Big team turnout at today's Lake Sumter 5K
Undaunted by chilly weather, our team members turned out in great form for today's Lake Sumter 5K.
Two members demonstrate perfect sprint form
Maintaining form late in a sprint race enables top-rate performance, and “this is a wonderful example,” says Team Coach Rick Riddle. “Full-speed ‘vertical’ racing should always look like this.”
Club members Barb Horvat (right) and Elisse Varner were about 70 meters into the 100m dash when this pic was taken at the Florida Senior Games on 12/15/2024. They zoomed across the finish line in 15.94 and 16.43 seconds, respectively, and earned second and third in the 65-69 age division.
“This is what I mean when I talk about the maintenance phase of race execution: ‘tall’ all the way to the finish,” says Rick, who coaches all aspects of sprinting during our regular workouts. For more info, see the Let’s Meet section of this website.
Club members Barb Horvat (right) and Elisse Varner were about 70 meters into the 100m dash when this pic was taken at the Florida Senior Games on 12/15/2024. They zoomed across the finish line in 15.94 and 16.43 seconds, respectively, and earned second and third in the 65-69 age division.
“This is what I mean when I talk about the maintenance phase of race execution: ‘tall’ all the way to the finish,” says Rick, who coaches all aspects of sprinting during our regular workouts. For more info, see the Let’s Meet section of this website.
South Milwaukee loves longtime coach Stan Druckrey
The Villages Track and Field Club member Stan Druckrey. Photo courtesy of Tom Rewolinski.
The Villages Track and Field Club member Stan Druckrey is a retired teacher who still coaches track and cross country at South Milwaukee (WI) High School. When the school planned to replace its football field and track, Stan and another coach were surprised to learn that the new track would be named in their honor. We asked him for details; below are his thoughts.
Leah Rewolinski
The Villages TLC Word Nerd
It was very special to have the school district name the track after myself and Mark Hoffman, the boys head track coach for 32 years. This will be my 47th year as girls head coach. I was an assistant coach for 5 years with the boys team, and head coach of both teams for 10 of those 47 years.
The big announcement
For the past 10 years, the track team has hosted a game night fundraiser. Guests play blackjack and craps, and it is well attended. During the break at last April’s game night, our athletic director announced that the new facility was going to be named the Druckrey/Hoffman Track. This was a complete surprise to both of us. It was very humbling. I had to hold back tears.
Construction zone
Last April the football field and track were ripped up. We had one home meet and only one week of outdoor practice. The black turf football field was finished in early October, so the team was able to host three games. I believe it is the only black turf field in the state, though I’ve heard there are some black fields out east. I think our school just wanted to do something different.
The track was finished around the same time, and the cross country team was able to have several practices on it. Now we have a top-of-the-line track. The surface is gray, and the relay zones for the 4 x 100m relay are red. It is beautiful. This spring we will host the sectional meet, which is a qualifier for the state meet.
We have not had a dedication ceremony yet. I believe something will be planned this spring.
Another surprise honor
A cross country honor for me in 2021 was also a complete surprise. For the past 36 years I have hosted an alumni meet/team time trial at the end of the first week of practice. We usually have about 20 alumni show up. Some run, most watch. It is a lot of fun. I always introduce all the alumni who show up for the race.
After I finished the introductions, the mayor wanted to say a few words. He said this day has been declared Stan Druckrey Day in the City of South Milwaukee and handed me a plaque from the Common Council. Then the school’s athletic director said there will be a marker in Grant Park (where we host our home meets) indicating the Stan Druckrey Cross Country Course. He also said the invitational we have hosted every September for the past 43 years will be named the Stan Druckrey Invitational.
After the meet, I always treat the alumni to pizza lunch at a local restaurant. My assistant takes care of making the arrangements. In 2021, my assistant said we could not get our regular restaurant for lunch, so we needed to get together at supper time. I questioned him about that, but he said everything would be fine. So I showed up to the bar/restaurant and found out it was a get-together in my honor. Besides alumni, we had most of the coaches from the high school and parents of former runners. It was a very special evening for me and my family.
So many people played a part in my coaching career. Of course, the most important is my wife Nancy. Without her support, nothing I have accomplished in coaching and running would have happened.
Leah Rewolinski
The Villages TLC Word Nerd
It was very special to have the school district name the track after myself and Mark Hoffman, the boys head track coach for 32 years. This will be my 47th year as girls head coach. I was an assistant coach for 5 years with the boys team, and head coach of both teams for 10 of those 47 years.
The big announcement
For the past 10 years, the track team has hosted a game night fundraiser. Guests play blackjack and craps, and it is well attended. During the break at last April’s game night, our athletic director announced that the new facility was going to be named the Druckrey/Hoffman Track. This was a complete surprise to both of us. It was very humbling. I had to hold back tears.
Construction zone
Last April the football field and track were ripped up. We had one home meet and only one week of outdoor practice. The black turf football field was finished in early October, so the team was able to host three games. I believe it is the only black turf field in the state, though I’ve heard there are some black fields out east. I think our school just wanted to do something different.
The track was finished around the same time, and the cross country team was able to have several practices on it. Now we have a top-of-the-line track. The surface is gray, and the relay zones for the 4 x 100m relay are red. It is beautiful. This spring we will host the sectional meet, which is a qualifier for the state meet.
We have not had a dedication ceremony yet. I believe something will be planned this spring.
Another surprise honor
A cross country honor for me in 2021 was also a complete surprise. For the past 36 years I have hosted an alumni meet/team time trial at the end of the first week of practice. We usually have about 20 alumni show up. Some run, most watch. It is a lot of fun. I always introduce all the alumni who show up for the race.
After I finished the introductions, the mayor wanted to say a few words. He said this day has been declared Stan Druckrey Day in the City of South Milwaukee and handed me a plaque from the Common Council. Then the school’s athletic director said there will be a marker in Grant Park (where we host our home meets) indicating the Stan Druckrey Cross Country Course. He also said the invitational we have hosted every September for the past 43 years will be named the Stan Druckrey Invitational.
After the meet, I always treat the alumni to pizza lunch at a local restaurant. My assistant takes care of making the arrangements. In 2021, my assistant said we could not get our regular restaurant for lunch, so we needed to get together at supper time. I questioned him about that, but he said everything would be fine. So I showed up to the bar/restaurant and found out it was a get-together in my honor. Besides alumni, we had most of the coaches from the high school and parents of former runners. It was a very special evening for me and my family.
So many people played a part in my coaching career. Of course, the most important is my wife Nancy. Without her support, nothing I have accomplished in coaching and running would have happened.
The "Going Topliss" party
Oh, what a night for Jean and John Topliss...and for us all!
On April 26, 2023, seventy-six guests gathered at the Savannah Center to thank our club’s co-founder, John Topliss, and his wife, Jean, for 20 years of skilled direction and lasting friendship. They’re returning to their native England. While we will miss them, we’ll carry on the lasting impression they’ve made on our team.
Among the evening’s delights: a delicious buffet that included donut holes (a nod to John’s favorite bakery treat), festive table settings, and an entertaining review of John’s life story. Recent, longtime, and returning members enjoyed catching up on memories and new developments in the club.
Capping off the program was a presentation of gifts to the honored couple:
Many thanks to our volunteers:
Kathleen Riddle, event director
Pat Roam, assistant director
Barb Horvat, Loretta Gattman and Elisse Varner, event assistants
Ray Jancso, emcee and “History of Top” presentation
Leah Rewolinski, The Dear John Letters project
Tom Rewolinski, treasurer
Doug Bartel, photographer
Rob Gattman, entrance introductions
George May, doorkeeper
Rick Riddle, music and event director's moral support
--Leah Rewolinski
The Villages Track and Field Club’s Word Nerd
Thanks to Doug Bartel for photos that capture the merry spirit of the evening.
To watch the slide show, tap the first picture below and click "Play." Or use the thumbnails at the bottom to advance through all the photos.
Among the evening’s delights: a delicious buffet that included donut holes (a nod to John’s favorite bakery treat), festive table settings, and an entertaining review of John’s life story. Recent, longtime, and returning members enjoyed catching up on memories and new developments in the club.
Capping off the program was a presentation of gifts to the honored couple:
- The “Dear John Letters” album, with letter-writers’ memories, fun stories and farewell wishes. We managed to keep the project a surprise until the moment we gave the album to John.
- For Jean, a few favorite delicacies, including her wine of choice.
- For John, a cap, long-sleeve tee shirt, and weather-resistant hooded jacket, all monogrammed with the club logo.
Many thanks to our volunteers:
Kathleen Riddle, event director
Pat Roam, assistant director
Barb Horvat, Loretta Gattman and Elisse Varner, event assistants
Ray Jancso, emcee and “History of Top” presentation
Leah Rewolinski, The Dear John Letters project
Tom Rewolinski, treasurer
Doug Bartel, photographer
Rob Gattman, entrance introductions
George May, doorkeeper
Rick Riddle, music and event director's moral support
--Leah Rewolinski
The Villages Track and Field Club’s Word Nerd
Thanks to Doug Bartel for photos that capture the merry spirit of the evening.
To watch the slide show, tap the first picture below and click "Play." Or use the thumbnails at the bottom to advance through all the photos.
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We may not be prettier than John or Ray...
...but we're trying! The warm weather brought out the prettiest in members at practice 4/17/2023. Thanks to Stella and Mort O'Shea for the great photos.
Florida Senior Games December 2022
Our club had an outstanding turnout of competitors, as well as plenty of supporters to cheer them on, at the Florida Senior Games December 10-11, 2022, in Wesley Chapel (Tampa area). These photos from club members Doug Bartel, Bonnie Dorr and Pat Roam capture the intensity, excitement and fun of the weekend.
Barb Horvat, our world-class sprinter
We all know that sprinter Barb Horvat is super-fast. And now many other Villagers know it too, thanks to an article in today's (May 24, 2022) edition of The Villages Daily Sun. Click here to see a preview that the newspaper sent out. Way to go, Barb!
A gift fit for our Prime Minister of Donuts
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Nothing says "No. 10 Downing Street" like a tapestry that begs to be hung on historic walls. On an appropriately foggy day, First Lady Kathleen Riddle presented Prime Minister John Topliss with this priceless artifact. Notice the donuts with bites taken out of them? Somebody was hungry that morning.
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An Important Chance to Learn a Lifesaving Skill
Our club, like many here in The Villages, keeps an AED on hand during each workout. An AED (automated external defibrillator) helps those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. This sophisticated yet easy-to-use medical device analyzes the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electrical shock (defibrillation) to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.
At the track on Wednesday, March 2 at 8:30 a.m., an expert will demonstrate how to use our AED. Brooke Bauman is the Florida territory manager for AED brands with expertise in health and wellness. Club member Fred Hirsh arranged this session. Brooke is coming here from Tampa, so let’s make it worth her effort!
As Coach Rick Riddle reminded us Friday, our turnout differs with each practice session. It’s vital that someone who knows the AED procedure would be there on any given day. Maybe that someone is you. Maybe you will save a life.
No advance reservation is necessary. Just be at the track that day, ready to learn this simple procedure.
At the track on Wednesday, March 2 at 8:30 a.m., an expert will demonstrate how to use our AED. Brooke Bauman is the Florida territory manager for AED brands with expertise in health and wellness. Club member Fred Hirsh arranged this session. Brooke is coming here from Tampa, so let’s make it worth her effort!
As Coach Rick Riddle reminded us Friday, our turnout differs with each practice session. It’s vital that someone who knows the AED procedure would be there on any given day. Maybe that someone is you. Maybe you will save a life.
No advance reservation is necessary. Just be at the track that day, ready to learn this simple procedure.
Holiday party
Members of our club enjoyed the warm hospitality of Roger and Rosemary Vergin, pictured at top right in the photo above. The holiday party at their beautiful home on 12/18/2021 offered everyone a chance to kick back, relax, and get to know each other better.
Our snazzy new logo
Check out our new logo! You can’t miss it at the top of our Home page. (Click here to view.) It communicates our club’s energy and works well in many formats, including web pages, clothing, and printed materials. Mona DeTorres, Brand Identity Coordinator and Illustrator of The Villages Marketing Department, created the logo and fine-tuned it to our specs. Custom Apparel in The Villages worked closely with our team to provide pricing, printing and embroidery that showcases the logo. Six logo/color options have been pre-approved for our club’s use by the The Villages Marketing Department.
Like many seemingly simple projects, perfecting the logo involved lots of behind-the-scenes work. Special thanks to Rick and Kathleen Riddle for many hours of consultation, coordination and follow-up. Our head coach John Topliss, along with The Villages TLC members Barb Horvat, Tom Rewolinski and Leah Rewolinski, provided feedback during the process.
And now for more great news…
Like many seemingly simple projects, perfecting the logo involved lots of behind-the-scenes work. Special thanks to Rick and Kathleen Riddle for many hours of consultation, coordination and follow-up. Our head coach John Topliss, along with The Villages TLC members Barb Horvat, Tom Rewolinski and Leah Rewolinski, provided feedback during the process.
And now for more great news…
Customized team-logo apparel: the choice is yours
Wouldn’t it be cool if you could select your own athletic shirt, jacket, competition top, backpack or cap and have them imprinted with our new team logo? Yes, it is cool – and you can do that right now!
Follow these simple steps:
1. Shop at your favorite website or walk-in store for workout and competition clothing manufactured by Augusta Sportswear, Sport-tek, The Gym People, Naviskin, Under Armour, Champion, Baleaf, and Devops, among many others. Amazon carries many of these clothing lines, but you may choose any vendor’s products that follow guidelines in points 2, 3 and 4 below.
2. Choose your clothing style: short-sleeve tee, long-sleeve tee, long- or short-sleeve polo, tank top, or jacket. Heavier fabrics are ideal for logo embroidery; most other fabrics use a heat-press method. You can even have caps, backpacks and other items imprinted or embroidered.
3. Most types of fabric will work, including cotton, cotton-nylon blend, DryFit, and 100% polyester (used for our previous warmup jackets). There is one exception: avoid products that are mostly Spandex. They stretch too much when the logo is pressed on.
4. Choose a garment color from these three options only: Black, White or Forest Green. For the latter, please be sure that the garment is called Forest Green. We want to avoid a wide variance of shades – so, no Kelly Green, Lime Green or Kool-Aid Green.
5. Take your item to Custom Apparel, 3451 Wedgewood Lane at Southern Trace Plaza in The Villages. Tell them which logo style you want: VTF logo 1, 2, 3, or 4. The photo below shows how these logo styles look on White, Black and Forest Green backgrounds.
VTF logos 1 and 2 are shown twice; they can be applied on either Black or Forest Green articles. Logos 3 and 4 can be applied to White articles. (Story continues below picture.)
Follow these simple steps:
1. Shop at your favorite website or walk-in store for workout and competition clothing manufactured by Augusta Sportswear, Sport-tek, The Gym People, Naviskin, Under Armour, Champion, Baleaf, and Devops, among many others. Amazon carries many of these clothing lines, but you may choose any vendor’s products that follow guidelines in points 2, 3 and 4 below.
2. Choose your clothing style: short-sleeve tee, long-sleeve tee, long- or short-sleeve polo, tank top, or jacket. Heavier fabrics are ideal for logo embroidery; most other fabrics use a heat-press method. You can even have caps, backpacks and other items imprinted or embroidered.
3. Most types of fabric will work, including cotton, cotton-nylon blend, DryFit, and 100% polyester (used for our previous warmup jackets). There is one exception: avoid products that are mostly Spandex. They stretch too much when the logo is pressed on.
4. Choose a garment color from these three options only: Black, White or Forest Green. For the latter, please be sure that the garment is called Forest Green. We want to avoid a wide variance of shades – so, no Kelly Green, Lime Green or Kool-Aid Green.
5. Take your item to Custom Apparel, 3451 Wedgewood Lane at Southern Trace Plaza in The Villages. Tell them which logo style you want: VTF logo 1, 2, 3, or 4. The photo below shows how these logo styles look on White, Black and Forest Green backgrounds.
