Recovery with a Pickleball Prescription – and Guardian Angel
January 2025 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Mike Welter, 72 Cape Coral, Florida In 2017, senior athlete Mike Welter of Cape Coral, Florida, was flying high. The former tennis player had mastered pickleball and won two gold medals at the Super Seniors International Pickleball Association (SSIPA) World Championships as his peak
- Published in Athlete of the Month
Digging Out
By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Monique Wilson, 61 Redondo Beach, California Any parent will tell you that losing a child is one of the most difficult tragedies to overcome. Finding a pathway to return to everyday life is complex and can bring depression and other health issues. Monique Wilson’s family was devastated when her son
- Published in 2024 PB, Personal Best Featured Athletes, Senior Games Blogs
A Breath of Inspiration
December 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Sherry Kemp, 68 Columbus, Ohio In 2019 at age 63, Sherry Kemp was struggling with her health. She needed a walker and carried an oxygen bottle due to a rare, incurable condition. Today, her disease is in check, and she’s planning to compete in
- Published in Athlete of the Month
Veteran Ends 55-Year Drought with Senior Swimming Career
November 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Joel Lockwood, 90 Lake City, Michigan Joel Lockwood is having the time of his life by returning to competitive swimming after a 55-year hiatus caused by career and family duties. Despite current challenges, the 90-year-old says he’ll never get out of his lane again.
- Published in Athlete of the Month
A Cycling Champion Spins Off a Family Legacy
By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Luigi Fabbri, 89 Eva Fabbri, 82 Lake Worth, Florida Gabriella Fabbri, 60 Riviera Beach, Florida Those who know Italian-born Luigi Fabbri will agree that cycling is at the heart of his being. He has been competing and raking in medals and championships internationally for 45 years, and he is still
- Published in 2024 PB, Personal Best Featured Athletes, Senior Games Blogs
The Pickleball Pioneer: Fran Myer’s Unexpected Journey
October 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Fran Myer, 78 Kenmore, Washington Some people just have a knack for falling into situations and finding themselves in the middle of history. When it comes to the early development of pickleball, Fran Myer shows up everywhere. “I’m the Forrest Gump of pickleball,” she
- Published in Athlete of the Month
“Gary the Gazelle” Reinvents Himself
September 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Gary Yeager, 75 Phoenix, Arizona Gary Yeager knows what to do with a curveball on a baseball field, being a natural athlete and playing through college. Perhaps this taught him to find opportunities when life threw some real curveballs at him. The West Virginia
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Shuffleboard Will Never Get Old for This Man
August 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Charles Mikell, 58 Mechanicsville, Virginia Charles Mikell says his favorite sport is shuffleboard, and that’s no act. Charles is 58 years old, which doesn’t fit the image many conjure up of senior citizens playing shuffleboard on cruise ships. Ironically, Charles has played shuffleboard on
- Published in Athlete of the Month
Surviving the Roller Coaster
By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Dr. Vincent Pearson, 60 Owings Mills, Maryland Dr. Vincent Pearson has a long list of accomplishments and passions, highlighted by a busy career as a pharmacist and a solid family life. The successful bowler has won amateur events, earned Senior Games medals, bowled on a PBA regional tour and
- Published in 2024 PB, News and Events, Personal Best Featured Athletes
The Accidental Triathlete
July 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Julie Summers, 56 Windsor Heights, Iowa Until six years ago, Julie Summers had no idea she would become an athlete. It was never in her plans in her youth or as a busy professional and mother. Then, on a whim at age 50,
- Published in Athlete of the Month