2015 Games Photos – 2015 Games in the News – 2015 Games Results

From DQ to Gold: Redemption for Grandma Ceil

Glenda Ceil redeems herself in the 5000M Racewalk. Photo by: Eric Todd.

Imagine the scene. It’s the 2013 National Senior Games presented by Humana in Cleveland, Ohio. Twenty-five family members from around the country, all in purple t-shirts, have come out to support you. Your grandchildren are wearing purple t-shirts that read, “Grandma Gone Crazy.” The finish line is in sight. You have just a few meters to go and then it happens. You’re disqualified.

Ceil Edrich, who was 85 at the time, was asked to leave the track. Edrich didn’t know what was happening. The finish line was right in front of her. Needless to say, The Games in 2013 were extremely disappointing for Edrich and her family. Race walk is a highly technical event, and disqualifications can and frequently do happen, Edrich understands this.

Now, it’s 2015, and in the first race walk event Tuesday, “Grandma Ceil” is pulled from the 1500 in another disqualification.. Edrich says, “I woke up about 1 a.m. and couldn’t go back to sleep. I thought ‘Oh geez, I’ll get disqualified anyhow so I may as well stay home.’” But after a pep talk from family members, Edrich decided she had nothing to lose.

Edrich kept her cool and didn’t go crazy, but her family almost did in yesterday’s 5000 meter race. It was her last chance. The tension and anticipation rose as Edrich approached the finish line with two warnings in hand and one last field marshal to pass. Edrich glided by the field marshal, holding her form and victoriously crossed the finish line.

Edrich was quickly embraced by her family to celebrate the elusive gold medal. Way to go, “Grandma Ceil!”

Men’s Race Walk: Even the Role Models have Role Models

Alan Poisner (far left) leads the pack. Photo by: Eric Todd.

Alan Poisner is an 80-year-old race walking machine. The strider from Overland Park, Kansas has been president of his race walking club for the past twenty years. In 2011, he was named USA Track & Field National Race Walk Committee’s Race Walker of the Year for his 75-79 age division.

He was the favorite to take gold in the 80-84 division at The Games in Minnesota and he did not disappoint. Poisner stood atop the podium after Tuesday’s men’s 1,500 meter with a time of 09:49.290, and then took gold again yesterday in the 5,000 meter race, besting his next competitor by more than two minutes with a time of 35:09.

Who could he possibly look up to as a role model? Poisner points to a 98-year-old, gold medal winning race walker by the name of Jean Brunnenkant. “I have my own role model,” he said, noting that Brunnenkant has won gold in five different age divisions, ”I’ve now won them in two or three, so she is a role model for me.”

Poisner didn’t start race walking until age 50, saying he was an injured runner who took up race walking after meeting Debbie Laurence, a four-time Olympian who taught the sport. Another role model.

“This is more difficult than running,” says Poisner. “The two rules of race walking are: one foot on the ground at all times; and the other rule is that your knee has to be straightened when your foot hits the ground and remain straight until your body passes over it. That is more problematic, especially for older walkers.

“That gets rid of the advantage that runners have with a bent knee. With a bent knee you get some spring, because of the elasticity in your muscles and tendons. Walkers do not get that advantage, but by the same token they don’t injure their knees because all of their weight goes down their bones to their foot. So old walkers don’t have bad knees like old runners do.”

Poisner said he has one more advantage. At age 80, he’s a newlywed. “I just got married in October.” His new bride, Sharon, is currently learning how to race walk, and Poisner said her goal is to race walk in the National Senior Games two years from now.

Poisner’s active schedule has him headed off to Jacksonville, Florida for the USATF Nationals next week, and then on to the Nebraska State Senior Games being held August 6-9.

For parting advice to race walkers, the gold medalist says “You have to keep your focus, and when you get tired it’s harder. The focus means you have to keep your knees straight when your foot hits the ground.”

300 Game, 815 Series

Photo by: Alicia Afshar.

Parschen’s Penchant for Perfection – Rich Parschen of Strongsville, Ohio is taking home a 2015 National Senior Games gold medal in doubles and a singles silver medal in the men’s 60-64 division, but he also accomplished a rare feat during his doubles preliminaries Tuesday – a perfect game. Parshchen knocked down a 300, 289 and 226 in the round for an 815 score.

Parshchen, who brought 15 balls with him to the competition, told us this was the 107th 300 game in his career, something worth tooting your horn about. And in fact, Parschen, a retired band director, did just that on Wednesday morning at the AMF Southtown Lanes when he pulled out his clarinet and played the National Anthem to start the day’s competition.

Pickleball Players Pack their Paddles…and Medals

Photo by: Erica Jacques.

Pickleball wrapped up its final matches at the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana with the singles players in the 65 and over age divisions.

Jim White of Naples, Florida, won the championship match for Men’s 85-89. This was his first time competing in pickleball. Previously, he had competed at The Games in racquetball and tennis, but after that became too hard on his body he moved on to pickleball. Taking silver in the same division was Don Myers from Kent, Ohio. Don has been to all but two National Senior Games except two since the inception of The Games in 1987.

At the 2013 Games, Georgia Billger won silver in Women’s 70-74. This year, she won the gold in Women’s 75-79. “It feels good,” Billger said, though she added that she doesn’t care about medals all that much. “I just love to play.” Billger has competed in the Delaware Senior Games for 16 years and has previously competed in volleyball, softball, and basketball. In 2013, she received the Charlie Marten Memorial Award from the Delaware Senior Olympics for her commitment to staying active even while facing various health problems.

In Women’s 85-89, the gold medal was won by Joyce Jones of Bothell, Washington, and Mary Crusius of Southern Pines, North Carolina won silver. Coming out on top of the Men’s 75-79 bracket was Bill Smith of Mills, Wyoming, with Robert Stauffer of The Villages, Florida taking the silver medal, and Dick Johnson of Boise, Idaho winning the bronze.

3 Questions –  Beth Traut, 57, Faribault, Michigan, Competing in Pickleball

What have you enjoyed most about the games?

I think what I’ve enjoyed most is being able to see all the different levels of talent here at the pickleball courts. I’m just amazed at all age groups. It’s been incredible and the other part of it is the camaraderie and the social aspect.

I’m not sure if it’ll be in the next couple of years, but I definitely want to stay connected with the Senior Games. I’m proud to be a part of it. My family has all come to support me.

Share the experience and tell all of my friends about it and how much fun it was. I’ve been doing a little Facebooking and there have been some pictures up. A lot of my friends who weren’t even really aware of The Senior Games now know about it because I’ve been talking about it. I’ve also been talking people into participating in the next ones, and not necessarily in pickleball.

Basketball Players Hit the Final Stretch

Photo by: Rebekah A. Romero.

Athletes at the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana are showing they know how to play an exciting game of basketball in the final stretch of The Games.

Roundballers who came from across the nation and Canada arrived at St. Thomas Academy on Wednesday to play in the final rounds of women’s 60+ 3-on-3 basketball. Even after a few days of competition, many of the athletes were still working to calm their nerves. “We need to relax. We get a little too tense, I think about it, you know, because it’s kind of important,” said the Texas Stampede’s Laurie McGee, 64, of Mansfield, Texas. The Stampede won bronze in the second division.

As the competition drew nearer to the final games, athletes expressed pride in how their teams performed. “It’s definitely a team effort. There’s no one star. We all trust each other and played well together,” said San Diego Flash member Linda Zaniboni, 59, after her team beat the San Diego Triple Threat.

The athletes have advice for others who are looking to become healthy. Vancouver Canadians’ Judi Lewinter, 61, of Tucson, Arizona says, “Get active, stay active. Don’t stop, no matter what it is. There’s so much to it besides just the physical and the mental and the emotional.”

Volleyball: They’ve Got Rhythm

Who Can Ask For Anything More?

Madelon Eichhorn. Photo by: Eric Todd.

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” –Henry Ford

What would a team like women’s 65+ Play’n with Altitude say back to Henry Ford? What would they say it takes for a volleyball team to become a finely tuned machine?

Rhythm.

“Rhythm is a huge part of volleyball,” says team captain Snow Lopez. “When you first get on the court it’s getting off your heels and moving, and talking, and knowing each other.”

Play’N with Altitude took gold in the 2013 National Senior Games and team members are taking silver medals back home to Colorado this year.

Of her teammates, Lopez says, “We have had to play with five because one of our star hitters also plays basketball and took a gold in basketball. So we’ve had a lot of movement on the court,” Lopez said. The double duty “star hitter”who Lopez refers to is Madelon Eichhorn, 67, playing in her sixth National Senior Games.

Play’N with Altitude. Photo by: Victoria Todd.

One advantage that Play’n with Altitude has is that all the team members live relatively close to each other. Lopez says that the team members make it a point to get together and practice as a team Thursday and Fridays. However, most team members are practicing in some combination 5 to 6 times a week.

The team goes to regular clinics focusing on basic skills. “As silly as it sounds the good old pass-n, pass-n, pass-n, set-n, set-n, set, set-n, hit-n, hit-n, hit-n, and serve-n, and serve-n, and serve-n are really important. You don’t get those in a game. You have to practice those skills,” Lopez said.

Summing up what makes a good team, Eichhorn says, “I think we respect each other’s game and we work together well. We know where the strengths are and we talk, we communicate, and we’re friends. We just play together well.”

National Senior Games Athletes: The Games are More than Just Competition

Win or lose, the athletes competing in the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana, have gained many experiences, memories and friends from their time in Minnesota. With only positive words to say about the overall experience, these athletes are feeling lucky to have been able to be here and to compete.

Essie Faria, from North Miami,Florida, has competed in three Games and said, “I did better before, but I’m just having fun this time. I haven’t done much in two years, and I’m 80 years old now so I’m just doing my thing.” Faria earned two bronze medals in Table Tennis.

Athletes came to Minnesota from every state, the District of Columbia and nine foreign countries. Attendees commonly speak of enjoying getting to know their competitors as well as making friends. “This is the closest to the Olympics I’ve ever seen and it’s incredible,“ said 67-year-old pickleball player Bob Schwalb from Cary, North Carolina. “In my bracket alone there are 15 states represented.”

Richard Rowan, 78, from Griffin, Georgia, competed in Shuffleboard and has reconnected with friends he last saw six years ago and others he has met throughout his five Games. Rowan lost his Shuffleboard partner of ten years last year, but brought his wife along with him to compete this time. “I felt like these Games were as good as any of them. I just enjoy the game part and the competition,” Rowan said.

Bob Schwalb echoes the sentiments of many, saying he feels lucky to be healthy enough to still be playing and active. Linda Scholl, 57, who traveled in from Arlington, Virginia to play volleyball, shuffleboard and to coach a 70+ softball team to a gold medal, said, “I’m not in the best shape or the best athlete here, but my philosophy is that everyone should come and play. You don’t need to be a gold medal winner, you need to just come and enjoy it.” Scholl got involved as soon as she could at 50-years-old and has always had a great time at the games.

Whether is was their first game or their fifth,all of the athletes have gained much from their participation and look forward to the next Games in 2017.

Essie Faria

Richard Rowan

Bob Schwalb

Linda Scholl

Local Co-Chairs Also Reflect on The Games

Beyond the visiting athletes who gave their parting thoughts on their experience with the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana, there’s another local athlete and a prominent cheerleader who chimed in with their impressions of a long journey to see The Games become a reality.