VTF logos 1 and 2 are shown twice; they can be applied on either Black or Forest Green articles. Logos 3 and 4 can be applied to White articles. (Story continues below picture.)
Editor's note 10/26/2023
Prices for logo application have increased. Click here to visit our 10/21/2023 blog post titled "Take a Second (or First!) Look at our Team Clothing."
Pricing for logo application at Custom Apparel
--full-size logo 1, 2, 3 or 4 on front of shirt (only): heat press application, $13 each
--embroidery of logo 2 or 4, upper left front, over the heart (typically seen on a polo shirt): $13 each
--individual icon of the runner only, no words or letters, on sleeve or nape (back) of neck: heat press application, $9 each
Allow turnaround of two weeks for your item(s).
Please note that when you wear your shirt during competition, we ask that you pair it with plain black shorts for a uniform team look.
For this project, we’re proud to partner with Custom Apparel of The Villages, a local business that supplies all types of uniforms for The Villages Charter Schools.
And last but certainly not least, thanks to club MVPs Rick and Kathleen Riddle, who applied their project management skills, design expertise, and patience with nitty-gritty details to make this happen.
Answers to Expected Questions
Q. Can I still wear my older style green and white uniform?
A. Yes.
Q. Why are we changing uniforms?
A. This new ordering process lets our club members select their preferred apparel that fits them well. The method also allows our current and future members to order team gear at any time, rather than wait for group orders.
The Villages Marketing Department has provided the new logos as a free professional service. They have extensive expertise in professional artwork and color combinations that work well with clothing.
Q. Why not buy matching uniforms from Custom Apparel?
A. Comfortable fit is a major concern with athletic clothing. Specific clothing lines will fit each person differently. Choosing your own fit and style ensures that you are comfortable during workouts and competitions.
Q. Can I choose colors other than White, Black or Forest Green?
A. The logo colors were carefully selected to work with the backgrounds shown. We prefer to use these colors as our club standard.
Q. Do I need to purchase all three colors of a shirt?
A. No. Any of the three color options can function for competition and casual wear. As long as you are flying the team colors, it’s all good.
10/22/2021
Prices for logo application have increased. Click here to visit our 10/21/2023 blog post titled "Take a Second (or First!) Look at our Team Clothing."
Pricing for logo application at Custom Apparel
--full-size logo 1, 2, 3 or 4 on front of shirt (only): heat press application, $13 each
--embroidery of logo 2 or 4, upper left front, over the heart (typically seen on a polo shirt): $13 each
--individual icon of the runner only, no words or letters, on sleeve or nape (back) of neck: heat press application, $9 each
Allow turnaround of two weeks for your item(s).
Please note that when you wear your shirt during competition, we ask that you pair it with plain black shorts for a uniform team look.
For this project, we’re proud to partner with Custom Apparel of The Villages, a local business that supplies all types of uniforms for The Villages Charter Schools.
And last but certainly not least, thanks to club MVPs Rick and Kathleen Riddle, who applied their project management skills, design expertise, and patience with nitty-gritty details to make this happen.
Answers to Expected Questions
Q. Can I still wear my older style green and white uniform?
A. Yes.
Q. Why are we changing uniforms?
A. This new ordering process lets our club members select their preferred apparel that fits them well. The method also allows our current and future members to order team gear at any time, rather than wait for group orders.
The Villages Marketing Department has provided the new logos as a free professional service. They have extensive expertise in professional artwork and color combinations that work well with clothing.
Q. Why not buy matching uniforms from Custom Apparel?
A. Comfortable fit is a major concern with athletic clothing. Specific clothing lines will fit each person differently. Choosing your own fit and style ensures that you are comfortable during workouts and competitions.
Q. Can I choose colors other than White, Black or Forest Green?
A. The logo colors were carefully selected to work with the backgrounds shown. We prefer to use these colors as our club standard.
Q. Do I need to purchase all three colors of a shirt?
A. No. Any of the three color options can function for competition and casual wear. As long as you are flying the team colors, it’s all good.
10/22/2021