UWEC Athletics Hall of Fame
Andy Antonetz was a four-time NAIA All-American in the late 1970s and a member of the 1978 and 1979 Blugold teams which finished second in the NAIA Nationals. At the time of his induction, Antonetz was working on a master's degree in physical education at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana while he directs the McNeese State aquatics program. Antonetz is one of a handful of Blugolds to have earned All-American honors four times during his career. His performances helped the Blugolds garner a pair of fourth places in 1976 and 1977 and two runner-up finishes in 1978 and 1979 at the NAIA Nationals. He scored in four individual and three relay events at nationals and also was a member of the Blugolds' national championship 400 medley and 800 freestyle relay teams in 1979. The latter relay set a national record. His best individual finishes were seconds in the 200 butterfly (1976 and 1977) and a third in the 500 freestyle (1979). Antonetz won five conference individual championships in the 200 freestyle, 200 butterfly and 500 freestyle and was a member of eight winning relay teams. During his era, the Blugolds won three conference championships and were second once. Antonetz was team Most Valuable in 1976 and 1977 and the NAIA District 14 Swimmer of the Year in 1976. He served as team captain his junior and senior seasons. He left his name tatooed on a variety of school, pool, conference and national records when he graduated in 1980 with his bachelor's degree in physical edcuation.
The Zanesville, Ohio native was a member of the Beach Patrol for the Town of Palm Beach, Florida from 1981-89, becoming assistant supervisor for lifeguards. He served as assistant swim coach for intermediate ages (11 to 16 years) for the Palm Beach County Recreation Department from 1988 to early 1990. He became Coach of the Year after leading Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Florida to a conference championship and undefeated dual meet season in 1989. During his years in Florida, he competed and won honors 'in the U.S. Masters Swimming Short Course Nationals. He also competed and won honors in the U.S. Lifeguard Association National Tournament, earning the Most Outstanding Competitive Lifeguard Award at the 1988 Southeastern Regional Tournament. For several years, he served as a professional diver for the Town of Palm Beach Police Underwater Search and Recovery team. He co-authored the Town of Palm Beach's Underwater Search and Recovery Training Manual as well as the Florida Beach Patrol Lifeguard Training Manual. He also authored the Kaltenborne Educational Communication Foundation's "The Professional Lifeguard's Role in Water Safety Public Awareness." At McNeese State, where they do not have varsity swimming programs, he was working to develop an aquatics program at the time of his induction.
