- January 29, 2026
Many umpires establish lifetime friendships when they attend the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
John Huntley takes off to first base during a game at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Umpires get experience calling and playing baseball games at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
The benefit of being an umpire is being able to call yourself safe when you play the game at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Umpires get experience calling and playing baseball games at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Umpires get experience calling baseball games at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
An umpire runs along the baseline to get an accurate read on the play at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
You're out. Photo by Michele Meyers
It is simple at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. When you're out, you're out. Photo by Michele Meyers
UK resident Rachel Clarke (left) watches the pitch closely during a game at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
UK resident Rachel Clarke hustles to keep an eye on the action during a game at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Umpires learn to make clear, concise calls during baseball games at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Butch Willoughby waits to take the field at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
An umpire makes a quic, concise call during a baseball game at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Umpires learn to make clear, concise calls during baseball games at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
An umpire makes a call during a baseball game played by his fellow students at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Retired Naval officer Jose Galvao said learning how to umpire kids' baseball games is a good way to give back to the community and the families. Photo by Michele Meyers
Greta Langhenry, co-founder of the non-profit Level Ump, Inc., helped 13 women attend the Wendelstedt Umpire School this year. Photo by Michele Meyers
Hanging out at the Wendelstedt Umpire School (left to right): Retired MLB umpire Larry Vanover, Michael Martin, retired MLB umpire Laz Diaz, and retired MLB umpire Jerry Layne. Photo by Michele Meyers
Tools of the trade ready for use at the Wendelstedt Umpire School Photo by Michele Meyers
A tribute to Harry Wendelstedt Jr. adorns the field house at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School baseball sign adorns the field house at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Umpires wait in the dugout to call or play the baseball game at the Wendelstedt Umpire School Photo by Michele Meyers
Wendelstedt Umpire School staff evaluate umpires as they call the games in the afternoon. Photo by Michele Meyers
Wendelstedt Umpire School staff critique the umpires after they call games in the afternoon. Photo by Michele Meyers
Wendelstedt Umpire School staff critique the umpires after they call games in the afternoon. Photo by Michele Meyers
A Wendelstedt Umpire School staff member critiques Kevin McCreevan (right) after he called one of the games in the afternoon. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kevin McCreevan (right) thanks a Wendelstedt Umpire School staff member after his critique. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kevin McCreevan (left) and John Huntley enjoy a laugh after McCreevan's critique at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Umpires grab a photo op in between calling or playing in an afternoon baseball game at the Wendelstedt Umpire School Photo by Michele Meyers
Wendelstedt Umpire School royalty (left to right): Erich Bacchus, Jansen Visconti, Jeremie Rehak, Larry Vanover, Jerry Layne and Junior Valentine. Photo by Michele Meyers
A couple of umpires finish plate work at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Umpires wrap up plate work at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Umpires watch the action on the field at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
MLB umpire Erich Bacchus (center) talks to the umpires following a day of instruction at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Retired MLB umpire Larry Vanover (left) addresses the Wendelstedt Umpire School class of 2026 with chief instructor and MLB umpire Junior Valentine(right). Photo by Michele Meyers
The Wendelstedt Umpire School class of 2026 meets for end-of-the-day announcements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jeremie Rehak (third from left) addresses the Wendelstedt Umpire School class of 2026 with (left to right) Jansen Visconti, Erich Bacchus and Junior Valentine. Photo by Michele Meyers
Are you one of Harry’s guys?
After 50 years and a decision by Major League Baseball to train all its incoming umpires, the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School is hosting its final graduating class.
The alumni affectionately refer to themselves as “Harry’s guys” after Harry Wendelstedt Jr., who took over the school from Al Somers in 1976 and moved it from Daytona Beach to Ormond Beach in the 1990s.
MLB umpire Hunter Wendelstedt took over operations of the school following his father, Harry’s, death in 2012. Greta Langhenry said she knew she wanted to attend his school after watching one of Hunter's videos.
