Few wrestlers in American history combined creativity, toughness, and technical brilliance quite like Andre Metzger. A legendary figure in both collegiate and international wrestling, Metzger built a career that helped define an era of Oklahoma wrestling excellence while becoming one of the sport’s most respected innovators. Originally from Cedar Springs, Michigan, Metzger arrived at the University of Oklahoma in 1978 and quickly established himself as one of the nation’s elite competitors. Wrestling for the Sooners from 1979–1982, he earned four All-American honors and captured NCAA Championships at 142 pounds in both 1981 and 1982. He finished his collegiate career with a remarkable 114-14-2 record and helped lead Oklahoma to multiple top-four NCAA team finishes.  

Metzger’s impact extended far beyond folkstyle wrestling. Internationally, he became one of the most accomplished American freestyle wrestlers of the 1980s. At just 19 years old, he earned a bronze medal at the 1979 World Championships, becoming the youngest American wrestler at the time to medal on the world stage a record that stood for more than three decades. Over his career, Metzger earned multiple World Championship medals, won five U.S. Senior Freestyle titles, and claimed two Pan American Games gold medals.  

Known for his dynamic and unconventional style, Metzger changed the way many viewed offensive wrestling. His creativity and scrambling ability were so unique that one of his signature techniques became widely known simply as “The Metzger,” a move still recognized throughout wrestling circles today.   In 2017, Metzger was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential wrestlers in American history.