Susan Adams Loyd, who competed in her third National Senior Games and emerged with a bronze medal in the women’s 55-59 400 meter race, and Dave Mona, a well -known businessman, public relations executive and sports broadcaster,, are the co-chairs of the Local Organizing Committee. Both say it has been a long time in the making for Minnesota.The bidding process started back in 2009 and now that The Games are winding down, they reflected on what has happened so far.

Both said their big worry all along was what all Minnesotans worry about: the weather. “We knew we had good venues, we knew we had good volunteers, we knew that we had great officials, but the weather can really throw it off,“ Loyd said. “Especially if it’s windy and cold, or so hot that it’s dangerous.” While there were some small weather disruptions in the early days of The Games, sunny days have followed since, with a few climbing over the 90 degree mark and one day resulting in a heat index of 100. Both said they would take that result given what could have been.

Mona and Loyd believe The Games are important not only for the athletes, but also for the host community as Minnesota was given the chance to show off its abundance of venues and attractions to the athletes and their guests. “The motive is just to make sure that everybody has a great time and goes away raving about the people, the conditions, the cities themselves,” Mona said.

 2015 Games Photos – 2015 Games in the News – 2015 Games Results

Teacher Follows Student to Racewalking Gold in National Senior Games

Gonzales Wins 1500 Meter Event for Third Time in a Row

Photo by: Anacleto Rapping.

Donna Gonzales’ race walking career is a storybook, even if the story didn’t begin until she was past 50 years old.

She has been competing in the National Senior Games since traveling from Jackson, Mississippi to Orlando for The Games in 1999, where she earned two silver medals in her first attempt. Ten years later, Gonzales, now 72, was inducted into the Mississippi Senior Olympics Hall of Fame.

Gonzales had four gold medals to her name coming into the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana.. She added a fifth on Tuesday after winning the 1500 meter race walk at O’Shaughnessy Stadium at St. Thomas University. She hopes-and expects- to add a sixth in the 5000 meter race walk today.

“I may get slower as I get older,” Gonzales said. “However, this year I was two seconds faster than 2013, when I was two years younger.”

Gonzales didn’t know anything about the sport until nearly twenty years ago, when she met a young race walker named Barbara Duplichain when Gonzales’ oldest daughter was competing in a bodybuilding contest. She took the elder novice under her wing and taught Gonzales how to race walk and “they’ve been best buds ever since,” said Gonzales, adding with her Southern drawl, “Even though I could be her Mama.”

Photo By: Shannon Neilon

“She picked it up instantly,” Duplichain said of Gonzales’ race walking. “She was like a natural to it.” Once Gonzales started bringing home medals, her mentor couldn’t wait to become a senior athlete herself, and copied her older friend’s feat by taking home two silver medals in her first National Senior Games in 2013. And yesterday, she matched Gonzales by winning her 55-59 division 1500 race.

At 5’1” and with short legs, Gonzales doesn’t have the ideal physique for race walking. But a lifetime of athleticism resulted in Gonzales being ready for anything. A high school gymnast and cheerleader, Gonzales continued to pursue athletic activities into adulthood, including teaching fitness and Middle Eastern dance at the YMCA. For five years she had an aerobics segment on a television morning show in Jackson, Mississippi.

Gonzales’ training regimen involves race walking four miles on dead end roads near her countryside Mississippi house at least three times a week, in addition to working out daily. She plans to take the short jog to Birmingham, Alabama for The Games in 2017 Games to pick up two more gold medals. Even if the gregarious blonde race walker doesn’t win first place, however, she will be grateful that her body is able to race walk.

The 2015 NSGA Personal Best athlete sends a message to her future competition: “If you can beat me fair, I don’t mind being beat.”

Basketball is a Constant Force in Life for Former Globetrotter

Photo by: Erica Jacques.

For many athletes, the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana are a way to pick up a beloved sport they put aside during adult years. Some athletes never stopped doing what they loved.

Tony “Bones” Davis, 80, of San Francisco, California, doesn’t need The Games to prove his prowess on the court. Davis played and entertained large audiences as a member of the famed Harlem Globetrotters from in 1952 and 1953. He was a ninth-round draft pick for the New York Knicks, but went to the University of Hawaii instead to gain post-Globetrotters game experience.

At Hawaii, his dedication to basketball carried over from the court to the classroom. He wrote his graduation thesis on how to improve the conditions of basketball. “I started playing basketball when I was four years and I just never quit,” Davis said of his basketball career.

At a towering 6’10”, you might say Davis is a noticeable figure on the senior court, where he has enjoyed success helping his teams win medals during his ten years in The Games, most recently sharing the bronze medal with the Makoa team in Cleveland in 2013. Now centering for the 80+ Hard Faces this year, he said he would be happy simply to get a medal.

Photo by: Tyler Rocheleau.

Power, strength, and determination helped athletes push through their hammer throws Tuesday at the University of St. Thomas. In 90-degree-plus temperatures, men and women swung the hammer around, sometimes releasing too early and sometimes at that beautiful, just-right moment. After the first round of 3 throws for each competitor, the top athletes moved onto the finals for three more throws.

Many athletes don’t begin hammer throwing until a later age, and get their start after competing in shot put. Hammer throw requires a lot of technique as well as strength. “It’s a complicated event and as you get older the balance can become an issue,” said 62-year-old Tennessean John Mackersie.

On a hot Tuesday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium, the balance was pretty good for him. In the men’s age division 60-64, all of the athletes with throws above 29.41 meters advanced to the finals, which were won by Mackersie with a throw of 40.99.

“My best this year is 45 meters.The first couple of throws today I was off. I hit the net. Then on the last round it felt really good, but they just weren’t getting out there,” said Mackersie. The effort was still good enough and certainly admirable for a man who only began hammer throwing eight years ago.

In the women’s 60-64 age division , Yvonne Kirkpatrick, 60, from Idaho, took the gold medal with a throw of 25.58 meters. Kirkpatrick was happy to have thrown the farthest she’s ever thrown. Kirkpatrick is another recent entrant to the hammer throw, saying she has only been doing it for about three years. “I just like the feeling. You’re throwing a weight, but it just floats,” Kirkpatrick said.

For complete track and field results, visit the National Games tab at NSGA.com

True Facts

Photo by: Zachary Kelly.

Here’s a quiz for you: James “Ed” True, of O’Fallon, Illinois, is: a) a shuffleboard player; b) a university instructor; c) an Air Force pilot, or d) a founding father of basketball in Ireland.

The “True” answer? E) all of the above!

While we’re at it, here’s one more distinction to add to that list – True is one of only eight remaining athletes who have competed in every National Senior Games since they began in 1987.

You might think 83-year-old Ed True has just moved randomly jumped from one position to another, becoming accomplished each time. No, there’s been a plan all the way, all the way to the shuffleboard event at the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana.

Ed True was an Air Force pilot, serving in the Vietnam War test program for mini-guns and C-47 aircraft. He was in Europe for 11 years and in the Far East for two years.

While living in Ireland in the ‘50s, True became a self-appointed ambassador for basketball. “I started basketball in Ireland through the U.S. State Department. I was a player initially and then I coached teams. My team actually won the European conference three times.”

Basketball Irish style contributed to True’s love affair with Europe. Even after his Air Force service ended, he continued to travel frequently. In the 80s, he combined this international passion with his love for youth work and began dedicating time to the Rotary Youth Exchange, a study-abroad program for teenagers. He continues to be involved in the program, consulting on travel to Australia, the Philippines, and other South Pacific/Asian countries.

Photo by: Zachary Kelly.

Back in the States, True worked for federal banks and started several businesses. In 1991, after raising the necessary funds, he founded an indoor sports complex in O’Fallon. It is believed to be the first facility in the U.S. built for indoor softball. True and the complex were featured in Sports Illustrated.

Around the turn of this century,True began teaching business classes part-time at several universities,including St. Louis Community College and Southern Illinois University, which he continues to the present day.

So how did all this lead True to the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana? In fact, he’s been here the whole time. He served on one of the initial committees that organized the first Games in 1987, and he has competed in every National Senior Games as an athlete. He began with track & field 50M and 200M and has taken up several sports since. True recently tried his hand at pickleball, and chose to play doubles shuffleboard in Minnesota.

His partner is Alice Carroll, 83, of Syracuse, New York. They met at a previous Senior Games when they were both in need of a partner. It proved to be a winning combination, as they earned gold after limited practice together. “We’re very good friends, even though we only see each other once every two years,” said Carroll.

Given his record of accomplishment in diverse fields, what’s True most proud of? “Being in the Illinois State Senior Hall of Fame for community service. [That was for] being involved on school boards for 25 years, community council for 19 years, and being quite involved with my chamber of commerce.”

It’s amazing Ed True could pick just one thing.

Games’ Success Rides on Backs of Yellow-Clad Volunteers

Photo by: Joey Erickson.

If you’ve had a good time at The Games, thank somebody in a yellow shirt.

The shirts are worn by more than 1,500 volunteers for the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Volunteers play key roles throughout The Games, helping with athlete registration, competition support, award distribution and just about any other task that is needed to get people and things put in the right place.

“We had over 500 plus grassroots marketing events where we would set up a table,” said Beth Pinckney of the Minnesota Local Organizing Committee. The goal was to “recruit not only athletes, but volunteers and to build awareness [of The Games].”

Partnerships were also forged with nonprofits such as the YMCA and Meals on Wheels, to recruit volunteers for The Games.

Volunteers were issued a volunteer handbook, and underwent basic volunteer orientation before they started. Some volunteers, such as Jon Good of Edina, Minnesota, were intrigued by family friends who were participating in The Games. After finding out that his friend’s mother was playing table tennis, he signed up through The Games’ website.

“It really has been fun to be able to watch and be inspired by people at this age,” Good said. “There was a woman playing basketball yesterday at 90 years old. It’s a wonderful thing to see.”

Good said he enjoyed his experience so much that he signed up for additional volunteer shifts and that he would do it all over again.

“If there’s any way I can help out to put on a competition like this in a small way, it’s a privilege to do so,” Good said.

Pinkney said bringing The Games to Minnesota has been a great experience for those involved. She hopes that Birmingham, Alabama, the 2017 host of The Games, will “keep growing The Games and living the mission of health and wellness.”

3 Questions – Bill McCarthy, 55, Green, Ohio, Competing in Racquetball

What have you enjoyed most about the games?
The people. The people have been completely excellent. They’ve been very, very nice, and the whole atmosphere’s been very fun.

Are you planning on coming back to The Games?
This is my second Games. I played in Cleveland in 2013 and I plan on playing in Birmingham, Alabama in 2017. So far, just racquetball. That’s all I’m decent at. (laughs)

What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get home?
Probably splurge a little bit and maybe have a milkshake. While I was training, I gave up ice cream and milkshakes. Milkshakes are my favorite thing, so I’m going to go home and have a milkshake.

 2015 Games Photos – 2015 Games in the News – 2015 Games Results

Native American Team Carries Wisdom of “The Ancient Ones”

By Russell Barnes

Photo by: Jose Marquez.

