Fun Entertainment And Lasting Friendships The Wellington Seniors Club Provides For The Social Needs Of Older Residents

Story By M. Dennis Taylor  |  Photos by Denise Fleischman

The Wellington Seniors Club has been serving the social needs of older residents in the Village of Wellington for nearly 30 years, creating lasting friendships, fun and entertainment for a vibrant slice of the community’s population.

Eileen Kuhnel is the current president of the Wellington Seniors Club, an independent nonprofit that is open to residents of Wellington age 55 and over. “They join when they can, but then get really active when they retire,” Kuhnel said of the group’s large membership.

Kuhnel stressed that the Wellington Seniors Club was established primarily for recreational activities, and its monthly luncheons and seasonal dinners are, in normal times, among the most well-attended events held in Wellington.

Kuhnel explained that 29 years ago, back in 1992, some 25 members joined the fledgling group. Today, there are more than 650 members, enrolled and active. Currently, the membership rolls are frozen until after the start of 2022.

“Even when people get old enough and they go back home up north to be near their families, they remain members so they get the membership newsletter and can keep up with Florida friends,” she said.

While the club would love to get back to business as usual, the group has been careful during the pandemic to continue providing social events in as safe a fashion as possible.

“These events may include a drive-through box lunch special for 250 people,” Kuhnel said. “Everyone wears a mask, it’s not enclosed, and everyone maintains social distancing.”

She is very proud of the way the club and its membership has travailed the difficult times of the pandemic. “Wellington people seem to take better care of themselves and are more cautious,” Kuhnel said.

However, she is eager to get back to in-person events. “We want to move into the next planning stage,” Kuhnel said. “There are new and exciting ideas depending upon what opens up.”

Previously, the club has taken members on social trips, as well as the luncheons. Kuhnel described some of these adventures, such as airboat rides in the Everglades.

“It was exhilarating,” she said. “All the adventures involve a bus ride with about 55 of your favorite Wellington retirees. That’s because of the size of the buses and restaurants that accommodate us. Other trips are on oceangoing boats, flattops for the backcountry observing trips in the Keys, SeaWorld, the St. John’s River, the Broadway Palm Theatre with buffet dinners in Fort Myers, casino trips, and trips to all your favorite and soon-to-be-favorite area restaurants.”

The club makes it easy for local retirees to participate.

“Everything is planned in advance, there’s a trip coordinator, and your only responsibility is to remember your assigned seating so you will still be close to your friends,” Kuhnel said. “The food and beverages are planned, parking is a breeze and your car stays right in the neighborhood.”

Convenience is key when planning events for local seniors.

“Wellington gives us a designated place to park at the community center. The cars are parked there for the day, and we go off on our event,” she said. “The number of activities in the year are about nine lunches, about 12 of the stepping out programs and the two annual dances.”

Those dances include a holiday dance and a spring dance. The board of directors is traditionally installed during the holiday event.

“The camaraderie is so important,” Kuhnel said. “It’s very easy for seniors to get lonely.”

Not big on social media, the group uses phone trees and a newsletter to keep in contact with members.

Stephanie Parreco serves on the board of directors of the club as the recording secretary and vice president. She got involved six years ago when she moved down from Maryland. Parreco likes getting to know other people in her age group.

“I like to have lunch in there about once a month. The luncheons at the equestrian center are great, and the trips that didn’t go on during the pandemic were missed,” she said. “There’s the ballroom, the box lunches, the different vendors every month or so. It’s entertainment for up to 300 at each luncheon. Before COVID-19, we outgrew the facility, and they had to move us to another location.”

Mae Loglisci currently serves as the corresponding secretary. She has served on the board of directors for 11 of her 22 years in the club.

“It’s nice for fellowship with people of the same age, and a continuity of experience,” Loglisci said. “When we started meeting when I joined, there were 35 to 38 people, and now there are 650-plus. We go to many theaters, casinos and the Japanese gardens. Luncheons are now at the gym at Village Park because we outgrew the [community center] building. There are different caterers and there’s entertainment — it’s a fun, fun group.”

