Gettemeier attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he played on the men's soccer team from 1979 to 1982.
[1] In 1979, he was the winning goalkeeper in SIUE's National Championship victory over Clemson University played in Tampa Stadium.
[2] In 1983, Gettemeier turned professional with the Montreal Manic of the North American Soccer League.
He then signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Steamers of the Major Indoor Soccer League.
He played two seasons (one year contract plus one year option) with the Steamers and became a free agent at the end of the 1985–1986 season when the Steamers and Gettemeier could not agree to contract terms.