“With Phil's experience in the pro tour and his leadership skills, he will certainly win matches.” – Ty Tucker
Ohio State Career 2001-02 (Junior)
Metz led the team with a 21-11 singles record and a 16-9 doubles record ... finished the year ranked No. 45 in the nation ... was the first Buckeye to play back-to-back NCAA singles tournaments since Ty Tucker did in 1990-91 ... in the Ohio State record books, is ninth with 85 career wins ... is tied at No. 20 with 45 career doubles wins ... made a NCAA singles championship appearance but retired because of injury 5-3 in the first round to Baylor’s Zoltan Papp ... was selected to the All-Big Ten team and Academic All-Big Ten.
2000-01 (Sophomore) Metz was one of the top performers on the squad as he led the team with a 37-11 record from the No. 1 singles spot ... became the first NCAA Singles Championship qualifier for the Buckeyes since Coach Ty Tucker did so in 1991 ... posted a 9-4 record against other qualifiers and was ranked as high as No. 36 during the year ... advanced to the second round before falling to Casey Smith of Duke, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 ... finished the campaign ranked No. 26 in the nation ... was honored as the Region IV Player to Watch after going 24-6 against regional opponents including two upset wins over Illinois’ Graydon Oliver ... joined Chris Porter as OSU’s All-Big Ten selections ... recorded the lone team point in a 4-1 loss to No. 6 Tennessee in the NCAA tournament second round with an upset of No. 33 Mark Parsons, 6-3, 6-4 (5/13/01) ... never lost back-to-back matches during the year ... advanced to the USTA Champaign Challenger semifinals before falling to eventual champion Phil Stolt of Illinois, 6-3, 6-4 (11/10/00) ... also advanced to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Indoors before falling to eventual champion Jason Marshall of Purdue, 6-0, 6-3 (1/14/01) ... teamed with Porter to form a tough doubles team ... finished the year 15-4 playing No. 3 ... won 11-of-15 matches by scores of 8-3 or less ... invited to play on the USA Tennis Collegiate Summer Team, a team comprised of the top up-and-coming American collegiate players in the nation ... 1999-00 (Freshman) Posted a 27-12 singles record and was 7-3 in his freshman year at the No. 3 position … was one of four candidates for Big Ten Freshman of the Year … advanced to third round of Big Ten Indoor (1/15/00) … recorded singles victories over Minnesota’s Thomas Haug, South Alabama’s Christian Thall, Indiana’s Ian Arons and Michigans’s Henry Beam … one of four players to rotate in and out of doubles positions … had key doubles victory over No. 37 Virginia’s Tommy Croker and John Winter with teammate Chris Porter … teamed up with Rocco Cona, the head tennis director of Springside Raquet and Fitness Club in Montrose, Ohio, to take second place at The Wickertree Tennis Club in Columbus, Ohio, Dec. 26-30, 1998 and reached finals by defeating No. 22 Mike Dektas of West Virginia and James Kent (3-6, 7-5, 7-5) … had one of two key singles victories over Boise State at NCAA team tournament.
Mentor High School Metz starred at Mentor, winning the 1999 Ohio Division I State Singles Championship … was a four-time league MVP … he earned the No. 1-ranking in the U.S. Midwest Region … Metz was ranked as high as No. 22 in the USTA national rankings, amassing an impressive 30-6 record … was crowned champion of the ITA National Amateur Tournament held at Ohio State last summer.
Personal Born April 13, 1981, he is the son of Jim and Karen Metz … his brother, Michael, plays baseball for John Carroll University and was invited to try out for the New York Yankees … his sister, Julie, plays volleyball for the University of Kentucky, and his sister, Jennie, is a volleyball player at Mentor High School … enjoys raising alpacas, a member of the camel family closely related to the llama, on his family farm, and playing golf and volleyball in his spare time.