 

 

 

Sports Complex A Win-Win Unique Partnership Leads To The Creation Of A New Sports Complex At Wellington High School

A unique sports partnership is on full display on the campus of Wellington High School. Thanks to a special agreement between the Village of Wellington, the Palm Beach County School District and Wellington High School, the sports facilities at WHS have been improved, upgraded and enhanced.

While the immediate beneficiaries will be the athletic department and the student-athletes at the high school, the residents of Wellington get free access to these new facilities as well when the many Wolverine teams are not playing or practicing.

For this new sports complex to become a reality, the Palm Beach County School District provided the land and the Village of Wellington paid for the facility to be built. The price tag was $12 million. In order for the village to spend public funds on the WHS campus, the school district had to agree to share the facilities with the general public. It became a win-win for all parties involved.

In June, a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility took place, which officially opened the multi-use sports complex to the general public and to the Wolverines’ athletic program.

The first phase of the new sports complex was completed last summer when the new synthetic turf football field opened at WHS. The Wolverines’ football team, soccer teams and lacrosse teams used the field for home games during the 2020-21 school year. This field has permanent markings for those three sports.

The other new sports facilities at WHS include eight tennis courts, of which four have pickleball lines, four adjoining multi-purpose fields, three basketball courts, two new batting cages, a kickback wall, a running track and a new building that has two concession stands, bathrooms and a meeting room.

According to Wellington Parks & Recreation Director Eric Juckett, many sports will be played on the massive multi-purpose fields, such as flag football, lacrosse, rugby, soccer and outdoor tournaments that are held in Wellington at various times throughout the year.

Wellington Vice Mayor John McGovern is thrilled to see this new sports complex open and being used by the public.

“It is going to be a great addition for the community,” McGovern said. “It is spectacular, and I think that it is going to be a tremendous addition to our parks and recreation inventory.”

Juckett noted that this sports complex puts Wellington on a different level when compared to other municipalities in Palm Beach County.

“We are truly excited to bring this facility to our residents,” Juckett said. “It creates at-will recreation opportunities, and it will be a direct benefit to the students and residents of the village.”

Juckett said that everybody he has spoken with about this unique recreational complex is delighted with what has been accomplished.

“I honestly have not heard anything negative,” Juckett said. “It has all been very positive and in awe of the complex that was built, along with the relationship we have with the Palm Beach County School District and, specifically, Wellington High School.”

According to Juckett, Wellington residents will have access to open play on the tennis courts and basketball courts during the Village of Wellington hours of use. The fall/spring hours are Monday through Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The summer hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Village of Wellington programming will take priority to open play by the general public.

To learn more about Village of Wellington recreation programs, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/recreation.

A Sport For A Lifetime Wellington Tennis Center Offers A Wide Array Of Programs For Children Through Seniors

The state-of-the-art Wellington Tennis Center, located on Lyons Road, offers programs for every age group, teaching this sport designed for a lifetime and offering open play and tournament play to all Wellington residents.

Director of Tennis Chuck Gill, a USPTA elite professional and a longtime Wellington resident, took over as leader of the facility earlier this year, bringing with him a lifetime of tennis expertise.

“I have been teaching tennis and running tennis operations since I left college,” Gill said. “Serendipitously, my graduation was timed with the peak of the tennis boom, and I started with a management company that operated tennis resorts and clubs. Early on, I had enough business acumen to be successful in the business of tennis. I knew that I loved the game and wanted to be involved in this business. After working at several top resorts, I landed at the Club at Ibis, where I spent the last 24 years growing the program and eventually being the director of sports, where I oversaw tennis, fitness, aquatics and spa.”

Along the way, Gill has been an active tennis volunteer and served as president of the United States Professional Tennis Association, as well as serving on many United States Tennis Association boards and committees.

“Since I began playing tennis at public tennis centers and high schools as a kid, returning to lead a public tennis operation is coming full circle for me,” he said. “I have lived in Wellington for 24 years and always had tennis-playing friends in Wellington. When the position opened up, I was so impressed with the village’s commitment to tennis.”

He lauded the Wellington Village Council and the village staff for having the vision and foresight to build the current Wellington Tennis Center in 2015. Tennis was previously housed at the old Wellington Community Center before that building was razed and rebuilt.

