Elite technician Metzger goes into Hall of Fame
By Berry Tramel
The Daily Oklahoman
The Russian coach from almost four decades ago, when Andre Metzger was but a sophomore in high school, came up to the American wrestler with some stark news.
“The Americans are fools,” said the Russian.
Fighting words now. Fighting words then, at the height of the Cold War. But the Russian coach was talking wrestling, so Metzger was listening.
That Soviet Union coach had watched Metzger's match. He wrote down some suggestions and gave Metzger the notes. “You're tough,” he told Metzger. “Here's the mistake you're making.” Some kind of technical snafu that only matheads would find interesting.
On Saturday night in Stillwater, Metzger goes into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame because he's a mathead. Metzger is a Hall of Famer because he's recognized as one of the great technicians in American history.
“I'm a sponge of knowledge and a filter of the information,” Metzger said last week. “All my life, I've always lived by that. I take what you give me, I take what I can, I throw out the rest, but I respect you enough to say thank you for your help. Each person in my life, that's what I've done.”
Metzger was recruited to OU by coach Stan Abel, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1990, out of Cedar Springs, Mich., in 1978, a legendary high school wrestler who won three national junior titles in freestyle and two more in Greco-Roman. Metzger didn't disappoint at OU; he finished fifth in the NCAA in 1979, second in 1980 and won titles in 1981 and 1982.
Read Full Story
The Daily Oklahoman
The Russian coach from almost four decades ago, when Andre Metzger was but a sophomore in high school, came up to the American wrestler with some stark news.
“The Americans are fools,” said the Russian.
Fighting words now. Fighting words then, at the height of the Cold War. But the Russian coach was talking wrestling, so Metzger was listening.
That Soviet Union coach had watched Metzger's match. He wrote down some suggestions and gave Metzger the notes. “You're tough,” he told Metzger. “Here's the mistake you're making.” Some kind of technical snafu that only matheads would find interesting.
On Saturday night in Stillwater, Metzger goes into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame because he's a mathead. Metzger is a Hall of Famer because he's recognized as one of the great technicians in American history.
“I'm a sponge of knowledge and a filter of the information,” Metzger said last week. “All my life, I've always lived by that. I take what you give me, I take what I can, I throw out the rest, but I respect you enough to say thank you for your help. Each person in my life, that's what I've done.”
Metzger was recruited to OU by coach Stan Abel, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1990, out of Cedar Springs, Mich., in 1978, a legendary high school wrestler who won three national junior titles in freestyle and two more in Greco-Roman. Metzger didn't disappoint at OU; he finished fifth in the NCAA in 1979, second in 1980 and won titles in 1981 and 1982.
Read Full Story
Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations