Pictured left to right: Erica Gonzalez, Kathrine Switzer, Bruce Wigo, Cathy Oerter, Carla Ruff, and Andrew Walker.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, a notable panel gathered at the 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana to share personal stories of the often harsh realities for women in sports before and since Title IX was enacted.. 

Prior to this, women’s teams either simply did not exist or dealt with inadequate facilities, no coaching staff, and a lack of recognition for their achievements. 

While Title IX, which prohibits discrimination by sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, put change in motion, panelist Bruce Wigo noted that the amendment was not an immediate panacea for gender equity in sports. The legislation passed in 1972, yet it wasn’t until 1981 that the first full women’s collegiate sports scholarship was awarded. It took another three years for the women’s marathon to be added to the Olympics.

Marathon legend Kathrine Switzer, NSGA Board Member Carla Ruff, Al Oerter Foundation CEO Cathy Oerter, and pickleball athlete Erica Gonzalez shared stories of boldly breaking down barriers to be able to do what they love. 

In 1967, Kathrine resisted attempts to remove her from the Boston Marathon, becoming the first woman to officially complete the race and inspiring countless women take up the sport. She shared how running and encouragement from her father built her confidence as a young adult. That confidence has carried her through pivotal moments in life.

A special part of holding the event at the National Senior Games is that many audience members had their own Title IX stories to share.

Kathrine noted this story sharing as one element that made this experience special. “We also share a passion – males and females – about advancing the sport and advancing opportunities for women,” she says. “I think we also piqued people’s interests in what the future will bring and what potential there is. There are several frontiers left out there: women continue to be a frontier, race continues to be a frontier, and age – is the most exciting of all.”

On display during the event were nine pieces of art created by Olympians and Paralympians on loan from the Art of the Olympians program run by the Al Oerter Foundation. This collection will be on display again during a second special event, “Your Title IX Story: The Art of the Olympians,” on Thursday, May 19, at 1 pm in the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center room 222.

By Vincent Pensabene

One incredible thing about the 2022 National Senior Games, presented by Humana, is the camaraderie between players. Team sports have even stronger bonds but few teams have a connection as strong or as long as the West Virginia Generals. 

The men’s 80+ team has appeared in nine consecutive National Senior Games, dating back to the 2005 National Senior Games in Pittsburgh. That’s a long time for any team to hold together, but their basketball history goes back to their youth. “Five of us went to Stonewall Jackson High School and three of us actually graduated with each other,” Fred Duffield proudly states. “And now we are playing twice a week all year round.” 

This group of men have a deep love and affection for each other and West Virginia. Unlike many other National Senior Games teams, the Generals all hail from the same state – a fact they are proud of. There’s another team that has formed out of the relationship – the wives make the trip with the team to most of the tournaments they play. 

This team does not back away from a challenge, having faced some notable names including Jerry Lucas, Sherman “Nemo” Nearman, and the Harlem Globetrotters. One teammate, Harold Vealey, had the inevitable job of guarding Jerry West in high school. Read Harold’s amusing story here.

Injuries and ailments are a reality for all competitors. Duffield recently had a knee replacement and was told it would take six weeks of rehabilitation to get back to normal. He completed it in half that time, which he credits to his consistent physical activity. 

They are looking to defend their silver medal here in Fort Lauderdale and are off to a blistering start with a 3-1 record. One thing is certain: they are excited about going back to the city where they charged in for their first National Senior Games.  

“We are looking forward to going back to Pittsburgh!” Duffield exclaims when asked about the Generals returning for their 10th consecutive National Senior Games.

By Jennifer Coco

Sport provides not only physical activity and fitness, it also provides social connection. In team sports like volleyball, it can create a tight bond among team members. The women’s 60+ Senioritas volleyball team has been through many trials and tribulations together and has proven to themselves it is much more than a game. 

The Senioritas, mostly based in New York, have played together for nearly 15 years. While they have lost a couple of players and gained new ones, the majority of the roster has stayed the same and have been there for each other.