“We have 21 beautiful clay courts with state-of-the-industry underground irrigation,” Gill said. “We also have a clubhouse, pro shop and viewing deck that allows our players to have all of the amenities of a private tennis club at a public tennis center.”

The facility opened in style on June 9, 2015 with an appearance by Venus Williams.

“We have a vibrant and growing junior program for kids of all levels and ages, a complete ladies team program, as well as an active group of men of all ages who frequent the courts,” Gill said.

Thousands of players visit the tennis center each year. “Our junior program starts children as early as age five for our Red Ball program. We have some seniors who are knocking on 90 years young,” Gill said. “Our ladies teams have soccer moms, grandmas and proudly, a few great-grandparents. That is one of the best things about tennis — it is truly the sport of a lifetime.”

The Wellington Tennis Center also hosts tournaments, league play, junior events and more, so new players are always visiting to see all that the facility has to offer.

Fees to use the facility are low when compared to similar tennis centers.

“Being a public facility, our goal is to be inclusive and have everyone able to experience tennis, so price should not be a barrier to play,” Gill said. “Daily court fees start at $12 per person, and annual permits are in the $400 to $500 range per person, and less than $700 for a family. For active players, it is the best value anywhere!”

Gill and his staff offer group and private lessons to all levels. “Cardio tennis and our INTense Hitting session are extremely popular,” he said. “We also offer a ‘love to learn, love to play’ program to help new and returning players get back into tennis and meet others of the same level. Information on all of our programs can be found online or in person at the tennis shop.”

The Wellington Tennis Center caters to players of all levels,

“If you are an avid player, there are several players who were world-class players and some who currently represent the United States in world competitions. The tennis center is also frequented by players who were former college players and played on the ATP or WTA tour,” Gill said. “Of course, our base of players and the vast majority of players are recreational level and enjoy playing socially and local league tennis. Our leagues range from the higher levels in Palm Beach County, to the entry level and everything in between.”

He is expecting a full calendar of tennis events planned over the upcoming year.

“For the first time, we will be hosting a USTA National Championship this fall for the USTA national father/daughter and mother/son tournament,” Gill said. “We will also be hosting matches for the ITF world senior championships next spring when the world’s best senior players visit South Florida. We will be hosting monthly events for juniors with USTA events, and we will be running UTR [Universal Tennis Rating] events as well. These are great opportunities for some of our residents to sample high-level competition without needing to travel around the country.”

Gill’s goal is to make every Wellington tennis player feel at home at their local facility.

“We want to welcome everyone here,” he said. “If you are a local permit holder, this should feel like your home club. If you are visiting for a tournament or event, you should feel equally welcomed. For our youngest players, this should be the place for them to have a great first experience in a sport that they will hopefully play forever. It all starts with a happy and relaxed environment with happy coaches and staff who welcome you to the center each time. If we can be that type of place, we will be successful.”

The Wellington Tennis Center is located at 3100 Lyons Road. For more information, call (561) 791-4775 or visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/tennis.

It’s All About Teamwork Western Communities Football League Has Been Providing High-Quality Programs For 30 Years

By Mike May

The Western Communities Football League has been providing quality sports programs to residents of the Wellington area since 1992. Youngsters ages 4 to 15 play football and participate in a cheerleading program at the football fields at Village Park in Wellington.

Because of COVID-19, it was all quiet last fall on the gridirons at Village Park, but now tackle football and cheerleading are back, and athletic life on Village Park’s football fields is returning to normal.

Whether it’s tackle football or cheerleading, the WCFL’s goal is to teach each participant about the importance of teamwork, good sportsmanship, self-esteem and trust while promoting healthy minds and healthy bodies, making friends, demonstrating self-control and learning to follow directions while having fun.

According to WCFL President KC Jones, the mission is to promote the enjoyment and involvement of football for players, coaches, cheerleaders and parents.

There are five tackle football age divisions within the WCFL. The youngest group is Ultimate, which is for ages 5 to 7. The per person weight limit is 85.9 pounds. The next group is Prep, which is for ages 8 and 9, with a per person weight limit of 110.9 pounds. The third group is Varsity, which is for ages 11 and 12, with a per person weight limit of 125.9 pounds. The fourth group is Pro, which is for ages 12 and 13, with a per person weight limit of 145.9 pounds, but participants can play while weighing as much as 165 pounds. The oldest age group is High School Prep, which is for ages 14 and 15. There is no weight limit in that division.

