October 2026 Athlete of the Month
By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller
This Athlete of the Month story is brought to you by Uber, a proud supporter of the Senior Games community. Click here for a special discount on your next Uber ride.
Madelon Eichhorn, 78
Broomfield, Colorado
Volleyball, Basketball
Photo courtesy Madelon Eichhorn.
The Colorado Playin’ With Altitude Volleyball team hasn’t missed a National Senior Games since 2007. Its founder didn’t even learn volleyball until her late 50s.
Madelon Eichhorn has always loved playing sports. She started early, learning basketball from her father at five years old. That love has led to a healthy, active life and something she never imagined as a youth — starting a volleyball team and winning medals in the National Senior Games for nearly two decades and counting.
Madelon was part of the last generation of women to come of age before Title IX, the 1972 law that opened doors for girls and women in sports. She knows what it’s like to be denied a chance, and that fuels her commitment to keep playing.
“I played in high school, but I did not play in college at that time. There was very little opportunity for women to play sports,” she recalls.
After college she found herself on the other side of the whistle, helping create opportunities in sports for the next generation of girls. “I got a teaching job and they said, ‘Welcome to our high school. We need a coach for women’s teams.’” She went on to coach JV women’s basketball, along with middle school basketball and softball, during her 34-year career in education.
Madelon in her coaching days. Photo courtesy Madelon Eichhorn.
Adapting and Growing with Senior Games
Surprisingly, volleyball didn’t enter the picture until much later. Madelon competed in her first National Senior Games as a hoops player in 2005, but her team disbanded shortly thereafter. “My team was falling apart as people were getting injured and whatever. It was hard to find a lot of older women to play basketball at the time. I was looking for another sport,” she recalls.
Then she saw an ad at her recreation center in Broomfield about a senior volleyball league.
Madelon had been playing racquetball but wanted the camaraderie and coordination of team sports. “I played a lot of racquetball in Colorado for 20 years. I was even the state champion one year. I really enjoyed it, and I liked playing doubles. But I like playing with a team more.”
“I thought, ‘Well, I don’t know how to play, but I’m going to go see what it’s about.’ And it was mostly men, I think there was one other woman there,” she says. “But they showed me how to play, and I started competing in the local league. I found some players and we decided to qualify and go to Nationals.”
Playin’ With Altitude was born, and the Colorado team enjoyed their debut at the 2007 National Senior Games in Louisville. “We’ve been to all of them after that,” the team captain says with pride. “It’s an exciting atmosphere at National Senior Games. They have good referees and facilities, and there’s a lot of people you see year after year. It’s always fun.”
Members of Playin’ With Altitude sporting their medals won at the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Photo courtesy Madelon Eichhorn.
The Secret Sauce for Long-Term Success
The team she formed is a consistent contender and has captured many medals, including several golds, over the years. Madelon knows why.
“I’ve noticed that teams that do really well over time somehow manage to keep at least two or three of their core members,” she explains. “We have that advantage. Andrea Barnett is the setter and I’m the hitter, and we’ve played together forever. We had two women join from another team that dissolved a few years ago. Kathy Schroetlin and Sandy Rapp are both very good players. So, when the four of us get together as a core we can do a lot of good things.
“They have to get along with each other and be willing to play their role and not try to take over somebody else’s role,” she adds. “And I listen to them, too. We have lots of good leaders on the team.”
Inspiring Generations
Left: Madelon’s dad, who taught her how to play basketball. Right: Madelon’s high school yearbook photo for basketball. Photos courtesy Madelon Eichhorn.
Madelon is grateful for the guidance she received towards an active life with those early basketball lessons from her dad. His encouragement and coaching were instilled in Madelon and have carried into the next generations.
“My oldest daughter has four children, one of whom is now a college baseball pitcher. Her other three, a girl and two boys, are all playing basketball and some play softball or baseball or run track,” she explains. “My other daughter is a coach and has two kids who are in basketball or hockey.”
Madelon is proud to be a role model and hopes to stay active on the court. She has played in both volleyball and basketball in some previous Games and hopes to do it again at the 2027 National Senior Games presented by Humana in Tulsa.
“I didn’t have any idea when I was young what I’d be doing at this age. I would see myself being an old grandma sitting in the rocking chair,” she says with a chuckle.
“If I’m alive, I’ll still be moving and doing it as much as I can,” she continues. “If I lose one sport, I’ll go find another one to play. That’s what I tend to do over and over. I’m also hoping that I get to see my grandkids grow up and do amazing things.”
Are you ready to find your sport? There are dozens of options in the Senior Games! You don’t need experience, you just need to decide to try. Learn how to start your Senior Games journey.