The Anasazi Ladies were here to win – on and off the court. Despite the outcome of their afternoon game, they celebrated Sunday night. Team captain Mary Begaye smiled on the sidelines as her three teammates scored the first two shots of their match against the Arkansas Diamonds. They were oversized and outmatched. The Anasazi (a Navajo word meaning “Ancient Ones”) has only four players — barely enough to compete three-on-three, especially against an opponent like the Diamonds, a team of seven that also boasts a significant height advantage.

With five minutes left in the first period, the short-handed shooters from the Southwest fell six points behind, yet they seemed unworried. “As long as we play our game, we are good to go,” Begaye said.

The Diamonds won 31-23, but the Anasazi team seemed anything but defeated. “We are still playing at 60 and over,” Begaye said. “I think that really means we keep ourselves in good health and we like to promote this to our younger Native Americans.”

The Anasazi Ladies live in Arizona but are spread around towns all over the state. They have played in New Mexico, Utah, California, Colorado and for National Senior Games. With 500 miles separating some members, they only get together once a year as a team. However, the members have known each other since they were in their early 20s, and gathering to play in Minnesota was this year’s chance to reconnect. Maggie Benally speaks of their special bond, saying, “As Native Americans, I think there’s always that relationship through kinship clans.”

“I play because it’s fun and it feels good,” fellow Anasazi lady Pat Nahee said. “When you’re running out there and you’re sliding across the floor, you feel like you’re flying.”

Begaye reiterated the importance of their example to youth, and says she repeats a traditional expression handed down to her: “Take care of the elder that you will become.”

Hoosier Joins Buckeyes for the Love of Volleyball

By Cara Desmond

Fred Steinhoff Photo By : Tyler Rocheleau

Sports, as in politics, can sometimes make for strange bedfellows. Volleyball player Fred Steinhoff, 72, from Indianapolis,Indiana is returning to compete in his eighth National Senior Games, but this time with the Buckeye State team from neighboring Ohio.

The reason was simple: “My local team disbanded.” But there is no real rivalry in the addition of the Hoosier to the team from the east. It is all about the love of the sport and the fellowship found in The Games.

Steinhoff wasn’t very active in sports when he was younger, instead choosing to be in marching band activities. Now, he is a regular in volleyball leagues year-round, competing in the National Senior Games, USA Volleyball (USAV) and the Huntsman World Senior Games when they come around.

“One of the nicest things [about competing] is being in different towns, especially with USAV Nationals,” Steinhoff says. “You get to go to different restaurants and try different good beers. Playing in a team sport, you get to meet a huge number of really nice people from all of the country — actually in some cases all over the world — and that’s great fun.”

With all his travel and competition experience, Steinhoff has many stories to tell, including his pride of being Indiana’s flag-bearer at the 2013 National Senior Games presented by Humana, or the time his team had its bags looted during a game. He fondly recalls his first National Senior Games trip to Orlando in 1999. “It was at the Walt Disney Wide World of Sports complex, which had just opened. They reserved one of the theme parks for us, just for the seniors,for one evening. It was really nice of them to do.”

After Monday’s matches, Buckeye State was ranked third in its bracket, and Steinhoff said “we’re looking to to be taking home a medal.”

In his spare time, Steinhoff leads a Boy Scout troop and enjoys hiking and canoeing trips. He says he wants younger people to have a life : “Stay active, period. Whatever it is doesn’t really matter. Stay active.”

Balancing Competition with Sense of Community

By Dan Piering

Hao-Ming Siu doing the Triple Long Jump. Photo by: Erica Jacques.

Max Siu says he won big today during the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Siu took home a bronze medal in the long jump and a silver medal in the 50-meter dash in the men’s 60-64 division. What he prizes most, however, does not involve what was hung around his neck.

“We’re all sharing,” Siu said. “You know, our whole bodies are getting old, and so we’re kind of telling each other how to stay healthy, and how to do the training.”

Athletes around the track at the University of St. Thomas’ O’Shaughnessy Stadium warmed up together, shouted encouragement and pushed one another to be their best, reflecting both community and competition.

Siu doesn’t need to look far for inspiration. His brother, Hao-Ming,was selected to be a Humana Game Changer and was also among the finalists in today’s games. “Oh, that’s the most fun thing,” Max said. “You know, when you have family and siblings doing things together.” The brothers work hard to train and both have overcome leg injuries sustained in the past two National Senior Games. But they motivate each other to keep competing.

In other men’s track action Monday, all-star Oscar Peyton proved once again that he’s the sprinter to beat, taking home the gold medal in the 100-meter dash. Peyton, another Humana Game Changer and 2013 NSGA Personal Best athlete, clocked just two seconds behind the much younger Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt. The tall lanky sprinter has been as high as number two in USA Track and Field Masters rankings for men’s age 55-59 in the event. “Just give me 20 meters and I think I could beat him,” he said with a hint of a smile.

Visit the Results page under individual sports at NSGA.com where outcomes are posted as soon as they are verified.

Fox Finds Fellowship Amidst Triumph and Adversity

By Liz Anderson

Photo By: Anacleto Rapping

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. At least that’s how Vicki Fox saw it Sunday as she competed in over four events in track and field within mere hours of each other, and then faced another challenging day on Monday. In the end she toughed out some precious medals.

Fox, from Long Island, New York, didn’t start running until 2010 when she was 51. But once she started, she never slowed down. Fox completed 37 races by the end of 2011 and easily qualified for the 2013 Games, where she won two golds and a bronze in running events.

Now 56, Fox was in high spirits Sunday morning as she waited for her turn to throw the discus for the first time at the national games. She recalled her first track-and-field experience. At the start, Fox said she blew her competitors out of the water. It didn’t last long. “I was leading the pack, but of course they all passed me because I had no idea about pacing. I was just going and I had no idea how to run a race,” Fox said.

Fox’s approach to her new world of competition is to just jump into an event and try it out. “Anything I just start, I like, because I’m wingin’ it. But once I start figuring out the technical part of it, then I get all rigged out,” Fox said.

Just 30 minutes after finishing seventh in the discus competition, Fox was off again. She ran the 50-meter race and qualified for the final round on Monday. Fox said the constant movement makes her a better athlete and also a better friend because of the relationships she builds with others.

“Everybody is so nice and so fun. And social media is so great because we stay connected,” said Fox, whose performances and encouragement of others to pursue the sport earned her recognition as 2014 USA Track & Field Athlete of the Year for Long Island.

Photo By: Elissa A Simons

Monday, Fox was outperformed in the 50 meter event and finished fifth place for the 100 meter dash. Then, she found redemption in the women’s 200-meter as she surged from a slow start to capture the bronze medal.  Fox also found silver in the 800-meter and long jump, and topped it off with two gold medals (in the 400-meter and 400 relay). Afterwards, her face bore a triumphant gleam.

“I love the diversity,” Fox said when asked what her favorite part about track and field events was. “This way, you got the sprints; every distance is different. The 50s, 100s, 200s, running the curve, running the straightway [and] the pacing on the 400.”

The dominant name in the women’s 55-59 sprints was Amanda Scotti, who is a lifelong top competitor and co-publisher of the National Masters News. Scotti now owns gold medals in the 50 and 100 meter events.

Full results for all events are posted as soon as they are verified in the Results section under individual sports at NSGA.com

Shuffleboard Champs Make Room for More Medals

By Joey Erickson

Photo by: Joey Erickson.

If a couple of gold medalists in this week’s singles shuffleboard competition looked comfortable atop the podium, it’s because they’ve been there before many times.

Monday night, Chuck Crouse finished first in men’s singles age 70-74 for his fifth time gold medal in five trips to The Games. Ruth Parker won her fourth National Senior Games gold medal with a top place in women’s singles in the 90-94 age division.

Crouse will be inducted into the Shuffleboard Hall of Fame later this month in Lakeside, Ohio. He also won a gold medal with his wife in the doubles competition in Minnesota. Crouse says the thrill of victory hasn’t faded for him. “The competition was a little tougher this year, but otherwise it feels about the same,” Crouse said.

While she still enjoys winning, Parker said nothing compares with the first time she took home the gold at the 2009 Games in San Francisco. “The first one is always the best one. When I got my first gold medal in California the whole family went with me. I think in anything you, do the first one is the best,” she said.

Parker hopes to be back for the next Games in Birmingham. “I always tell people, this is how you stay young.”

3 Questions – David Sabino, David Sabino, 62, Rochester, Michigan, Competing in Pickleball

What have you enjoyed most about the games?
I have enjoyed the people. You come here and you see people that you’ve played with or played against all over the country. There’s this camaraderie in pickleball that you don’t have in any other sport.

Are you planning on coming back to The Games?
I played in Cleveland in the first time they had pickleball there. I played here and I’m sure I’ll play it in the next one.

What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get home?
I’m going to Disneyland (laughs). I’ll kiss my wife, of course. Don’t tell her about the Disneyland part. Okay, I’ll do both.

Hoop Dreams Endure on the Hardwood

By Andrew Ruffing

Phyllis Smith. Photo by: Andrew Ruffing.

Squeaks and dribbles from the court could be heard as family and friends of athletes roared for loved ones. Cheers erupted with each satisfying “swish” of the net.

Athletes from across the country came together Monday to play National Senior Games three-on-three basketball at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights. “Great competition. Nice friendly rivalries. A lot of good stuff,” Massachusetts Miracles player Mal Cotton, 64, of Boston said.

The athletes have worked hard to earn the cheers of family and friends. Bedford County Dinos player Phyllis Smith, 66, from Shelbyville, Tennessee, said her team has been playing since the 2011 National Senior Games presented by Humana in Houston, and the hoopsters have moved up from a sixth place finish then, to fifth place at the 2013 Games in Cleveland, and have improved to fourth place in the women’s 65-plus age range at this year’s Games.

Smith saw room for improvement this year. “You get in the moment and then you rush your shot or you miss the rebound. You dribble too far. There is a lot of things that happen while you’re out there on the floor.” For the next National Games, however, she says she won’t settle for third or even second place. “In Birmingham, in 2017, we’re going to be [number] one!” Smith said.

TRIA Provides Support for Senior Athletes

By Amy Adamle

Photo by: Del Moon.

An orthopaedic center that opened in Bloomington, Minnesota, in 2005 is providing care to senior athletes competing in the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana.

TRIA Orthopaedic Center, which offers “comprehensive orthopaedic care, from diagnosis to treatment to surgery,” became a sponsor of the national games after supporting the Minnesota Senior Games last year. “TRIA ’s mission is to provide our patients and community with exceptional musculoskeletal care supported by innovative education and research,” says Amy Hamilton, TRIA’s sports media program manager. She says The Games are a fit with their mission and the experience is benefiting the staff of TRIA.

TRIA team members Beth Klute, Jonny Direcks and Annie Vavre worked at the University of Minnesota Baseline Tennis Center. They said it had been quieter than they expected. “We partnered with Novacare and Inver Hills Community College EMS team, so they took more of the low-risk sports so we could have people at almost all of the events,” Klute, an outreach athletic trainer at TRIA, said. TRIA has about 45 staff members at the combined events.

“As a whole it’s been going really well. We’ve prepared for the worst, but it’s been good,” Klute said. Direcks added that sites are different depending on the intensity of the sport.

The TRIA trainers try to move to different events each day to give them a broader picture of all of the sport activities offered by the national games.