WCFL practices are always held on the Village Park football fields. To get involved, the per person registration cost is $299.99.

In addition to being assigned to a team, each football player is provided a game and practice jersey, game pants with integrated pads, socks and a video of all the games.

Safety is a top priority for the league. The WCFL is a certified USA Football Heads Up league. USA Football is the national governing body for amateur American football. USA Football has worked with leaders in both medicine and sport across the country to create a full-featured program that any league or school can use to address key safety issues and ensure that every coach understands and knows how to implement each component of the program.

Last spring, the league offered a girls flag football program for the first time.

All football and cheerleading coaches undergo a background check before taking the field with a team or a squad. Coaches, WCFL board members and team parents are all volunteers.

When it comes to cheerleading, the WCFL is focused on participation. The program promotes healthy minds and healthy bodies, making friends, demonstrating self-control, learning to follow directions and, most importantly, to have fun. Regardless of age and ability, the WCFL has a cheer squad for everyone.

The WCFL cheer program does not hold tryouts; space on the squads is on a first-come, first-served basis, and is limited by the number of volunteer coaches. Cheerleaders are taught the fundamentals of cheerleading and some advanced skills. All levels of experience are welcome, from beginner to elite. The program allows youngsters to meet new people, make new friends, gain self-confidence and increase their self-esteem in a friendly environment.

Visit www.wcflfootball.com to learn more about the Western Communities Football League.

Chasing Hoop Dreams At Village Park Wellington Wolves Organization Offers Players Basketball And So Much More

By Mike May

Since 2002, young area basketball players have had the good fortune to access one of the most well-organized youth travel basketball programs in the country. It’s the Wellington Wolves Youth Basketball organization based at Village Park.

Under the leadership of Chris Fratalia, the Wellington Wolves president for the last 12 years, the league currently has 17 different youth basketball teams serving both boys and girls. The youngest players are in the third grade, and the oldest players are in the 11th grade. Each team has an average roster size of 11 players, which means the Wolves have nearly 200 players under their supervision on an annual basis.

Aside from local travel, some Wellington Wolves teams will travel across the United States to compete. For instance, earlier this summer, the Eighth Grade Boys Gold team played in a showcase event in Las Vegas. That team placed eighth out of 97 teams.

Playing for the Wolves can be an avenue for taking your game to a higher level. For instance, two of the more well-known graduates of the Wellington Wolves are current University of Illinois senior point guard Trent Frazier and current NBA superstar John Collins with the Atlanta Hawks. According to Fratalia, four eighth-grade girls playing in the league — Jade Jones, Sophia Kateris, Aubrey Beckham and Janiah Suprius — have already been offered scholarships, upon graduation from high school, to Florida Atlantic University.

The Wolves also host one of the more popular travel basketball tournaments in the country.

The event is called March Madness and is planned for the second weekend of March next year. For this event, teams come from all over the state and nation. According to Fratalia, he and his staff have been recognized for conducting one of the best-run tournaments in the country. This tournament is so well known that a girls basketball team from Maine made the trek to Wellington to compete.

The traditional basketball seasons for the Wolves are the end of November until early June for third through eighth graders. For high-school-age players, the season runs from early March until the end of July.

One of more dynamic aspects of the Wellington Wolves is its Council of Dads program, under the tutelage of John Sitomer. The program started about two years ago before being put on hold during the pandemic. According to Sitomer, he hopes the Council of Dads program will be reinstated this fall.

The Council of Dads is a hands-on, in-person, one-on-one academic program that provides academic assistance, guidance and tutoring to athletes who play for the Wolves and need some assistance in the classroom with their studies. “With the Council of Dads, we sharpen the academic skills of our players, while the coaches help sharpen their basketball skills,” Sitomer said. “We want our players to be known as true student-athletes and not just as basketball players.”

Sitomer and his board members on the Council of Dads have been working with students from the King’s Academy, who provide the one-on-one academic assistance.

