Gary Yeager on a run outdoors in athletic clothing.

“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

Profile photo of Charles Mikell smiling and standing in front of an event banner at the 2022 National Senior Games.

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

Headshot of Vincent Pearson smiling into the camera.

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

Profile picture of Julie Summers. She is standing and smiling with an Iowa Senior Games medal around her neck.

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,

Photo of Bruce Rubin holding a basketball during a practice.

Saved by the Ball

June 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Bruce Rubin, 80 Lansdale, Pennsylvania Bruce Rubin believes 30 years of basketball playing helped him in two ways to overcome a cancer that is rare among men. After a tumble on the court at his all-ages league practice last year, Bruce went to

Leonard and Felipita Loretto standing next to each other in match New Mexico Senior Olympics outfits.

May 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Joseph Leonard Loretto,78 Felipita Loretto, 75 Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico Senior athletes know that you need to move to enjoy longevity. Joseph Leonard Loretto and his wife Felipita just celebrated their 56th anniversary, and they say time has taught them that advice also

Susan Ingraham smiles and holds her medals at the 2022 National Senior Games.

April 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Susan Ingraham, 64 San Antonio, Texas Susan Ingraham makes waves in the pool in more ways than one. The sleek elite Texas swimmer has stacked up medals and accolades since she returned to competitive swimming 21 years ago after a long break. However,

The Fine Art of Running

By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Norma Minkowitz, 86 Westport, Connecticut Norma Minkowitz has drive. She doesn’t know why or how she got it, but it pushed her from modest beginnings to attain world recognition as a fine artist. It also manifested when she took up running in midlife, found her way to masters track

Profile photo of Sam Barnabas.

Sam is Keeping Sports in the Fam

March 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Sam Barnabas, 81 Webster, New York Sam Barnabas cannot remember a time when he wasn’t playing sports with his family. He was born in India to a family whose father was a diplomat, so they moved frequently. “We always managed to play games

Profile photo of Matt Meister with signage for the 2023 National Senior Games in the background.

February 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Matt Meister, 59 Kearney, Nebraska Many golfers will tell you they have a love-hate relationship with their sport. Matt Meister did not come to appreciate why some call it “a good walk spoiled” until midlife when he took up the game searching for