members. The Hall of Fame inductee who coached the Sooner team was Stan Abel.
One of the most exciting and unique athletes on the national and international scene during the 1980’s was Hall of Fame member Andre Metzger, who was highly successful on the college and World freestyle levels with a style of his own.
Growing up in Michigan, Metzger not only dominated the USA Wrestling Junior wrestling scene, winning five Junior National titles, but he spent time living and training in Japan in order to improve his international wrestling style. Metzger wrestled constantly, entering tournaments all over the nation and the world to expand his experience and skills.
He signed with the University of Oklahoma, one of the powerhouse programs of his day, and had a great career there, becoming a four-time All-American, and winning NCAA titles in both 1981 and 1982. His Sooner teams place in the top four at the NCAAs three times during his career, taking second in 1981, third in 1982 and fourth in 1980.
Click here for Andre Metzger’s Hall of Fame bio
Metzger was a creative athlete who could score from many positions, and ended up having a move named after him which he developed called “The Metzger.” In this technique, he would change directions on an attacking opponent and hit a big throw. Athletes are still using that move.
He quickly became one of the nation’s top international freestyle wrestlers, right at the time he was competing in college. In 1979, at the age of 19, he won a Senior World bronze medal at 62 kg, at the time the youngest U.S. wrestler to win a World medal. He also won a 1979 Pan American Games gold medal, an amazing feat for an athlete of his age.
Trivia Question: At the 1982 NCAA Championships held at Iowa State, Andre Metzger was one of three future National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Members on the Oklahoma team to win NCAA titles that year. Name them, as well as the Hall of Famer who coached that Oklahoma team. (Answer at the bottom of this story)
Metzger continued to be one of the best U.S. freestyle wrestlers throughout the decade, winning a World silver medal in 1986 and a World bronze medal in 1987. Metzger was also fourth in the 1982 World Championships. He won a second Pan American Games gold medal in 1987. He also won a medal in four Freestyle World Cups.
In 1988, he had intense battles with former Iowa State star Nate Carr for a spot on the Olympic team, a berth which was secured by Carr, who later won an Olympic bronze medal. Metzger’s international freestyle career did not continue much after that Olympic cycle.
Although Metzger was not active in wrestling for many years, he returned to the sport as a coach in Texas, where he is still impacting lives of young athletes. The competitive juices came back after he had turned 50, and he made a run at the 2012 Olympic team and a few U.S. World Teams in Greco-Roman. Metzger was elected to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2017.
Trivia Question Answer: Andre Metzger of OU was the NCAA champion at 142 pounds in 1982. He was joined as NCAA champions by teammates Dave Schultz (167) and Mark Schultz (177), both who became National Wrestling Hall of Fame members. The Hall of Fame inductee who coached the Sooner team was Stan Abel.
