Metzler surges to national wrestling prominence

Takes 6th in National Super 32 Championship Tournament

Saying “the experience was life-changing,” West Morris Central sophomore Shane Metzler burst into the conversation for top wrestlers in the nation by taking 6th place in the Super 32 Challenge. An annual tournament of the nation’s best high school grapplers, Super 32 is seen as the nation’s most prestigious off-season event with 100+ man brackets stacked with nationally-ranked wrestlers and state champions.

Four Wolfpack wrestlers qualified for this year’s event, held November 1-2 in Greensboro, NC: sophomore Kade Loughney, seniors Dylan Luciano and David Migliaccio, and Metzler.

There were nearly 150 qualifiers from New Jersey, but Metzler was one of only eight to medal. One hundred thirty-five wrestlers from across the country competed in Metzler’s 106 lb. weight class. Many if not most NCAA champions competed at Super 32 along the way.

What was Metzler’s path to the podium? “It took hours of dedication, cautious dieting, and staying faithful to my training schedule,” he said. Metzler qualified by placing first in a 30-man bracket in Pennsylvania.

“As for placing, I felt gratified that my hard work is starting to pay off,” said Metzler. “So overall the experience was life changing.”

Two of New Jersey’s top-five 106 lb. wrestlers competed (according to Full Circle Wrestling). Metzler defeated 5th-ranked Quinn Kinner 5-3, but lost to 2nd-ranked Jonathan Tropea 6-4. But after Oklahoma’s Rodrick Mosley Jr. narrowly defeated Tropea, Metzler gutted out an overtime win over Mosley 2-1 to ascend to the podium. According to FloWrestling, Tropea was New Jersey’s top-ranked 106 pounder, and 7th in the nation.

Along the way, Metzler defeated two wrestlers who were ranked top-20 in the nation by Flo.

Last year Metzler was 29-9, tying Johnny Sickles’ West Morris Central record for most wins by a freshman. But he was never in the conversation for New Jersey’s top-20. He sure will be now.

Loughney defeated Joey Misleh from Ohio, Luciano topped Michael Vernagallo from North Carolina, and Migliaccio defeated Demarco Gatti from Georgia -- but none was able to place.

And what’s next? “As for now, I’m excited to start the season with my West Morris teammates and have a successful year,” said Metzler.

The Wolfpack’s wrestling season kicks off just before Thanksgiving. Metzler, Loughney, Luciano and Migliaccio lead the team’s returning varsity lettermen who include seniors Ben Piraneo and Michael Oros; juniors Caleb Isemann, Alex Kaltenhauser, Ben Yaskulka and Noah Yaskulka; and sophomores Taylor Parkinson-Gee and Christian Trimarchi.