“It’s a great event to be a part of. The athletes are unbelievably inspiring and an athlete is an athlete no matter the age, so they’re susceptible to injuries too,” Hamilton said.

 2015 Games Photos – 2015 Games in the News – 2015 Games Results

The Unending Pickleball Honeymoon

by Eric Todd

Photo by: Eric Todd.

What does a 72 year-old retired Air Force pilot and a 57 year-old retired Postmaster have in common? Pickleball…and love.

Self-described lovebirds Larry and Jo Honeycutt from Canyon Lake, Texas, say they met on the pickleball court and “one thing just kind of led to another,” Jo says.

The Honeycutts married about a year and a half after they met. Larry says, “I managed to find every excuse I could to go to her work and give her information and a paddle and all that good stuff, I would tell her it was on my way, but it wasn’t.”

“He stalked me,” Jo teased.

Larry had been playing pickleball longer. “So he was good about giving pointers and teaching you the finer points, He’s a good guy,” Jo added.

Even though pickleball brought them together, they no longer play together competitively. It had been necessary for Larry to play down to her age group in order for them to team up. “Jo and I played together for about a year. I told her she had a one-year contract and then she was cut off,” Larry said, laughing.

Larry says he can notice a difference in the hand eye coordination in groups that are fifteen to twenty years younger. He now enjoys playing in his own age bracket.

Fifteen years separate the two, but pickleball adventures and love bridges the gap. “I had to retire because work interfered with my pickleball,” Jo quipped. “Pickleball gives you a chance to travel and go to all these fun places,” she continued. “We’ve met a lot of good friends and we get to reconnect at these tournaments it’s a social thing as well as good exercise. You gotta keep moving. Move it or lose it.”

The Honeycutts are thrilled to be competing in the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana and are loving their first trip to Minneapolis. This marks the first National Senior Games for Jo and the second for Larry.

To continue their pickleball adventures the Honeycutts will be heading to the Dominican Republic this December for some more play time. A trip to the Caribbean is as good an excuse as any for extending a pickleball honeymoon.

Cyclists “Just Keep Going”

Cyclists assembled north of Saint Paul in the town of Hugo on Sunday for the 5K time trials of the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana. While many hoped to race their way into the record books, others were just happy to be racing at all.

John Taylor, 94, became the first person 90 years or older to ever compete in a triathlon at the Senior Games, he did so in which he accomplished in 2011. While back problems now keep him from running and competing in the triathlon, he still manages to swim and cycle. On Sunday, he was the oldest athlete competing in the 5K competition.

After heart valve surgery in March, Taylor was only able to bike a total of 11 miles in preparation before driving north to Minnesota with the goal to at least complete the 5K. He ended up eating up enough asphalt to complete both the 5K and 10K events. “I found out that some of the old stuff is coming back to me,” Taylor said.

Taylor finished the 5K with a time of 15:26.0. In the 10K the day before he had his fastest time in two years. The 2015 Personal Best feature athlete likes to talk about his accomplishments, but it’s not because he has a big ego. “I brag for one reason, to inspire others. You’ve got to just keep moving,” Taylor said. The Atlanta resident and University of Alabama alumnus already has his sights set on The Games in Birmingham in 2017.

Photo by: Shannon Neilon.

Another athlete with a special mission was Victor Conaway. Just four days after qualifying in the California State Senior Games in Pasadena last year, Conaway suffered a massive stroke. He still gets emotional when talking about the people who helped him recover from his stroke. He and calls his support group “Team Conaway.” The former motorcycle racer set his sights on the 2015 Games with three goals: participate in the Celebration of Athletes sponsored by AstraZeneca Diabetes (in which he carried the California sign), compete in the 10K, and compete in the 5K. Check, check, check.

Through the influence of his father and an uncle, Conaway has chosen two mottos to live by: “Don’t tell me I can’t,” and “Never give up.” Tearfully, he spoke of his of his father, who in World War II was on a ship that got hit by an enemy plane. He went to another ship to continue fighting. His uncle was in the Battle of the Bulge. “They went through that, and all I have to deal with is a damn stroke? It’s pretty small,” he said.

“I guess it runs in the family. You just gotta keep going.”

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Peyton Keeps Hot Pace

Photo by: Benjamin Morris.

Oscar Peyton delivers yet another dominating performance by winning the 60-64 age group 100 meter dash at University of St. Thomas Sunday in 100 degree heat index weather. Get track and field and other sports’ results by clicking the Results tab above that takes you to NSGA.com page.

 

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Table Tennis: A Language Everyone Speaks

by Amy Adamle

Photo by: Amy Adamle.

A game that’s played around the world brought people together at the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Sunday,Table tennis partners Yali Carpenter, born in China, and Ladislav Sranko, a native of Slovokia, won the gold medal in men’s 60-64 mixed doubles competition after a back and forth match that came down to the wire.

The two have been playing this intense, fast-paced game for a long time. Carpenter began playing table tennis at age six, Sranko at age nine. They come from very different parts of the world and grew up speaking very different languages, but love for table tennis helped them overcome any differences in communication styles.

Carpenter was delighted with how they worked together to capture the gold. “It was serious and intense, but very good,” Carpenter said. “It wasn’t hard playing together, we were both very tough players.”

Carpenter and Sranko met at a tournament a year ago and admired each other’s talents so much they decided to team up. With their combined experience,forging an effective partnership came easily and quickly.

Sranko also won men’s doubles and took second place in men’s singles. Carpenter came in third place for women’s singles and doubles.

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Alice Tym: From Tennis to Pickleball, with Horses in Between

by Eric Todd

Photo by: Shannon Neilon.

In 1969, Alice Luthy Tym was the 13th ranked female tennis player in the world, ultimately winning titles on five continents and being inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Women’s Hall of Fame in 2008. So, why is she playing pickleball at the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana?

It turns out that Tym didn’t leave tennis for pickleball. She laid down her tennis racket to start a family. Tym had plenty to do raising her three children and running her horse farm in McDonald, Tennessee.

The spry 72-year-old tells it like it is. “Tennis is terrific I could talk for hours about it, but that was then, it’s not 1969 anymore and instead of crawling under a rock we need to be living for today. You don’t want to hear an old fart talking about their bowels or what medication someone is taking.”

Tym recognizes the fun, fellowship and fitness that Senior Games provide, “I think any kind of games that bring people together is wonderful. It’s tons of fun. I know there’s a whole lot of work and effort put into [the National Senior Games] and we really appreciate it.”

In addition to pickleball, which she learned to play four years ago, Tym also plays badminton and table tennis. She is planning on going to the upcoming World Games in New Zealand for badminton and hopes that one day the Worlds will include pickleball.

Tym, who grew up in Aitkin, Minnesota, loves being back in her home state. At the time, Aitkin, just north of Mille Lacs Lake, was pretty remote. “We didn’t have electricity, we didn’t have running water, it was fabulous,” Tym said.

After the Senior Games Tym will head back to Tennessee. She says she spends most of her time, “mowing and shoveling. And the grass is growing as we speak.”

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3 Questions – George Freeman, 83, Foley, Alabama, Competing in Track & Field/Bowling

Note: George is one of only 8 athletes to participate in every National Senior Games since the first in 1987.

What’s your first impression of Minnesota? What do you want to see while you’re here?

I haven’t been here too long. I took the blue line in and it was only a buck and a half so it’s a bargain. And it’s above ground, not like a subway. You can look out and see everything coming into the city. Really quite impressive.

What’s so special at National Senior Games for you?

They’ve kept me alive. I’m competing in one year and training hard in the next. My whole family has medical problems like arthritis. I don’t have any of that.

What’s the greatest benefit you get from being a senior athlete?

Keeping your weight down, beating arthritis and all the diseases that seem to crop up when you get to be 70 or 80. I’m happy to be here.

 

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Personal Best Empower Hour: “Go Dance in the Rain”

by: Liz Anderson

Photo by: Cody Phan.

 

What is a person’s real “personal best” and how can we teach others to achieve their own? Two fun and informative NSGA Personal Best Empower Hour .programs were held during The Games to bring together athletes to discuss and share ideas on the topic.

Saturday’s gathering featured two special guest moderators and several athletes who have been featured in the Personal Best health and wellness initiative begun in 2013. Shellie Pfohl, executive director of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, and Dr. Stephen McDonough, a member of the Council and prominent health and conditioning advocate, spoke about their efforts to promote senior fitness nationally, and then turned the talk over to the athletes.

The President’s Council mission matches that of the Senior Games, Pfohl said. “We know we want to create strong athletes, but we want athletes for life.”

83-year-old multi-sport enthusiast Leurene Hildenbrand regaled the crowd with a skit to set the fun tone for the program. Sporting a neck brace, arm sling and bandage wraps, she called out the excuses people make for not competing or being active. Fitness, Hildenbrand said, doesn’t have to live just at a gym.

“[My family] did farming on the side, we had no time for sports and all that. But, I must admit, being raised on a farm and having a farm after I was married served to help with a lot of things.”

Jane Kaiser, 65, was motivated to be active by her parents’ deteriorating health, and by her own time in a surgical intensive care unit. Kaiser, who is a nurse and conducts wellness seminars in the St. Louis, Missouri area, said “I’ve gotta walk the walk, I can’t just talk about it.”

Avid cyclist Mike Adsit credits The Games with saving his life. A four-time cancer survivor, Adsit cited studies that point to an increased rate of survivability when exercise is part of cancer treatment. “[Lance Armstrong] moved me to get off my tush and start cycling and I became a competitive cycler since then,” Adsit said.

Other Personal Best athletes who participated included trackster and psychologist Bob O’Connor, race walker Donna Gonzales, Monica Horstman (one of 7 Horstman family members who bowl in Senior Games), and two very active 90+ athletes, trackster and swimmer Howard Hall and cyclist Larry Johnson. Each one had a different story and spin on NSGA’s “new definition of Personal Best” as documented with the profiles and in-depth conversations assembled on the Personal Best page at NSGA.com.

A humorous moment occurred when Mississippian Gonzales, who taught Middle Eastern dance before becoming a race walker, was asked to teach the audience a few moves and the entire group on and offstage thrust their arms in the air and gyrated their hips with much laughter.

NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker and Communications/Media Director Del Moon both engaged the audience to participate and many shared stories and helpful ideas to stimulate others to be active. “We are presenting several great examples of athlete stories we have selected here, but every one of you has a story,” Moon said. “All of you practice the Personal Best attitude with your participation, and each of you holds the key to help open the door for others.”

As Hildenbrand pulled off her bandages, she offered some words of advice to folks looking for encouragement.

“Don’t wait for the storm to pass. Go out and dance in the rain.”

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Thanks From the Heart

by Joey Erickson

Photo courtesy of Humana.

When John Bates competed in the triathlon last Sunday at the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana, he must have thought back to a dramatic moment at The Games in Louisville eight years ago.

At the 2007 Games John and his wife, Janice Sullivan, were practicing for the next day’s mixed doubles tennis competition. They had just completed the first set of a match when Janice turned around to find John lying on the ground unconscious, not breathing, and without a pulse.

John had suffered a heart attack. Luckily EMS crews were able to reach him in time to save his life. He was taken to a hospital where it was discovered he had cardiomyopathy, or a weakened heart. He knew that in order to make his heart stronger, he needed to start exercising it, so he started a program of walking daily, then eventually jogging and running.

