Background
Schmetzer grew up in Seattle, Washington where he attended Nathan Hale High School.
Schmetzer grew up in Seattle, Washington where he attended Nathan Hale High School.
He learned to play soccer under the tutelage of his father Walter who coached him with the Lake City Hawks youth team Walter, a native of Germany, had played in the German Third Division before immigrating to the United States. In 1986, he signed with the Cleveland Force of Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL).
In 1988, he moved to the Tacoma Stars of MISL. He played two seasons with Tacoma.