“The reason I came here the first time was because I had seen a video once where Hunter said that he wanted to be the school to put the first woman into the major leagues,” she said. “I knew then that this would be a welcoming place, a safe place for me to come, and it has been.”
In 2019, Langhenry attended the school for the first time. One-hundred students were attending the Wendelstedt School in Ormond Beach, and 100 students were attending the Major League Baseball Prospect Development Camp in Vero Beach, she said. It was 199 men and Langhenry.
She recalled walking through parking lots for umpiring jobs, and other umpires would ask, “You one of Harry’s guys?”
If you went to the Wendelstedt school, you’re one of Harry’s guys. Maybe the title I’m most proud of, that I’ve ever earned in my life, is I’m one of Harry’s guys. This year, we were joking we might finally have enough to be Harry’s gals too.
— GRETA LANGHENRY, Level Ump, Inc. co-founder
“If you went to the Wendelstedt school, you’re one of Harry’s guys,” Langhenry said. “Maybe the title I’m most proud of, that I’ve ever earned in my life, is I’m one of Harry’s guys. This year, we were joking we might finally have enough to be Harry’s gals too.”
This year, 16 of the 161 students attending the umpire school are women. Thirteen of those women were sponsored by the non-profit organization, Level Ump, Inc., which was co-founded by Langhenry and Nici Kersey, who also attended the Wendelstedt School. Level Ump launched following Langhenry’s solo debut at the school and Kersey’s compatible desire to provide scholarships for women who would like to learn the craft.
United Kingdom resident Rachel Clarke was one of the Level Ump scholarship recipients. She had never watched baseball until she volunteered to work at a few MLB games in London. She said she fell in love with the sport, and since she felt she was too old to play, she opted to become an umpire.
“There aren’t enough umpires anyway, so we should embrace bringing more women in,” she said. “My ambition is to be able to be competent enough to be considered for the top level in the UK.”
The environment at the school is that of a well-organized, family gathering. After the students finish their in-class instruction, they hit the baseball fields. Three diamonds host games that are played and called by the students. Staff evaluates each umpire and offers a critique following the inning called.
Kevin McCreevan said he appreciates the critiques and believes being an umpire requires approaching the situation objectively.
“If you’re able to take the subjectivity out of it and realize it’s not you personally, you remove the personal feelings from it, and life becomes easier,” he said. “I always maintain that you need two people to argue. So, if you have one person arguing, then there’s no argument.”
There has always been an open-door policy to graduates of the school who would like to offer mentorship and inspiration to those wanting to achieve top-level skills and work at a professional level. Many of the staff are current and retired MLB umpires, including MLB umpire Junior Valentine, who is chief of classroom instruction. Retired MLB umpire Larry Vanover joined current MLB umpires Jansen Visconti, Jeremie Rehak, and Erich Bacchus for the end-of-day address on Thursday, Jan. 26.
Ninety-seven years of MLB umpiring sat at a table in between the baseball fields. Vanover had 34 years in, Jerry Layne, 35 years, and Laz Diaz had 28 years of umpiring and was a shortstop for the Kenosha Twins.
Layne lamented the end of an era with the closing of the school.
Regarding a collaborative relationship with MLB in the future, Layne said, never cross over a bridge and burn it behind you.
“I think it’s going to affect the ‘Joe amateur’ that wants to come to a facility and learn how to better his skills or her skills over a period of four to five weeks,” Layne said. “I think that baseball should recognize that in time. We’ve had a long relationship with MLB, and it’s unfortunate that we’re not going to be able to continue that, but we’re open to see how things transpire.”
Langhenry said the closing of umpire school is breaking her heart. She said she would attend umpire school 365 days a year if they would let her.
“This is my happy place,” she said. “I love it. I love learning the rules and hanging out with friends who get it. It’s a tough job, and everybody out here understands that. We all understand each other and sort of speak the same language.”
