Hall of Fame
Spanning over six decades, Robert Leonard Kersch has had an outstanding career of officiating high school boys swimming and diving, and soccer. Kersch, widely referred to as “the official’s official”, has especially made a tremendous impact on the sport of swimming and diving.
A New York State Certified Swimming Official since 1958, Kersch has been a meet official for the NYSPHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving State Championships since 1964—43 seasons and counting—and since 1996 has been the Meet Referee for that event. For Section XI’s qualifying meeting, Kersch has held the same Meet Referee position since 1966 and further, has been the Long Island Swimming Officials Association (LISOA) official Rules Interpreter since 1968. His involvement with the New York State Certified Officials Association (NYSCOA) goes even beyond his first experience at a State Championship as he’s provided service to the NYSCOA dating back 47 years, three of which serving as President of the organization (1981-1983).
Kersch’s commitment to the sport sparked the initiation of several projects including co-founding the Metropolitan Swimming Officials Association and initiating and conducting the LISOA School in the early 1970’s as well. As a member of the LISOA, Kersch served as President from 1967-1969 and then again from 1975-1977. Kersch also maintains his membership with the Suffolk County Soccer Officials Association of which he’s been a member since 1970. In the sport of boys soccer, he has officiated in both the Section XI Tournament and the NYSPHSAA State Tournament.
Over the years, Kersch has received numerous honors as an official, including Official of the Year (1972-72) from the Suffolk County Coaches Association, and the Inaugural Man of the Year Award from the Suffolk County Soccer Officials Association in 2004. Further, the Suffolk County Coaches Association initiated the “Bob Kersch Award” in 1999—an award presented annually to a top high school athlete.
Kersch graduated from LaSalle High School (Niagara Falls) in 1952, received his Bachelors degree from Buffalo State where he continued on and received his Masters degree.