“We have a tremendous arrangement with TKA,” Sitomer said. “During pre-COVID times, the students, mostly juniors and seniors from TKA, met twice a week with many of our players. Our athletes have become better students, and the TKA students get community service hours. It’s a win-win.”

Last season, the student instructors from TKA used online resources to connect with the athletes from the Wellington Wolves.

“A Zoom connection is helpful, but there’s nothing like a personal presence for a tutor,” Sitomer said. “We hope to return to in-person learning this fall.”

Visit www.wellingtonwolves.com to learn more about the Wellington Wolves.

Taking Soccer To The Next Level Wellington Wave Program Offers Training And Tournaments For Competitive Players

By Mike May

If you have a goal of playing soccer at a high level, then Wellington has an outlet for you to reach your goal. It’s the Wellington Soccer Club, the Village of Wellington’s recognized provider for travel soccer.

The WSC is dedicated to technical and tactical player development, united team dynamics and teaching the solid game fundamentals necessary for every player to reach his or her greatest potential. All teams are trained by appropriately licensed, professional club coaches to properly adapt the training program provided to them by Director of Coaching Patrick Zoete.

The teams practice and play home games at Wellington’s Village Park.

“The Wellington youth program must be synonymous with attractive, inspired, intelligent and daring soccer,” Zoete said.

According to Zoete, excellence on the soccer field is the direct result of player development during practice and training sessions.

Throughout the year, Zoete and his coaching staff focus on improving the technical and tactical abilities of every player, individual player development in a team concept, encouraging the specific talent and creativity of each player, and enhancing the individual ability of players in a game and team setting.

As players move up from one age group to another, the coaching philosophy of every level has a written curriculum that is specific to the development of the player. Every coach’s long-term goal is to prepare the player to successfully recognize and solve the challenges of the game of soccer on his or her own.

The WSC, whose teams are known as the Wellington Wave, cater to children from age groups Under 8 to Under 19. The travel/competitive soccer season starts on Aug. 1 every year and concludes on May 31 of the following year.

In addition to the coaching that players receive in a team setting, individual coaching sessions can be arranged with two of the league’s licensed coaches, Zoete and Marcone Oliveira. These private coaching sessions can be booked at doc@wellingtonsoccer.com.

The expert coaching staff can also provide specific training on how to be an outstanding goalkeeper.

While player and skill development are at the core of the league’s overall mission, this organization also places player safety on the same level. In today’s COVID-19 world, the club has drafted a list of safety guidelines that it expects its coaches, players and parents to follow. At the top of the list is the mandatory requirement that coaches wear masks during all practices and games, since it is their responsibility to ensure the health and safety of players in attendance.

As for players who enjoy group celebrations, hugs, high fives and handshakes, for now, are a thing of the past. Players are told to not share equipment, water or snacks, and they are instructed to place their kits bags and equipment at least six feet apart.

Learn more about many programs of the Wellington Soccer Club, at www.wellingtonsoccer.com.

WRHA Rules The Rink In Wellington Wellington Roller Hockey Association’s Fall Season Gets Underway This Month

By Mike May

The Wellington Roller Hockey Association, an official Village of Wellington sports provider, is gearing up for its 27th season.

Typically, the players are 5 to 18 years old and are divided into three programs: Prep for ages 6 to 13, Juniors for ages 13 to 18 and Learn to Skate for beginner skaters of all ages. The league year typically starts in September/October and runs through early March. Registration for the fall program will begin on Sept. 12.

According to WRHA Vice President Stuart Warszycki, the group provides a great and affordable athletic opportunity for local children.

“With weekly practices and 15 to 20 games per season, we pride ourselves on being the best deal in town at $150 per skater or $125 with a sibling discount,” Warszycki said. “We have playoffs and a prep skills competition late in the year. Our league plays out of Village Park. Some players in our league also play ice hockey at Skate Zone, with several advanced skaters playing on the travel team.”

According to Warszycki, the league has been averaging 80 to 90 players over the last five years, but the league saw a dip last year due to the pandemic. However, the registration numbers so far this year are ahead of last year’s pace.

