The Riverside Press-Enterprise
THE BETTER HALVES
Elsinore boys basketball co-coaches Rettinger, Wolter have joined exclusive 500-win club
>> Elsinore boys basketball coaches Pete Rettinger and Rick Wolter are two halves of a perfect circle.
Rettinger handles the offensive side of the game and his voice can be heard throughout the gymnasium when he stalks the sidelines during games. Wolter is a defensiveminded coach who rarely leaves his chair and is more soft-spoken.
Their personalities have meshed well together over the past three decades and helped the program remain successful despite the constant growth and addition of new schools throughout southwest Riverside County. Rettinger and Wolter picked up the 500th win of their coaching partnership Saturday night, as the Tigers rolled to a 70-37 nonleague victory over Santa Fe.
Rettinger and Wolter are the longesttenured boys basketball coaches in the Inland Empire (30th season at Elsinore) and joined a select group of coaches following Saturday’s victory. The only other Riverside County boys basketball coaches to win at least 500 games at one school are Mike Bartee (North), John Dahl (Moreno Valley) and John Seydel (Arlington). Centennial’s
Josh Giles is sitting on 499 career victories and can join that exclusive group Wednesday night when the Huskies take on Corona High School.
“It’s not surprising to see Pete and Rick still at it after all these years,” said Erron Maxey, who was chosen the Riverside
County Player of the Year in 1997. “They have the same core philosophies and beliefs and a strong rapport with one another. They have maintained a culture and had a lasting impact on many lives. Congratulations to both of them and everything they’ve achieved.”
Rettinger and Wolter were handed the reins of the program at the start of the 199495 season, but their friendship dates back another 20 years. Rettinger and Wolter grew up in the same area when Elsinore was the only high school in that part of Riverside County, and both played basketball on some of the program’s best teams from 1974 to 1980.
“Rick and my older brother were friends, and I would always tag along,” Rettinger said. “When we were growing up, Elsinore was the only show in town, and it was the place to be for Tuesday night and Friday night games. We would go to games and idolize some of those players. For us, being an Elsinore basketball player was a dream come true.”
Rettinger and Wolter eventually returned to the school as teachers and coaches after their playing days ended. In 1994, Roger Blake stepped down after 16 years at the