John and Janice returned to the tennis court in 2009 for The Games in San Francisco. Although they lost in the first round, they were grateful just to compete after having to withdraw in 2007. “You’ve never seen such happy losers,” Janice said. They have played in every National Senior Games since.

At the 2013 Games, John heard the story of triathlete Karen Newman and how she overcame breast cancer to continue racing. It was her story that inspired John to be in the triathlon in 2015. He stepped up his swimming and biking and became a triathlete.

John remains grateful for those who helped save his life and hopes that his fellow competitors will recognize the great work that the medical teams do. “Everybody here who is participating should thank the EMS crew. That’s what saved my life. If the EMS had not been on the site, I would not be here. They were determined not to give up until they got more support. Thank the EMS crew for being there because you never know when you might need them.”

Although John and Janice were eliminated in their mixed doubles tennis competition to end their 2015 experience, they return home again to Townsend Tennessee with the smiles of “happy losers.” John was selected to be one of the 2015 Humana Game Changers and enjoys being an ambassador for healthy, active aging.

 2015 Games Photos – 2015 Games in the News – 2015 Games Results

An Unusual Eye for Bowling

by Matt Oleszczak

Photo by: Matt Olesczak.

Who do you normally associate with precision? Jewelers? Tailors? Surgeons?

How about an 88-year-old bowler—and she’s 90 percent blind?

Mary Northrup from The Villages, Florida, plays with the best despite her visual impairment. She rolled into the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana with a 2011 gold medal in Houston and a gold and silver from Cleveland in 2013.

Northrup doesn’t need much help to earn her strikes. She can still barely make out the lanes and where the pins are, and muscle memory does the rest. When it’s her turn, she calls on fine-tuned habits developed over many years. Ball in hand, she takes a step up on the alley. She pulls the ball up, bends her knees, and brings the ball forward with the finesse of someone a third of her age. “I’m healthy other than my eyes. And I’m pretty limber for my age,” said Northrup.

The only time where she needs the help of others is after throwing the first ball of a frame. She can’t see exactly which pins are still standing. On Saturday, she got an assist from Virginian Frances Coltrane. Every pin has a number, and Coltrane would shout out the pin number to help Northrup figure out her strategy. Their rapport was so smooth it seemed like they were long-time friends, but it turned out they’d never met before this week. Coltrane felt it was a no-brainer to help. “I would hope somebody would do it for me. Because it’s a shame to stop participating just because you can’t see like you used to,” she said.

Northrup, who had bowled since her teenage years, began experiencing macular degeneration back in 1997. It progressed slowly. She stopped driving only about five years ago and can still use a golf cart in her Florida senior community. Northrup isn’t sure whether she’ll be able to handle the next National Senior Games, but leaves it open as a possibility. “You do the best with what you have,” she said.

Her Coach is Gone, But Influence Remains

by Amy Adamle

A coach can have a lasting impact on an athlete. Karen Simon, 59, has played racquetball competitively since 1989, when a man named Moses Nicholson told her she had potential. Nicholson became Simon’s coach for 26 years and his influence helped her win a national gold medal in Palo Alto in 2009 and brought another one Saturday afternoon.

Nicholson died in February at the age of 88, but Simon holds her coach in her heart every time she plays. “I figure he’s watching from above. I wouldn’t be doing this without him and he was such a big part of my life,” Simon said, fighting back tears.

When Simon came to The Games this year, she dedicated her play to her coach, whose influence extended beyond racquetball into other aspects of her life. “I’ve met the most wonderful people playing,including my husband,” Simon said. She wryly notes that they play together often and “I take it easy on him when we play.”

Simon’s coach gave her much valuable advice, including how to stay in shape to play at a high competitive level. “The training, if you take it seriously, is like a full time job. Especially at our age, because you really have to keep up with not just what you do on the court, but your cardiovascular, your weights, your balance, and all of that stuff to get these old bodies ready to move,” the Floridian, said.

Her coach is no longer with her, but Simon plays for him and plays for herself. She hopes she can inspire others to play as well.

Author Goes Full Cycle Thanks to Senior Athlete

Photo by: Shannon Neilon.

Stories of life-changing friendships abound at the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana. While doing research for her new book, Life Reimagined – The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife, former National Public Radio correspondent, Barbara Hagerty heard about the Senior Games and reached out to NSGA.

Hagerty was referred to several athletes and she selected Mike Adsit, a cyclist and cancer survivor with a dramatic story to tell. Adsit was selected to be an NSGA Personal Best athlete profile this year.

A lifelong runner, Hagerty had discovered she had arthritis in her right knee in 2012. “I could hardly walk up the stairs, and the doctor said ‘you can’t run,’” Hagerty said, She then asked,“Well, can I bike?” That turned out to be a possibility and became her rehab and exercise option.

Hagerty shared this history when she met Adsit to record an interview for an NPR piece Hagerty was working on. After the interview, Adsit said, “Let’s go for a bike ride.”

Photo by: Eric Todd.

Hagerty had brought her “old bike” with her and the two pedaled off on a 20 mile loop. Hagerty, then a novice cyclist, made the distance faster than she had ever done. Adsit looked at Hagerty and said, “We’re going to get you qualified for the National Senior Games and I’m going to be your coach.”

The author of a book about people making midlife changes found herself on a new path in life, and that path led her to Minnesota thanks to her story subject and mentor.

Hagerty hopes to offer several insights in her book, but points to one quality that underlines most of the people she profiled, including Adsit. “It’s having a passion, in his case it’s sports, But it can be anything else, and it transforms your life,” she explains. “You won’t find a negative person here at the Senior Games. You’ll find people full of verve and excitement about life. Talk to anyone and they will tell you how much fun they’re having.“

“I think it’s a national myth that once we hit your 40s, 50s, or 60s we’re going to coast. No! You don’t need to do that. The way to stay young is to keep challenging yourself.”

3 Questions – Vivian Stancil, 68, California, Competing in Swimming

What’s your first impression of Minnesota? What do you want to see while you’re here?

I just want to encourage non-participants to come, join and see and explain to them to get in contact with their Parks and Recs for the different sports. It’s not only swimming, there’s other things. Start with your local state and get involved. I was 320 pounds when I started and the doctor told me if I didn’t lose that weight I wouldn’t see my 60th birthday. I’m 68 now.

The excitement. The people that you meet. I feel that the National Senior Games are more family oriented.

The camaraderie. I love the competitive spirit, regardless if you win. I realize there are going to be losers and winners, so I take it all with a smile. I’ve made many friends all of the seven years I’ve competed and we’re still in contact.

Track and Field: Favorites Glynn, Peyton Do Not Disappoint

by Dan Piering

Photo by: Benjamin Morris.

As clouds flew across the sky over the St. Thomas University track stadium, familiar favorites flew down the track and through the air, breaking several records and personal bests.

Kay Glynn, a 62-year-old from Hastings Iowa, set the NSGA record for women’s pole vault in the 60-64 year old category. “I knew that it [the record] was 8’6”, so I went 8’6” and a quarter,” said Glynn.

Glynn had put off a hip resurfacing procedure two years ago to compete in the 2013 games in Cleveland. She went for her normal height and failed to clear the beam and missed a medal in a gutty all-or-nothing gamble. After her surgery, Glynn has only been able to vault at three meets prior to coming to Minnesota. Evidently that was enough as she captured the gold medal today. Smiling, jumping, and doing handstands to warm up in between vaults, she said that competing is fun, but for her the high point is the friends she makes at The Games.

“There’s a lot of happy people when you come to these meets, and I’m convinced it’s because they’re active,” Glynn said. “It’s the attitudes of these people that’s so amazing.”

Meanwhile, on the track, 62-year-old Oscar Peyton dominated the men’s 100 and 200 meter dashes. Peyton is an accomplished sprinter, having won the Masters National Track and Field Championship seven times, and the National Senior Games seven times as well.

Glynn and Peyton have something in common. Each of them started on or after their fiftieth birthday, proving again that anyone can start competing at any time. And both have been selected NSGA Personal Best athletes based on their life journeys.

“Not everybody has the gift of speed,” Peyton said. “But we all have a gift. We just have to find out what it is. It may not be even physical. But everybody have something that they can be good at. And even if you can’t be good at it, some days you do it just for your health. Not to be the best, you’re doing it for the love of it and for the benefits of it.”

Golfer Battles Greens, Finds Gold

Golfer Lindsay Tise, 96, had his worst round of The Games on Friday, but still finished with a total score of 144, an average of 48 strokes in each of the three nine-hole rounds. He beat his nearest competitor in his age group by 25 strokes.

Tise, from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, thought Como Golf Course was beautiful, but had some of the toughest greens he’d ever encountered, which added quite a few strokes to his total.

“The ball would go every way but straight,” Tise said.

While Tise will be going home with a gold medal in his event, the competition was not the most important thing to him. “What it’s really about is the fellowship with the other guys. We played with the same group for three rounds so we got to know each other,” Tise said. He hopes to be back to play in the 2017 Games.

Tise was competing in his first Senior Games at the National level, having previously played in local and state games.

Volleyball Vibes

by Cara Desmond

The Alamo Stars celebrate after winning the first match against Whatever it Takes. The Alamo Stars lost the third and final game against Whatever it Takes. Photo by: Mikailin Rae Perry.

You can hear the fans cheering and the whistles blowing even from the sidewalk outside of the Minneapolis Convention Center.

On Saturday, volleyball teams in the Men’s 55-59, 65-69, 76 and over, and the Women’s 50-54, 60-65, and 70 and over divisions all gathered to play their final matches in the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana.

The gym was crowded with players and spectators. On one wall, players from Lightning, a team from Illinois competing in the Women’s 70 and over bracket, sat and scouted out their quarter-final match opponents. After winning silver in The 2013 Games in Cleveland, team member Jan Pihl said this year, “We’re back for the gold.”

Over at the next court, the championship in the Men’s 65-69 bracket was being played. It came down to a one set playoff match between the Boomers and the Harrisburg Divers. Players from both teams were diving all over the court until the Boomers finally won the gold by 25-21.

“It’s a relief [to win],” said Boomer’s captain Henry Dahlen, a 66-year-old from Ellicott City, Maryland. “It was nail-biting at the end there.”

While the team was happy about winning, manager Allan Schultz, 71, of St. Paul, Minnesota, said his players have the “utmost respect” for the Divers, explaining that the teams have faced off before, and that some Boomers have even played for the Divers. “It would have been no shame to lose to them,” Schultz said.

Other teams taking home medals were the Grey Wolves, who won the Silver bracket in Men’s 55-59, and the Middle Agers, also winning the Silver bracket in the Men’s 65-69 division.

Strategy Shift Pays Off To Defend Hometown Pride

by Joey Erickson

The action is heating up as tennis competition is winding down at the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana. On Saturday in the quarter-finals of the men’s singles ages 75-79 tournament, Bob Busch earned a hard fought victory over Dennis Irwin, 6-1 6-7(4) 1-0(5).

Busch, from nearby Edina, Minnesota, won the first set of the match, but quickly found himself down 5-1 in the second set. But he did not give up.. “I just keep telling myself, you’ve gotta play smart, and keep the ball in play,” he said. He fought hard and came back to take a 6-5 lead, but couldn’t close out the set and wound up losing in the tiebreaker.