Having a good attitude is the foundation for success with the WRHA. Sportsmanship is a key theme, and all players, parents and coaches sign a code of ethics at the start of each season. A few tenets from the player covenant include promises to participate with good sportsmanship at every practice and game, working hard to do well in school, and remembering that lose or win, it’s about how they play that matters.

In support of the importance of good sportsmanship, one individual on each team is recognized with a sportsmanship trophy at the end of the season. According to Warszycki, the recipient of this award is typically not the most advanced skater, but the one who shows up for all practices, doesn’t complain and is a good teammate.

The WRHA, a nonprofit organization, is strongly committed to supporting the residents of Wellington.

“Although COVID-19 disrupted us a bit last year, the league historically has done several Wellington street cleanups each season,” Warszycki said. “Our rink concession stand also offers an opportunity for middle school and high school kids to get volunteer hours.”

One of the biggest supporters of the WRHA is part-time Wellington resident Jeremy Jacobs, the owner of the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins. Jacobs has, in the past, provided jerseys as well as financial support for the WRHA. In addition, the WRHA receives sponsorships from local businesses which, in exchange for an advertising fee, receive a full-season advertisement on the boards around the rink.

The WRHA does sponsor a travel team, known as the Wellington Prowlers. “The Prowlers have proudly represented us at several national-level hockey tournaments,” WRHA President Ruben Arteaga said. “Right now, we are looking for a coach who can dedicate time for the travel team.”

Learn more about the league at www.wellingtonrollerhockey.com.

Generations Continue Sporting Legacy A Deep Passion For Sports Runs In The Blood Of The Griesemer Coaching Family

By Louis Hillary Park

This is the story of the Griesemer family that put Pennsylvania in the rearview mirror in the “I Like Ike” days of the 1950s and put down new roots in Palm Beach County.

It’s the story of loving sports the way only a bench-warmer can, and of passing on that love and hall-of-fame legacy to sons and now grandsons, who have charted their own way over the high school hardwood and Virginia Tech’s turf.

It’s the story of sweaty football jerseys and melting ice cream cones… Of the whole Griesemer family — ball-game-loving wives included — breaking down Wellington High School basketball games over ribs and beans at Park Avenue BBQ, not much more than a long pass and a dribble away… Of long, boisterous rides on yellow buses after a big win, and even longer rides in sober silence after a loss… Of thousands of pages turned and perused and studied in hundreds of scorebooks across more than 50 years.

It’s also the story of a water bucket.

Long before Leonard Griesemer was recognized in 2008 as a Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame youth league coach, his deep love of sports, especially basketball, was evident. Unfortunately, his talent did not equal his passion.

“I sat on the end of the bench closest to the cheerleaders, if you know what I mean,” Leonard Griesemer recalled with an easy chuckle about his own limitations as a basketball player.

But those limitations did not stop him from wanting to help others excel in the skills that alluded him. So, even as a teen, he began coaching Itty-Bitty Basketball at the local Jewish Community Center, where giving back in some way was a requirement for participation. But for Leonard Griesemer, it was more than fulfilling a duty, it was balm for a son’s heart bruised by a construction worker father who never came to see him play.

“It’s one of the reasons I took to helping kids,” he said, even now at 88 the sting of his father’s absence sharp in his voice. “This was just after [World War II], and a lot of kids were without a parent. A lot of guys didn’t make it back, and the kids needed a bit of a father figure. I always tried to get the families involved.”

From the start of his 70-year marriage to his high school sweetheart June, to becoming a union carpenter like his father, to starting LEG Construction in the early 1970s, family life always revolved around sports. “My wife has more bleacher time than any woman in history, I believe,” he said.

From a young age, the Griesemers’ three sons — Lee, Lonnie and Larry — scampered around their mom in the bleachers; and when they got old enough, they helped their father under the wooden rafters of the old Central Gym on Okeechobee Blvd., where the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts sits today atop the hill; and there they were on the sidelines at Palm Beach Elementary School, where Gra-Y League football games were played.

Back then, not every football team had its own jerseys, recalled Larry Griesemer, the only one of the boys who went into coaching as a profession. One Gra-Y team would take off their sweaty, dirty jerseys and hang them on the fence to dry for a while, then the next team would suit up in them, he explained.

