February 24, 2022 at 9:57 a.m.
Rhinelander official works WIAA state swim meet
Rhinelander official works WIAA state swim meet
More than five decades later, things came full circle for Netzer on the state's biggest swimming stage. Netzer was one of five officials who got the call to work last weekend's WIAA boys' swim and dive state championships. He officiated both the Division 1 and Division 2 championships as a stroke and turn judge.
Netzer has been a staple at Rhinelander High School swim meets for decades, typically assigned to work with officiating partner Steve Jensen, at home dual meets and invitationals. He has also worked a number of sectional meets over the years, including the WIAA Division 2 sectional in Menomonie earlier this month but said, up until last weekend, he had not gotten the call to work the WIAA state meet in his 48-year officiating career.
Netzer said WIAA Assistant Director Tom Shafranski, who oversees the state swim championships for the organization, delivered the news. Shafranski was the activities directors at RHS from 1993-2000.
"The WIAA called me and told me I was invited to come down to officiate the state meet. I was pleasantly surprised as well," Netzer said while on deck last Friday night at the Waukesha South High School Natatorium, during a break in the Division 2 action. "It's been a real thrill. These guys are just amazing. The energy here is great. It's a great experience."
RHS boys' swim coach Jenny Heck said it was a pleasant surprise to see Netzer on deck when her team got ready to compete in last Friday's D2 state meet, where the Hodags placed third in a field of 28 teams.
"I was really happy to have Dan here. He's worked for years and years and years. He's just a great guy, has dedicated so much time to swimming. I didn't realize it was his first state meet," she said.
Netzer said getting to state as an official brought him back to his time swimming for the Hodags.
"It's a little bit bigger, for sure, but it's the same kind of feeling, going to a state championship," he said. "When I talk to some of these officials that have been around as long as I have, we can reminisce about when they swam and when I swam, it's very interesting."
Netzer said he plans to officiate as long as his abilities allow him to. Though he has spent nearly a half century in white and khaki as a WIAA swim official, feeding off the energy of high school swimmers has kept him feeling young at heart.
"I do it because of the energy of the kids," he said. "I can come in and I feel like I'm making a difference. You just walk in and you can feel the energy of these kids swimming. It just keep you going."
A release last week from the National Federations of High Schools stated that roughly 50,000 high school officials have discontinued their service since the 2018-19 season - citing the COVID-19 pandemic and "unsportsmanlike behavior by students, coaches, parents and other fans" as the primary factors.
Stories like Netzer's run against that narrative, and Heck said she's appreciative of everything officials like Netzer have given back to the sport.
"He does such a great job and really just wants what's best for the kids, really fair and does great at his job," she said. "He's always usually (officiating) around Rhinelander, so I'm happy to see him get some attention down here."
While Netzer had plenty of responsibility, making sure the weekend's races were properly adjudicated, he admitted part of him was happy to be a fan with one of the best seats in the house.
"I'm just really excited to be invited down here and really having a good time," he said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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