Past HHHE Athlete James Metzger Stars In "Social Life"

James C. Metzger, center, is joined by Kelly Fallon (Half Hollow Hills school district superintendent) and Eric Geringswald (president of Half Hollow Hills School District Board).

James C. Metzger, a prominent student-athlete at Half Hollow Hills East High School and later at Hofstra University, is featured in the September 2014 edition of Social Life magazine, the premier luxury publication for the Hamptons. Metzger is founder and CEO of The Whitmore Group and a supporter of HHHE’s lacrosse and football programs.

The article that explores Metzger’s Long Island sports and business success, plus his philanthropic contributions to sports programs and a multitude of community and charitable organizations, also includes a number of photographs with family, friends and business associates.

One photograph that accompanies the cover story includes Metzger’s nephew, Rob Pannell, and business associate Louis D’Agostino.

Pannell is a four-time lacrosse All-American at Cornell University and 2013 collegiate lacrosse player of the year. He now plays with the Long Island Lizards.

D’Agostino is a past Nassau County football player of the year who also played for the University of Rhode Island and the New York Jets. He presently operates Iron Cove Partners, a Whitmore Group company.

The Whitmore Group is a leading insurance brokerage and financial services firm headquartered in Garden City. Metzger founded the company during 1989. Since then, he has become one of the top civic-minded and community-engaged philanthropists in the New York metropolitan area.

Also featured with Metzger are:

• Jim Amen, Manhasset public schools director of health services;
• Kelly Fallon, Half Hollow Hills school district superintendent;
• Eric Geringswald, president of Half Hollow Hills School District Board;
• Jeffrey Hathaway, Hofstra University vice president and director of athletics;
• Barry Landers, former radio voice of the New York Islanders and president of Landers Sports Productions;
• Bill Russo, former Half Hollow Hills West High School football and lacrosse coach;
• Nina Van Erk, Nassau County NYSPHSAA Section VIII executive director.

High School, College Success

Metzger earned national honors as a lacrosse player at Hofstra during 1980 and he was a lacrosse, football and basketball standout at Half Hollow Hills East High School in Dix Hills, New York, during the late 1970s.

At Half Hollow Hills, Metzger was an All-American in lacrosse. He won the Lieutenant Ray Enners Award as Outstanding Lacrosse Player in Suffolk County for 1977. Metzger’s scoring average of 6.0 points per game was a school record and led Suffolk County (public schools). During that same year, Metzger set school records for points in a season and assists in a game, season and career.

Metzger also was a stand-out in football, graduating in 1977 as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rusher. He was a Suffolk County All-Star Running Back, known for starting 25 consecutive games. He rushed for 2,155 yards and he scored 27 touchdowns and 170 points. Metzger’s career total offense, including receptions and returns, was 2,777 yards. He led the team in scoring during 1974, 1975 and 1976, and in rushing for 1975 and 1976.

For 1977, Metzger was the only high school athlete to be selected and participate in both the Suffolk County North – South All-Star Football Game and the North – South All-Star Lacrosse Game. He started at running back on the North Football Team and he started at attack position for the North Lacrosse Team. He was recruited to play football by Syracuse, Cornell and Colgate, and he was recruited to play lacrosse by Virginia, Army, Navy, Cornell, Penn State, Towson, North Carolina State and Hofstra. As a sophomore, Metzger played for the 1974-1975 Half Hollow Hills varsity basketball team in the Suffolk Country Playoffs.

After high school, Metzger attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School. He was a starter at running back on the football team but suffered a severe shoulder injury that ended his football career. Metzger led the lacrosse team in goals, assists and points, and he won the team’s most valuable player award.

Metzger was a Division 1 All-American lacrosse player at Hofstra. His sophomore record-setting scoring average of 4.9 points per game still stands. His single-season average still ranks fifth in the history of the Hofstra lacrosse program. Metzger’s single season assist average ranks eighth all time. Metzger is one of only three players in the history of the Hofstra’s Men’s Lacrosse program to score eight or more points three times in one season when he recorded eight points against Penn State, Towson and North Carolina State during 1980. Metzger led the lacrosse team in assists during 1979 (12) and 1980 (28), and in points (49) in only 10 games during 1980.

From Sports To Business

While growing his firm, Metzger never forgot his sports roots, and he has supported athletics and education at both schools. A recent inductee to the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame, Metzger’s philosophy reflects the sports and business connection – “Everything I ever needed to know about business I learned on the sports field.”

Metzger’s success on and off the field also has benefitted many local organizations. “My formula and our model,” said Metzger in the article, “are to be community-minded and share a percentage of our profits with the community. It’s extremely rewarding. To be able to help the community, to be able to help the underprivileged and to be able to help your company at the same time. What an experience.”