“My dad bought jerseys for his team… Columbia blue. Where he got the money, I don’t know. But it was a big deal,” Larry said. “After games, we’d stop at an ice cream stand on Dixie [Highway]. Everyone got an ice cream cone, and the guy who played best that day got a milkshake… Dad wasn’t just showing kids how to win games. He was showing them how to treat people.”

Sometimes Leonard Griesemer had to show adults the way, too. In the early 1960s, West Palm Beach was still very much a southern city. He was the first to have Black players on the Gra-Y Belvedere Bees football team that centered around Belvedere Elementary School.

“Yes, I got some pushback,” he remembered. “Things were said.”

Later on, when more Black youngsters came into the league, there still were vestiges of segregation. “Most teams had two water buckets — one for the white kids, one for the colored kids,” he said. “We only had one bucket.”

Larry Griesemer took those sorts of water-bucket life lessons with him into his own football career leading a group of meaty linemen at Forest Hill High School. They became known as “Griesemer’s Grunts.”

After college, he took another cue from his father and married a woman who loves sports as much as he does — supporting Larry in his coaching ambitions and raising two sons, Eric and Brett, to the sound of rubber soles scuffing maple and timed to the rhythm of basketball’s scoreboard clocks.

Today, after 40 years of marriage, Janice Griesemer easily rattles off her husband’s stats.

In 15 seasons of coaching, he combined for 258 wins with the Forest Hill High School boys and later the Wellington High School girls, she said. The Wolverine girls won four district titles, five Palm Beach Athletic Conference championships and reached Florida’s Sweet 16 six times.

Despite retirement, relocation from their longtime home and being slowed by a stroke, at age 70, Larry Griesemer continues to be involved as a consultant for several high school teams near Waynesville, N.C., where “gyms are like cathedrals.”

Meanwhile, his sons are finding their own and different ways of continuing their passion for sports after both graduating from Wellington High School.

Brett Griesemer, 32, put his talents to athletic training while getting his bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida and a master’s degree at Virginia Tech, where he has risen quickly through the ranks of the school’s training staff.

While serving as senior director of sports medicine-football, Brett Griesemer was heavily involved with the football helmet safety research program at Virginia Tech, considered a leader in the field by the NCAA. He recently was named head athletic trainer for the Hokies football team, a traditional power in the Atlantic Coast Conference and a name frequently seen in the Top 25.

“Brett has added a whole new level of professionalism and work ethic to our staff, and I have no doubt it will make our football student-athletes better because of his increased role and responsibilities,” Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine Mike Goforth said.

The opportunity is “a dream come true” for Brett, who has a wife much like the one who married dear old dad, and granddad. The former Megan Burker is “super into sports.”

“She understands about me waking up early and coming home late,” he said.

As well she should. Megan lived that life for years as an All-American lacrosse player at Stanford University and then as head coach of the Virginia Tech women’s team. Today, Megan Griesemer serves in the school’s athletic department as assistant director of compliance while mothering their two sons — Max, 3, and Cohen, 1.

Though too young to absorb a lot of Xs and Os of Wellington High School basketball discussed in play-by-play, press-or-not-to-press detail over post-game meals, Brett said he absorbed things more important while listening to his parents and grandparents dissect a game.

“I think about the work ethic and the commitment to the team,” he said. “I think about the long process. The stick-to-it-iveness it takes. Not only in terms of creating wins and losses. But in commitment to family. To creating better husbands and fathers, and just decent people.”

Eric Griesemer, now 37, echoes his brother’s thoughts.

“Wins were a big part of it… [but] they taught about so much more than sports. They taught us about leadership,” he said. “It was about the commitment to everyone getting better. About helping to make a better student, and better young adult. How do we give that player the confidence to take the shot?”

Eric is following in his grandfather’s footsteps — creating a separate career, his in information systems technology — while becoming heavily involved in youth sports, something his wife Zara enthusiastically supports. Though oldest son Gavin is only 5, the Wellington resident already has coached him in flag football, tee-ball, basketball and soccer.

That’s not a surprise after growing up in the Griesemer family. “It’s just in my blood to be involved,” Eric said.