Erik is a two-time All-Southwestern Conference defensive end and also a three-time state qualifier in wrestling. He capped off his senior year by finishing second in the state in his weight class at the 1997 state wrestling tournament and was the team & Lorain county MVP wrestler. That followed up a junior year in which he finished sixth in the state.

In football, he was a captain his senior year in 1997 and earned first team all-Southwestern conference honors at the defensive end spot. In track, Erik set the school record in the discus at that time.

Eric was also a standout in the classroom. He was named a Lorain County Scholar Athlete and attended Columbia University for two years, where he also played football before he transferred to Ohio University to finish up his college degree.