Busch will play number one seeded Henry Baughman in the semi-finals on Sunday. While winning would be nice for him, he is happy just to be competing. “I’m at the stage of my life where I’m just grateful for my health,” Busch said.

 2015 Games Photos – 2015 Games in the News – 2015 Games Results

A Celebration of Three Cities Fit for a Parade

Photo by Anacleto Rapping.

Bloomington, Minneapolis and Saint Paul officially welcomed the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana in last night’s Celebration of Athletes sponsored by AstraZeneca Diabetes, and thousands of senior athletes returned the embrace.

The festive event was held at the recently opened CHS Field, the home of the Saint Paul Saints professional baseball club. By far the crowd favorite element was the Parade of Athletes as competitors lined up behind their respective state flags and proudly entered the field before the formal proceedings. “This year marks the first time since 1999 that athletes marched alongside their flags,” NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker said. “We’re pleased that the activity brought the focus of the program where it belonged – on the athletes themselves.”

Once athletes were seated, the program featured welcome messages, including a video with US Senator Amy Klobuchar. Comments and acknowledgements followed by the key partners who make The Games happen, including Dave Mona and Susan Adams Loyd of the Minnesota Local Organizing Committee, Jody Bilney of Presenting Sponsor Humana, and NSGA Board Chair Stephen Rodriguez.

Interspersed in the program were video highlights prepared by University of Minnesota journalism students. Here are links to watch these entertaining segments:

• Flame Arrival Ceremony
• Video Montage
• Athlete Highlights
• More Athlete Highlights

One inspiring moment was the Oath of Athletes led by John Zilverberg of South Dakota, who is the oldest athlete at The Games at 101. Zilverberg was interviewed Thursday by the NBC Weekend TODAY Show for an upcoming feature about his participation in The Games.

Special recognition was given with two biennial NSGA service awards. The Warren Blaney Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Robert Ziegler of Maryland, and the Harris Frank Distinguished Service Award for outstanding leadership in the Senior Games Movement was given to Vicki Pilgram with the Georgia Golden Olympics.

“We have numerous individuals that work hard throughout the year with our 51 member organizations that host qualifying games that lead to the National Senior Games,” Rodriguez said. “The exemplary service given by Dr. Ziegler and Vicki Pilgrim provide an inspiration for all of us to strive even more to bring the Senior Games experience to an ever-growing number of active adults.”

Tweety and The Pig

by Cara Desmond

Photo by: Tyler Rocheleau.

Isabelle Daniels Holston is a 1956 Olympic bronze medalist. She’s been inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the Tennessee State University Hall of Fame. She is the organizer of the religious organization Church Twinning International. She’s the mother of four.

Now, she is the subject of a children’s book.

Tweety and the Pig was written and illustrated by Isabelle’s daughter, Kezia Holston, and was published this past March. The story captures Isabelle’s life, and draws on one memorable event from her childhood to capture her athleticism and her determination.

“When I was growing up on the farm, when I was six or seven, my daddy had a garden that he grew every year. This particular year, a pig got in the garden. And I was sitting on the porch and looking at him, letting my brothers in the garden try to catch the pig, and they couldn’t catch the pig.”

Since her brothers weren’t having any luck, she begged her father to let her try to catch the pig, but he would not let her. “He got to the last [brother] and he couldn’t catch the pig… so finally he opened the gate and he let me in the garden, and I ran and ran. I ran so fast I passed the pig.”

Outrunning a pig as a child predicts much athletic success. At the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, she not only won the bronze medal in the 4 x 100 meter relay with her teammates Mae Faggs, Margaret Matthews, and Wilma Rudolph, she also won fourth place in the individual 100 meter.

Photo by: Mary Johns

“I was determined to make it to the finals,” Holston, 77, said. “They talked me down, the officials in Australia. They said ‘Daniels has a slim chance of getting into the finals in the 100.’ But you know what, I got third in the preliminary semi-final, so I was able to make it to the finals. I won fourth.”

At the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana, she competed in shot put, discuss, the long jump, and the 50 meter. Although she didn’t medal in her events, she said that it didn’t matter. What’s more important to her is being able to compete, keep moving, and meet fellow athletes. “I was last in my heat, but I finished,” she said.

After coaching track for 35 years and being named the 1990 National Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association, Holston has taken up speaking at events at schools and churches state-wide. She’s also taking the time to write her own book about her life. She is hoping to finish within the next year.

Isabelle is a firm believer in the importance of passing on her story and the history of her community. “A lot of my teammates have passed and they didn’t sit down and put the history together and pass it on to the young folks,” she said. “They are thirsty–I go to these churches and they are thirsty for information like that. So I have some work to do.”

She hopes to impart this advice with her writing: “I want the people I meet, especially the young people, to know that if you want something, you have to keep going, keep fighting.”

All’s Fair in Love and Tennis

Photo by: Amy Adamle.

Mike and Brenda Williams of Olympia, Washington have played tennis together since they started dating as 15-year-olds. A few years of dating and 34 years of marriage later, they are a well-oiled machine on the tennis court. Thursday morning, they completed a triumphant run through nine other teams to win the gold medal in the 55-59 Mixed Doubles tennis tournament Thursday morning.

The couple agrees that it can be a great advantage for your tennis partner to also be your life partner because communication on the court becomes intuitive and clear.. Mike and Brenda enjoy each other’s competitive spirit. “We anticipate well how the other’s going to move on the court and we both want to win so we’re on the same page,” Brenda said.

Mike also competed with Darrel Limeback in Men’s Doubles taking the gold medal and Brenda took 6th place in the Women’s Singles.

Men’s Singles age 60-65 finished with Gordon Hinrichs taking the gold, Edward Berghorn earning silver, and Gary Pittman receiving the bronze. In the Women’s Doubles age 65-69 Susan Furtney and Cammy Johnson captured gold, Hedy Brandt and Hiroyo Fisher took the silver, and Jan Allerheiligen and Katie Shappard finished with the bronze. For complete tennis results, visit the Results page at NSGA.com.

President’s Council Member Presents Medal to Hometown Hero

Photo by: Tyler Rocheleau.

When Harold Bach, 95, of Bismarck, North Dakota won the gold medal for the men’s 95- 99 division 50 meter sprint, he was presented with his medal by another town resident who also runs and promotes fitness and health on a national platform.

Dr. Stephen McDonough, 64, is a policy leader around public health and fitness as an appointed council member to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN). McDonough, a 32 year practicing pediatrician, has been an advocate for public health for years and fought to help prevent childhood obesity and smoking.

Photo by: Rebekah A. Romero.

He will join PCFSN Executive Director Shellie Pfohl and several featured athletes for NSGA’s Personal Best Empower Hour interactive discussion program to be held today at 3 p.m. at the Goodman Group Stage in The Village.

McDonough practices what he preaches. In 1993, he ran the Bismarck Marathon; in 2007 he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. He also supports the International Rhino Foundation and photographs wildlife, such as birds.

Even outside of his work, McDonough still enthusiastically supports people, like Bach, who become more active. “Find something that you like to do and have fun with it,” he said. “You will feel better mentally. You will feel better about yourself. You’ll feel more positive if you’re fit.”

Mind Over Matter

Racquetball player rallies back life’s killshots

by Matt Oleszczak

Photo by: Matt Oleszczak.

Racquetball player Sharon Huczek’s fiery determination to succeed kept her going through a maze of medical events. From April of 2012 through December of 2013 she has undergone six major surgeries, including rotator cuff surgery and a partial knee replacement that threatened her playing career.

Just as she was coming back from her knee injury, there was more misfortune. Huczek, who lives in Warren, Michigan, wiped out on winter ice and crushed her wrist in the fall. “At the hospital they said it was the worst thing they’d ever seen,” Huczek recalls.

The outlook was grim. Doctors told her not to get her hopes up. Huczek said, “Even my therapist, who was there through my knee and arm injuries, said ‘Sharon, I can’t give you much hope on this. I’m going to do my best, but I hope you don’t have high expectations of getting on the court again.'”

Huczek, 67, had played racquetball since the age of 25 and performed well, picking up gold medals from the US Open Racquetball Championships and National Masters Racquetball Association (NMRA). She was inducted in the Racquetball Association of Michigan’s (RAM) Hall of Fame in 2010 and served on their board for nearly 30 years. Giving up racquetball would be a very bitter pill to swallow.

So was her therapist wrong? How is it that she’s now competing in Minnesota? Huczek says she regained the ability to compete by drawing on her psychological and religious resources. When she hit a particular rough patch, she recalls a phone conversation with a woman from her YMCA who told her, “Sharon. The longer you stay away, the harder it is to come back.” Huczek had no time to slow down and believed to get rehabilitated, movement is key. She pushed herself to the limit with the encouragement of others. .“No pain, no gain” is not just a cliche to Huczek, it is her way to live life.

In addition to maintaining the belief that “you’re going to get better,” Huczek credited the healing as a gift from God. “God has blessed me with the ability to persevere, always striving to do my best. It’s a real blessing to be able to be back.”

Impressive as her comeback is, Huczek is even more proud of her son, Jack who she started in racquetball when he was only two years old. “He told me at three he’s going to become the best player in the world. And I said, ‘Yes, you will, son.’ He went on to be the greatest junior in racquetball history.” Jack won consecutive world titles from the age of eight until age 18, and was the youngest ever to win a professional tournament.

The key to becoming successful like Huczek’s son? “You learn from the seniors. He would take their knowledge, even if they weren’t the best,” she says. “People would ask him who his coach is. He’d say, ‘I can’t name just one person. All of these people were instrumental to my success.’” It really does take a village to raise an athlete.

Noted Minnesota Journalist Shares Wisdom

To listen to Nimmer speak, the term inspirational is not a cliché. His life experiences flow like a river of wisdom with his words. The Journalist, teacher, mentor, and author says “My talk, ‘The Home Stretch: A Spiritual Journey’ is a collection of choices and challenges in lives where business cards no longer matter, and pre-existing conditions do.”

Exploring the “human condition,” Nimmer says “I have to listen to more music,” a message meant literally and metaphorically. Nimmer reflects upon a time when he and a larger group of buddies would go fishing up in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. Now he says the group’s numbers have been cut in half.

Following his own advice, Nimmer and long time friend Don Shelby, another well known Minnesota journalist, will head to the south rim of the Grand Canyon this summer and descend the Kaibab Trail to the bottom. Nimmer jokingly says, he hopes that Shelby and he can make it back up and out the next day.

In short Nimmer says, “I like to refer to this part of life as the last quarter mile. If you haven’t figured it out by age sixty five, you’re missing the boat.”

 2015 Games Photos – 2015 Games in the News – 2015 Games Results

100 Meter Dashed

by Cara Desmond and Dan Piering

Photo by: Rebekah A Romero

Bob Whildon had the standout performance among standout performances in the 100 meter events at Thursday’s track and field competition at St. Thomas University as he smashed the NSGA all time record for men’s 80-84 100 meter race with a time of 14.71. The previous high mark of 15.33 was set by Harry Brown in 2011.

