South Dakota Mines

Upon graduation from Milbank High School in 1993, Goetsch elected to attend the School of Mines, primarily because of its reputation for academic excellence — extending his athletic career came as a bonus. A four-year starter on the football team, Goetsch was known as a fierce competitor despite his affable nature. He earned All-SDIC honors during his final season in 1996 as the SDIC Most Valuable Defensive Player, beating out the NAIA National Defensive Player of the Year from conference rival University of Sioux Falls.

While he had a great love for football, track and field is where he excelled. In both the indoor and outdoor seasons of 1996 and 1997, Goetsch extended numerous school and conference records in the shot put. He achieved All-American status three times and finished second at the NAIA national championships during the 1997 indoor and outdoor seasons with a toss of 56-feet, 6 inches at the indoor meet and 56-9-¾ at the outdoor meet. Goetsch still holds the Mines’ shot put record at 57-10½ and is sixth on the Mines’ all-time list in the discus at 157-7. He was an Academic All-American twice and a member of the National Engineering Society.