James C. Metzger’s High School Lacrosse Jersey Retired

Half Hollow Hills High School East recently retired the lacrosse jersey of James C. Metzger, the founder and COO of The Whitmore Group, a leading personal and commercial insurance brokerage firm in Garden City. Metzger was a three-sport star student-athlete at the school during the 1970s.

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Photo: James C. Metzger, right, receives his framed and now retired Half Hollow Hills East High School lacrosse jersey from Eric Geringswald, school director of the youth lacrosse program and school board trustee. Metzger supports PAL, high school and college lacrosse programs on Long Island. He also supports education programs and other charities throughout the New York metropolitan area. Courtesy of The Whitmore Group

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Metzger set assist records (82 in one season) and won many awards during his high school playing days, including All-American honors and the 1977 Ray Enners Award for outstanding Suffolk County lacrosse player. He scored 102 points that season. Metzger also starred in football and played varsity basketball as a sophomore in the Suffolk County playoffs.

After high school graduation, Metzger played lacrosse for two years at Hofstra University. As an All-American, he led Hofstra in assists during his freshman and sophomore seasons (1979 and 1980). His single season points per game average (4.9) ranks fourth all-time and his single season assist average (2.8) ranks eighth.

Enners Also Honored

Half Hollow Hills East also retired the jersey of Lt. Raymond J. Enners, who played on its 1960 teams and for whom are named the Suffolk County high school lacrosse award and a national collegiate lacrosse award.

During his high school days, Enners was captain of the football, basketball and lacrosse teams. Fondly nicknamed "The Machine" by his teammates, Enners was named All-County, All-Long Island and Honorable Mention All-American. He played varsity lacrosse for five years and he played in the first five Suffolk County championships. He attended and played at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he was the 1967 NCAA/USILA Honorable Mention All-American.

Enners was killed in action in Vietnam. Heart of Gray, a book that reveals how West Point and its values of "Duty, Honor, Country" influenced Lt. Enners, was written by his brother, Richard Enners, and published during 2016.

Beginning with the 2019 season, the Enners and Metzger banners will be showcased on the school’s "fence of honor" at every home game.