Northwestern's 2010 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honoree

2009-10: Starter at 133 pounds ... Northwestern's senior leader and a team captain ... 14-12 overall and 12-7 in dual matches, including 4-4 in the Big Ten ... Placed at the Big Ten Championships for the first time in his career (eighth), going 2-3 as the tournament's No. 5 seed ... In the seventh-place match at Big Tens, Metzler led Michigan's Zac Stevens 4-3 in the waning seconds before Stevens (an NCAA qualifier) was able to tie and win in overtime ... Narrowly missed an at-large bid to NCAA Championships ... Won a 2-1 decision over NCAA qualifier Sean Clair of Eastern Michigan on Nov. 22 ... Upset preseason No. 15 Tristen DeShazer of Northern Illinois by 5-1 decision on Dec. 3 ... Won a pair of major decisions at Lone Star Duals ... Enjoyed a 2-0 weekend during a road trip to Penn State and Ohio State ... Won a thrilling match on Senior Day against Michigan's Zac Stevens, coming back from a late deficit to win 14-12 ... Six of his losses came by three points or fewer ... Academic All-Big Ten.

2008-09: Missed first half of the season due to injury and finished 4-6 overall ... Made his return at the NWCA National Duals where he was 2-0, defeating Matt Vacanti of Nebraska and Taylor Crane of Missouri (1/10) ... 2-4 in Big Ten duals with wins against Wisconsin and Michigan ... 0-2 at Big Ten Championships against fifth-seeded Reece Humphrey of Ohio State and third-seeded Jimmy Kennedy of Illinois ... Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honoree.

2007-08: Second year as starter at 133 lbs. ... Finished with 13-17 record ... 0-2 at Big Ten Championships ... Opened season by placing in all three open tournaments ... Finished fifth at Eastern Michigan Open and sixth at Michigan State Open and Missouri Open ... Opened dual season with two wins against North?Dakota State and Eastern Michigan ... Went 1-3 at Midlands Championships ... Defeated 11th-ranked Tyler McCormick of Missouri at National Duals ... Wrestled Iowa's fourth-ranked Joe Slaton to close 11-6 decision in dual match ... Academic All-Big Ten.

2006-07: Started every Big Ten dual at 133 lbs. ... Earned a major decision over Chicago's Ben Hart at the NU Duals (11/12) ... Took fifth place at the 2006 Midlands Championships, defeating then-sixth-ranked and third-seeded Mario Galanakis of Iowa in the quarterfinals ... Pinned West Virginia's Mark Anderson at NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals (1/13) ... Won first career Big Ten dual match against Wisconsin's Zach Tanelli on 1/26 ... Defeated Michigan's Chris Diehl by 4-0 decision to seal NU's 20-14 win in dual finale.

2005-06: Redshirt season, did not compete.

High School: Two-time Wisconsin state champion ... Qualified for state all four years ... Placed second and third at state meet the years he didn't win title ... Was a perfect 39-0 as a senior ... Posted a 172-5 career record ... Four-time Packerland Conference champion ... Named Packerland Conference Outstanding Wrestler ... Team MVP ... Led his team to three state team championships ... Placed fifth at Greco-Roman Junior Nationals ... Also lettered in football ... Four-time academic all-state wrestling team member ... National Honor Society member.

Personal: Born Eric John Metzler ... Son of Steve and Julie Metzler ... Chose Northwestern over Minnesota, Central Michigan and Pittsburgh ... Graduated with a degree in learning and organizational change; currently pursuing a master's degree in sports administration.

Metzler's Stats