The new owners of Giant Food Mart in Wellsville and Cuba want more coverage of school sports programs
By Andrew Harris, photo by Chris Brooks
Nick Kusmierski, a big part of the dynamic family team who recently purchased the Giant Food Mart stores in Wellsville and Cuba, is a sports fanatic:
“I love sports of all kinds. I grew up playing soccer at the local YMCA, then went on to play for a travel team in the area. I played baseball, golf, football, street hockey, anything I could do, I did! I loved sports and continue to love sports.”
When I told him about the Wellsville Sun’s plans to start increasing the amount of press coverage of local school sports, Nick immediately wanted to be involved. Like many of us, he remembers being celebrated in the local press and how important that was not just for him, but his whole family. He is a great example of how community can help create a great athletes, read this quick sports bio below:
“I played football at Kenmore East high school as a quarterback and was captain of the team my senior year. In college, I was able to participate in club rugby (Canisius College). I played through college and after college I played a season or two with the Buffalo Gladiators (Semi-Pro Football team in Buffalo). After a couple of seasons I moved onto the Buffalo Rugby Club and played rugby through about 2016 (www.buffalorugby.org) (I actually finished my “career” as the all-time leading scorer in the club’s history.) I played up and down the east coast and played in national championship tournaments, we won Midwest Championships and finished as high as 8th in the country one year. Sports has helped shape me in so many ways and continues to shape my life.“
Nick shares our vision for celebrating the youth in our community and Giant Food Mart will be sponsoring the reporting and photos of local student athletes on the Wellsville Sun. That support has allowed the Wellsville Sun to enlist Chris Brooks of WellsvilleSports.com to start providing even more great coverage. By bolstering local sports coverage, we will be more focused on recognizing and supporting our local sports stars. If your business is interested in supporting local sports please contact us today by emailing News@WellsvilleSun.com
Giant Food Mart happens to have some of those shining stars as valued employees. Did you know these members of the Giant Food Mart team were also standout student athletes?
Kaylee Coleman (Volleyball, Basketball)
Her favorite sport is Volleyball, on the basketball team, she plays forward
Her favorite coaches are Coach Alvord & Coach Steiner
Kaylee is proud of is being able to play with the same group of girls for the last 6+ years.
Athletics are important to her because they keep her motivated and she gets to play with her friends.
Shane Davidson (Football, Wrestling)
His favorite sport is: Wrestling, in football he was running back and defensive end.
His favorite coach: Coach Cook
One of his proud moments in wrestling was taking 3rd place in sectionals back in the 7th grade. An other proud moment for him would be, after breaking his foot this year, he was able to come back after many weeks off and finish wrestling with 4th in sectionals.
Why athletics are important to him: It makes me a better person and teaches me that everything doesn’t come easy. You have to work for what you want.
Caleb Price (Football, Track)
Favorite Sport is: Football He played line backer and wide receiver
Favorite coach was Coach Cook
Caleb is proud of the huge win on homecoming weekend this past football season.
Why athletics are important to him: Because it keeps mind and body moving, and always loves the challenge.
The new owners of Giant couldn’t be more proud to have these hometown sports heroes working on the same team. In fact when Nick isn’t busy working the family grocery store business, he is raising his own up and coming student athletes!
“My kids all participate in sports, my sons play hockey, lacrosse and golf. My daughter dives and is also a competitive cheerleader. I think that kids having a physical outlet is so important to them, as well as learning to be part of a team, figuring out how to perform with a little bit of pressure/stress on them is all good. Learning how to win, but also lose, is important. I actually have coached my sons in hockey since they were 5 or 6 years old. I am still an assistant coach with my older son’s hockey team. My son is starting to participate in school sports, so I am right on the precipice of having high school athletes of my own!”
Check out the full Giant Food Mart weekly sales flyer, these sales are good through Saturday Feb. 19th. Click to enlarge.