Other records set in the 100 meter race today include:

• Women 75-79: Kathy Bergen, 76, of California
  Time for 100m dash: 16.47, beating the previously held record of 16.66 by Irene Obera in 2009
• Men 90-94: Melvin Larsen, 91, of Iowa
  Time for 100m dash: 19:01, beating the previously held record of 19.28 by Champion Goldy in 2007
• Men 95-99: Harold Bach, 95, of North Dakota
  Time for 100m dash: 24.44, beating the previously held record of 25.79 by D. Paul Miller in 2013
• Men 100+: Fred Winter, 100, of Michigan
  Time for 100m dash: 42.38, becoming the first man over 100 in Senior Games history to complete the 100m dash

Photo by: Rebekah A Romero

Additionally, Bob Lida, a 79-year old from Wichita, Kansas, took gold in the men’s 75-79 100 meter race with a time of 14.39, capturing the seventh-best slot in NSGA history. He did not beat himself in the category as Lida holds the top two spots set in 2013 and 2011. Lida also has NSGA records in the men’s 75-79 200 and 400 meter races. He set these records during the 2013 Games, breaking his own
records set at the 2011 Games. World-wide, he also holds five world records in various running events.

What motivates Lida to train so much? He described his first Senior Games experience when he was 60 and got fifth in the 200 meter. “I just said ‘This won’t happen again. This won’t happen again.’ I remember that race more than any of them.”

Barbara Gicquel: “It Has to Be Gold”

by Andrew Ruffing

Photo by: Jessica Gallagher.

History books state that the California Gold Rush ended a long time ago. Don’t tell that to Barbara “B.J.” Gicquel, 75, from Salinas, California, who continues to mine “precious medals.”

Gicquel won the gold medal in the women’s 75 to 79 age group in the 20 kilometer cycling race held on Wednesday at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds as part of the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana. She also mined gold Tuesday in the 40 kilometer race, which will join two gold medals won in the 2013 Games. This is impressive since she has only been prospecting as a cycling competitor since 2002, but she has made the most as this year marks her seventh National Senior Games.

Earlier in her life Gicquel, a psychologist and marriage counselor, played other sports – high school basketball, volleyball, swimming. For many years she raced horses in endurance competitions. She didn’t turn to biking until 1997. She’d been a smoker for 30 years, quitting in 1988, and wanted a way to keep her lungs healthy. The aerobic exercise of biking was the right prescription.

Twice she got into bike accidents, in 2008 and 2012. The first one left her with a titanium rod from her left knee to her ankle. This frequently slows things down at airport security checks, but it hasn’t slowed Gicquel down as she set cycling records the following year.

Gicquel settles for nothing but the best, and neither sweat nor fractures diminish her competitive spirit. “My goal has to be gold,” she said. “You know, I don’t have a choice anymore. It has to be gold.”

John Tatum: From Foggy Bottom to Twin Cities Gold

by Eric Todd

Photo by: Alicia A. Afshar.

John Tatum of Washington D.C., a longtime favorite with fellow senior swimmers, took the gold Thursday in the 50-meter Freestyle and 50-meter Breaststroke during the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana at the University of Minnesota’s Aquatic Center.

Being a top competitive swimmer at age 96 is a great accomplishment, all the more so because he says black kids growing up in the Foggy Bottom area of Washington, D.C. in the 1920s and 1930s could not use the public pools. “I never had any structured swimming classes as a young person. There were no pools for us so we’d just swim any place we could,” Tatum said.

Tatum taught himself how to swim around the age of 10 and admits he picked up some bad habits. “Swimming in the Potomac River is different than swimming here; you never put your face down,” Tatum said. He recalls, with a laugh, that a swim coach told him about 12 years ago he needs to “unlearn all the bad things about the way you swam.”

Tatum is excited to be visiting the Twin Cities for his first time. He says the area is beautiful, and is especially impressed with the size and beauty of the University of Minnesota’s campus. “It’s just wonderful, it’s overwhelming,” said Tatum.

Photo by: Eric Todd

This marks the seventh National Senior Games for Tatum. Yesterday’s gold was hard earned as he faced stiff competition from silver medalist Howard Hall, 95 of Frankfort, Kentucky, and Tom Milroy, 96 of South Dakota, who took bronze.

Both Tatum and Hall have been featured athletes in NSGA’s Personal Best health and wellness initiative. Read their stories and many others at NSGA.com.

Tatum commented that the swampy area in Foggy Bottom where he was not allowed to use the public pools is now the site of the U.S. State Department. He is amazed to think about the changes he has witnessed in nine decades.

3 Questions with Jerry LeVasseur, 77, Maine, Competing in Road Race, Track and Field

What’s your first impression of Minnesota? What do you want to see while you’re here?

I’m on the National Senior Games Board, so I was here last year. I love it. There’s great pubs! I want to go to the art museum and maybe hear the symphony. I heard them last time I was here and they’re really nice and Orchestra Hall is a neat place.

It helps people stay active and healthy as you age and live a better lifestyle through competition.

To be a senior athlete you have to stay fit. I’ve had four cancers in the last five years and I’m still here, I think because I’m still fit. I started when I was 55 so I’ve been doing this for 22 years.

Extra Innings for All

Softballers get themselves and others back in the game
by Matt Oleszczak

Photo by: Matt Oleszczak.

Some 30 years after giving up baseball, Bill Altman started a senior softball league in San Antonio, Texas. Now, that league itself is approaching the 30 year mark. With 34 teams and the largest membership of any senior softball league in the nation, it’s an accomplishment Altman can be proud of.

“I didn’t know anything about slow-pitch until ’87,” Altman said. “Then I heard the [Texas] Senior Games were coming to San Antonio. And I thought, why don’t we form a team?’” Since the league’s inception, he’s taken part in five national tournaments. His team hasn’t won one yet, but their younger counterparts in the league have shown promise. “They go to these tournaments and they’re winners—winning big tournaments. The 60+ and 65+ team have won national ones.” Altman’s influence and inspiration to so many earned him recognition as an NSGA Personal Best athlete in 2013.

The San Antonio Seniors Softball League (SASSL) has even inspired the formation of other leagues. These leagues joined to help form the Alamo City Travelers team for the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Joining Altman on this team is his Ken Weber, of Kerrville, Texas.

Weber helped start a new league when he and four others grew tired of all the traveling involved in the SASSL. Speaking about how to start a league, Weber said, “Somebody has to take a hold of the group, you have to publicize in the community, and start recruiting at senior centers, health clubs, churches.” Altman added, “If you got an organizer willing to put the time in, if there are enough players, you can do it.”

Weber said, “Just get the word out. First year we had three teams, second we had four, last two years we’ve had five teams in a town of 23,000 people. That’s pretty good, but we ought to have eight teams. That’s our goal.”

Altman and Weber agree, age shouldn’t have to be a barrier. “A lot of seniors have played ball before. And for one reason or another they just quit years ago. You got to get them back into the sport,” said Altman.

Weber noted that some seniors have knee injuries or similar issues. But noted there are courtesy runners who can help them with the base-running and that “if you can get them to the field, you’ve got 90% of the battle won. It’s just getting them out there.”

Thursday morning, the Alamo City Travelers lost their first game of the day, 2-7. Weber just has to remember his own advice, “Don’t ever get discouraged. Sometimes you feel like, ‘let’s just chuck this. You’ve got to keep after it. Because every time there’s a down, there’s a big up that comes after.”

Bonus Tracks

Zilverberg is a World War II veteran and a retired cattle breeder. This year, in addition to javelin, he is competing hammer throw, discus, and shot put, plus fitting in time for bowling singles. In 2010, he was inducted into the South Dakota Senior Games Hall of Fame for his achievements.

His love for competition keeps bringing him back each year. Two of his daughters came to watch him compete in the javelin throw on Wednesday, all of them dressed in matching shirts that said “Oh, to be 100 again.” In August, Zilverberg, of South Dakota, will celebrate his 102nd birthday.

He got his start in track and field forty years ago, when he wanted to see how he could compare physically among other men his age. “Frankly, field and track, I knew nothing about it. So I studied their techniques. And in the seventies I got nothing…and now in the two-thousands, I’m getting gold,” he said.

Joining him at the games were many of his children and grandchildren, all wearing shirts that said “Go Fred!” on the front. Winter said he loves being able to travel with his family and bring them all together.

Winter spoke about his time in the army, his college years, and even his favorite books from a high school English class. He said, “You know, they say when you’re a hundred, you lose track of some of that stuff. But I hold on.”

At the javelin event, Winter took gold and Zilverberg took silver. However, when they faced off again at the discus finals on Thursday the tables turned and gold belonged to Zilverberg. Friday’s shot put finals will determine who has bragging rights until 2017.

Veteran (and Veteran) Tracksters of Note

Tom Lough.

There were two other elder tracksters who have been recognized nationally and internationally for their achievements that the Daily caught up with during Thursday’s track and field action at St. Thomas University. Both also distinguished themselves serving our country.

In 1968, Tom Lough competed in the modern pentathlon (an event that involves fencing, a 200-meter freestyle swim, show jumping, pistol shooting, and a 3200-meter cross-country run) at the summer Olympics in Mexico City. Then in 1969 he was stationed in Vietnam, and was later awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service. Now at the age of 72, Lough continues to enjoy the rush of track competition, taking a silver medal in the men’s 70-74 1500 meter event and just missing the podium with a fourth place finish in the 800 meter.

91-year-old Connecticut native Raoul Rodriques put in a silver medal effort in the men’s 90-94 long jump event Thursday. In 2014, after suffering a heart attack, it looked as if though Rodriques would not be able to compete this year. However, his overall physical fitness allowed him recover quickly and will his way back to the 2015 Games.

Raoul Rodriques.

During World War II, Rodriques received a near-deadly leg injury. “He had to fight back to even be walking. They thought he was dead,” said his friend, Dan O’Donnell. Because of his injury, Rodriques decided to pursue academics and became a high school shop teacher. Years later, after the lower part of his foot was amputated, he started his athletic training. “My children inspired me,” he said.

He still runs 800 meters a day and will spend up to 20 hours training each week. In his time competing, he’s won more than 100 medals, including a silver in this years’ long-jump, and was named the Connecticut Master’s Games 2014 Athlete of the year.

Saturday’s Empower Hour to feature President’s Council Director, Member

Personal Best athletes (L to R) Col. Jamie Houston, Ruby Rott, DeEtte Sauer, Jerry LeVasseur and Karen Newman enjoy interaction with other athletes in the audience at the first Personal Best Empower Hour held July 6. NSGA’s Del Moon and Marc T. Riker kept the action moving as moderators. Photo by Erica Jacques

Athletes who gather to share ideas at the second Personal Best Empower Hour Saturday, July 10 at 3 pm will enjoy hearing the perspectives of Shelli Pfohl, executive director of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, and PCFSN Council Member Dr. Stephen McDonough.

The interactive program, to be held on the Goodman Group Stage at The Village: A Health and Wellness Expo and Athlete Experience, will feature several athletes who have been featured in NSGA’s Personal Best health and wellness initiative. Leurene Hildenbrand, Donna Gonzales, Larry Johnson, Jane Kaiser, Bob O’Connor, Mike Adsit and John C. Taylor are expected to swap stories and spark conversation about how we all can better inspire and encourage others to get on the fitness path and pursue individual Personal Best lifestyles.

“We do not view this as a program showcasing only our recognized Personal Best athletes,” NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker explains. “We want each and every athlete and visitor who attends to feel part of the program and invited to share their own stories and ideas during the hour.”

