The Old College Try – August 2018 Athlete of the Month

Ken Mink, 83, Maryville, Tennessee An often-heard joke among senior athletes after a good performance is, “Too bad you don’t have any college eligibility left.” Of course, no one takes it seriously, right? Basketballer Ken Mink did, setting a most unique sports record in the process. Ten years ago, at the age of 73, the

Idaho Visit was No Small Potatoes!

Nearly 300 athletes and friends gathered for the 2018 Idaho Senior Games (ISG) kickoff BBQ held on August 2nd at scenic Julia Davis Park in downtown Boise. They got more meat than just tasty chicken and pulled pork with an NSGA Personal Best presentation recognizing 78-year-old Boise athlete Dick Johnson, who inspires others to pursue

Where to Start?

By: Del Moon Where to start? I should have started blogging when I joined the National Senior Games staff in 2013 as communications and media director. But some baggage came with me that had to be sorted out, and more details will be shared in future entries. But it’s now comfortable to share personal thoughts

“Pickleball Saved My Life”

Dick Johnson, 78, Boise, Idaho When pickleball players see Dick Johnson’s name on their match bracket, they know they are in for a challenge. That’s because Dick’s resume includes twice medaling in all seven recognized national and world championships in one year and racking up close to 200 medals -mostly gold- in these majors and

Olympic Surprise in Olympia, Washington!

Father and son senior pole vaulters Chuck and Phil Milliman knew they were being honored with two awards, including NSGA Personal Best recognition, at the opening social event on July 20, 2018 for the 22nd edition of the Washington State Senior Games (WSSG).  However, the gregarious duo, who have been in The Games since 2003

Jumping for Joy

Chuck Milliman, 85, Phil Milliman, 66, Sequim, Washington As the saying goes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. In Washington state, the Milliman family tree has produced a bushel of positive minded and active people, including Chuck and Phil, father and son gold medalists in National Senior Games pole vaulting. Chuck Milliman, a retired

Just What the Doctor Ordered – July 2018 Athlete of the Month

Susan Paulson, 62, Alexandria, Minnesota Cyclist Susan Paulson enjoyed an active youth, biking on gravel roads and ice skating near her northwest Minnesota farm home and discovering her competitive nature by playing recreational volleyball and basketball and running track in school. She was also active in dance line and as a hockey cheerleader. But gradually

“High on the Poles…and the Polls” – June 2018 Athlete of the Month

Brad Winter, 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico When Brad Winter was a kid, he and his friends liked to use a broomstick to jump up on walls. “My father got us some bamboo poles, and we would spend hours and hours on weekends with a pole vault run we fixed up with boards and dirt in

“Driving” Miss Peggy – May 2018 Athlete of the Month

Peggy Birkenbuel, 79, Fairbanks, Alaska When athletes travel to the National Senior Games, they usually fly if the drive is more than a day or two. Not Peggy Birkenbuel, 79, who has driven her car two out of three times to The Games from…wait for it…Fairbanks, Alaska. “It takes me four days to get from

“Badminton- Straight from the Source” – April 2018 Athlete of the Month

Kamal Chaudhari, 83, Temple Terrace, Florida The game of badminton has been around for more than two thousand years, but it did not gain worldwide popularity as a competitive sport until 19th century British colonists found “Poona,” as it was called, in the city of Pune (pronounced the same) near Bombay, India. They brought it