Pfohl, who visited The Games in 2013 and is eager to see more action this year, will share a brief update on progress being made by the Council to advocate senior fitness. McDonough, an avid runner who once climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, came to The Games to watch 95 -year-old fellow North Dakotan Harold Bach compete in track and field.

Door Prizes will be awarded at the end of the fun hour of sharing.

The Village: There Are Mind Games Here Too

The 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana are good for the body, but every day at The Village: A Health and Wellness Expo and Athlete Experience, there is plenty to feed the mind as well.

Consider Perry Castillano, who spoke on the Goodman Group Main Stage yesterday. Castillano is the director of strength and training for the Minnesota Twins. His job is to oversee the year-round conditioning of mostly 20-something professional athletes, in whom their teams have invested millions of dollars. He showed video of the Twins’ conditioning facility at their spring training home in Ft. Myers, Florida. He called it the “most unbelievable facility in professional sports.”

So what does the conditioning of a 25-year-old shortstop earning millions have to do with senior athletes? Castillano said whatever your age, if you are interested in fitness you need to find ways to make your body move, all the time. He said it’s important to know your medical status, to be aware of what you can’t or shouldn’t do as well as what you can do.

Today, one of the compelling talks on the Goodman Stage will be at 10 a.m. Dave Nimmer will present “The Home Stretch: A Spiritual Journey.” Nimmer says it’s a collection of choices and challenges in lives where business cards no longer matter, and pre-existing conditions do. A former prominent Minnesota journalist and journalism professor, Nimmer now writes for Good Age Magazine.

 2015 Games Photos – 2015 Games in the News – 2015 Games Results

Judge Calls Order on the Court

by Amy Adamle – Photo by: Tyler Rocheleau

Judge Linda Coburn’s commanding presence in a municipal courtroom in Edmonds, Washington, carries over to the volleyball court. Coburn, 50, calls Set! Spike! or Move! with a firmness unmistakable to teammates, opponents and spectators. Coburn has been playing volleyball since junior high and now leads her team, Vintage, as their captain.

Coburn leads her team by being vocal and directing them to their positions: “Go left,” “step up,” and “that’s good!” are part of the constant patter from the captain. “I think communication is really essential to help keep people awake, make sure they’re ready for tips, and whose ball it is,” Coburn said after her matches on Wednesday.

Coburn is the on-the-court captain, and her husband, Doug, is the team’s coach. Having his team qualify for the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana, he knows what it takes to win. “They need to keep playing the same way and talk a lot. Communicating is really key,” Doug said.

Doug and Linda, who have been married for about 30 years, met on the University of Washington volleyball court. Four of the women on Vintage, including Linda, played together for the University of Washington team. “We’ve come together now that we’re old people and play together on Masters teams. It’s really fun to bring people together,” Linda said.

Vintage played the first two Wednesday morning games against Crazy, from Maryland,winning 25-15 and 25-11. Afterwards, they played neck-and-neck against Care For All Ages from Wisconsin, with Care For All Ages taking the first game 25-13, Vintage, winning the second 25-20. Vintage lost their third game 15-11.

During play, when her team seemed to be tiring and losing stride, Linda called out, “Let’s adjust!” and the team followed. She called timeouts when needed to get the team back on track. On this particular day there were two wins and a loss.

Win or lose, the judge has ruled.

Ready for the Rally

by Cara Desmond – Photo by: Marie Eriel Hobro

Standing just 5 feet 1 inch tall, Quianyun Zhang is not a daunting opponent at first glance. The intimidation comes with the force of her swing as she spikes a birdie on the badminton court.

In 2013, Zhang won gold in the 50-54 division of women’s singles and is looking to win it again at the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana. She won all three of her singles matches on July 6. In addition, she is competing in women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Zhang, got her start in badminton while completing her doctorate in microbial genetics at the University of Sussex in England. With the responsibilities of raising children, she took a break from playing but got back into the game once they were older. “It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “You get the benefit of fitness and mental [strength], and you get the friendship too.”

On court, Zhang was all business, determinedly chasing the birdie down and rallying long and hard with her opponent. Off court, she was all smiles as she talked with her fellow athletes and some friends from her home of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“There was a girl from Cleveland, and [our match] was intense,” she recalled. After the game, Zhang’s opponent approached her. “She said she was so scared of me. It made me laugh so hard.”

Stepping into the National Spotlight

by Dan Piering – Photo (top) by: Mary Johns – Photo (bottom) by: Shannon Neilon

A bright sun shone over St. Thomas University’s O’Shaughnessy Stadium Wednesday for track and field events featuring athletes aged 65 and over in the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana. There were also the bright lights of national and international media coverage.

While senior athletes were pole vaulting, sprinting, jumping and throwing with all their might, Sheinelle Jones and the crew from NBC’s Weekend TODAY Show were capturing it all for a story that will air either this or the following Saturday morning.

Jones says that she thinks the games are important because they inspire seniors to stay active and fit. “Sometimes in the smaller communities a lot of the seniors, especially as they get older, it’s easy for them to look around and feel like there’s not a lot to do,” she said.

The Games, she said, teach seniors that there’s much to do that can help them live longer and better. “The Games let seniors know that they have peers who are healthy, who are active, who are squeezing the most out of every day. I try to do that at 37, and they keep inspiring me to do that in years to come.”

Also on site was a crew from the British Broadcasting Corporation as well as numerous local news organizations. One highlight all were interested in covering was the javelin competition featuring two 100+ division competitors, John Zilverberg and Fred Winter.

NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker commented that “with more media coverage like this, our message will reach millions, who may be inspired by what’s taking place in Minnesota.”

Jones agreed it’s an important message for all ages and that it’s never too late – and never too early – to start getting healthy. “It’s just a boost,” she said. “Not just for the seniors, but for busy moms and busy dads, baby boomers.”

3 Questions – Barbara Stevens, 55, Minnesota, Competing in 10K Road Race

What’s your first impression of Minnesota? What do you want to see while you’re here?

I’m from Bloomington, Minnesota.

I’m in awe many people this age are competing and staying active. To qualify is a thrill and in my home state! It’s my first National games, but it won’t be my last, that’s for sure.

I get a healthy lifestyle and stay active.

Edwina Dennis Beams in Mall Walkers Video

by Andrew Ruffing – Photo from “Mall Walker’s Surprise”

At 81 years old, basketball player Edwina Dennis of Chicago, Illinois will enjoy being a power on the courts during the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Like many pre Title IX women, there were no female basketball teams to join when she was younger and she stopped thinking about it until she was 70.

Dennis first heard of the National Senior Games at her granddaughter’s basketball game. A woman connected to The Games asked if she wanted to participate. Since getting involved she has been dedicated to keeping herself moving. This year, her commitment to health and sport earned an invitation to be a 2015 Humana Game Changer—an athlete who shows others how everyone, young and old, can live healthier lives through regular physical activity.

Little did she know that this would lead to being in the Humana “Mall Walkers” video that was released just before The Games and has been creating a buzz on the Internet.

In May Humana brought Dennis to the Twin Cities to join other Game Changers in the one-minute video filmed at the Mall of America. In the video, Dennis fakes out a pair of young men with her ball, then beams a radiant smile. She said making the video “was an experience of a lifetime” and was happy to make the trip since she generally doesn’t travel very often.

The five-foot-ten-inch hoopster has been playing sports since she was young, but has since developed arthritis in her knees, shoulders, hips, and feet. However, she pushes through the difficulties by staying active not only with sports, but also through activities like cutting her own grass, raking leaves, and shoveling snow. Though she said it is sometimes hard for her to get up and do something, she encourages herself to keep going with her motto: “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.”

Being active, Dennis is certain, has kept her from needing a cane or walker. This has inspired her to motivate other women to stay active, even though they might feel discouraged.

To young people, Dennis offers two words of advice: “Don’t stop.” She said young people should stay active as a habit so they are less likely to stop once they retire. With her can-do attitude and willingness to stay active, it is clear that Dennis won’t stop any time soon.

Brenda Talley, Game Saver

During the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana, people witness remarkable feats of skill and strength. They look upon the athletes with admiration and respect for their hard work and dedication.

Imagine the commitment that it takes to be a nationally competitive senior athlete. Now imagine adding on all it takes to run qualifying games on a state level on top of that, to be responsible for sponsorships, accounting, marketing, finding volunteers, not to mention the athletic events themselves.

Now, imagine you are doing all this at the same time you are battling cancer that has spread to your intestines, kidney, and liver.

In 2011, Brenda Talley, then 56, was given four months to live. So what did she do? First, she retired from the position she’d held for 20 years as the Director of Performing Arts, at the College of Southern Nevada Performing Arts Center. That was necessary so she could undergo round after round of chemotherapy.

But during chemo, Talley wasn’t buying the four month prognosis. “When I get through this, I have something to look forward to. I just need to put this behind me, just get through it and then I can start getting ready for the Senior Games,” Talley told herself. She had qualified in 2010 for the 2011 games, but the chemotherapy kept her from competing that year.

In 2012, Talley qualified for the 2013 games but then discovered that the state games in Nevada were at risk of being cancelled because of low sponsorship levels. This did not sit well with Talley. The motivation provided by the Nevada Senior Games had helped her battle cancer. “It was important to me to keep The Games going,” Talley said.

Talley stepped up. She worked without pay to bridge the financially difficult time. She secured enough sponsors to salvage and stage the next games for the Silver State. She took over all the office work–the accounting, marketing, and sending out the sponsor packets.

Then came a big disappointment. Having ensured the Nevada Games would continue, Talley had a setback that required more chemo. She was not able to participate in the games she had revived.

The 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana hold a very special place in Brenda Talley’s heart. After being prevented from participating in games, she is now competing in her first National Senior Games, along with her husband Douglas (aka Beni) Talley in mixed doubles tennis. Her perspective is tempered by her battle and perseverance., “Win, lose, or draw, just being able to come and play is what it’s all about,” she said.

Talle continues to be the coordinator for the Nevada State Games and says more sponsorship is needed to make the program grow. She says her passion to keep them going is not just for herself, but to benefit others, particularly those who need to set a goal to make themselves healthier.

Still Swinging After All These Years

by Eric Todd – In Photo: Robert Blount

Fairways on the picturesque Como Golf Course Wednesday morning were filled with nonagenarians – a long word for people in their 90s.

Robert Blount, 91, from Alamogordo, New Mexico is excited to be participating in his first National Senior Games, but has participated in two prior New Mexico Senior Olympics. His wife Karen Blount shared that she and Bob got married a little over a year ago and fondly recalled how the two met. “We met over the bridge table. We played duplicate bridge and then he taught me how to play golf and I love it. He’s a really good teacher,” said Karen. Bob chuckled and said, “She can out drive me.”

Mary Lauffer, 96, from Annapolis, Maryland, has bragging rights to three hole-in-ones in her lifetime. The 2013 Personal Best athlete said she is enjoying her visit to the Twin Cities area. “I love Minnesota. It’s beautiful here.” She also made sure to pocket a scoring pencil from the to add to her extensive collection gathered over the years.

Some of the others in their 90s playing through included Marge Boyle, 95, of Fort Lee, New Jersey; Lindsay Tice, 96, from Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Gerald Baird, 90, of Columbus, Ohio, and Royce Nation, 90, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.