Cindy Hynes, the team’s setter, found out she had a neck tumor in 2015. It reappeared three times, but she came out stronger every time. One year later, the team lost one of their members to cancer, and captain Lois Campbell needed open heart surgery for a genetic heart disease. If that wasn’t enough, in 2018 Cathy Rossi was diagnosed with breast cancer and Pat Hanlon was diagnosed with a melanoma. 

Clearly this team has been through a lot but they have stood by one another through it all. “I don’t know if I could have survived without my girlfriends,” Cathy says. This is their first time seeing one another in two years due to the pandemic and they are happy to be back on the court playing with their sisters again.

Athletes, have you participated in the Senior Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE) yet? 

Why not? 

Many of your peers have done it, with many coming back every two years for a checkup.

SAFE was created by Dr. Becca Jordre of the University of South Dakota in 2011 with a curiosity to measure how highly active seniors perform versus their general age peers. In the process of devising the basic measurement tests and conducting exams, it was found that athletes could be provided with useful feedback on their own physical situation and even get tips for preventing injury in their sporting pursuits.

SAFE is located in The Village right next to the big “Come Play in Florida” sand sculpture. 15 or 20 minutes of your day could provide you with essential information to help you improve your fitness and performance from experts. Do it today!

By Nick Gandy, Florida Senior Games

Madeline “Tiny” Cazel administers the athlete oath at the Celebration of Athletes for the 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana.

When superstar athletes call it quits, there’s usually a farewell tour before the end comes.

The 2022 National Senior Games, presented by Humana, was a farewell tour for Madeline “Tiny” Cazel, a tribute to 20 years of excellence in Senior Games all over Florida and the U.S..  At the 2021 Florida Senior Games, she began informing fellow athletes and friends those Games would be her last.

“I don’t want to train like I have been any longer,” Cazel said.  “I just want to play sports for fun.  Play some golf and bowl.”

She turned in qualifying performances last December and began her training for the 2022 National Games. Tiny takes her Senior Games competitions seriously.  She sets goals for herself and many of those goals include setting state and national age group records.

She holds 13 Florida Senior Games records in the 70-74, 75-79 and 80-84 age groups.  She set records in the 65-69 age group that have been broken since she left the age group.

Competing for the first time in the 85-89 age group this year, Cazel set records with a javelin throw of 58’2, breaking the previous record by 13 feet, and had a record-setting discus throw of 58’1, topping the previous record by 14 feet.  Her long jump of 7’ll, also established a new 85-89 age group mark.

She now holds seven total records in the discus, javelin and long jump from the 70-74 age group through the 85-89 age groups.

She won her first National Senior Games gold medals in 2003 and has traveled to 10 National Senior Games during her career.  Before the 2022 Games, she had won 24 gold medals and 37 overall.  That total will rise with her success in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area.

“I can’t pick up the box of medals I have in the closet any longer,” she said.

On hand for her 2022 National Senior Games performances were six members of her family.  Her son, Scott and daughter Cathy O’Shea, along with her husband, Dan, were on hand at the track to see her set the 85-89 Shot Put record.  Also on hand were grandchildren, Sean and Kylie O’Shea. Jesse Bruening, Kylie’s fiancé, also joined the farewell tour.

Another chapter in her farewell tour included leading the athletes at the Celebration of Athletes in reciting the Athletes Oath.

The oath typifies Cazel’s outlook in her performances. She is humble in victory and gracious in defeat.  She is a proud Senior Games athlete, who is respected by athletes she encounters in competitions all over the country.

She began a run of Florida Senior Games Female Athletes of the Year, from The Villages, when she earned the honor in 2003. Avis Vaught and Peggy Peck, fellow track and field athletes from The Villages, earned the award in 2010 and 2019, respectively.

“I’m passing the torch to them now,” she said.

Even though Tiny is calling it quits, her family tree will carry on her athletic success.  Her children, Cathy and Scott were both gymnasts, who earned college scholarships.

“She spent many hours following my brother and I around to gymnastics competitions when we were growing up,” Cathy said. “Now we’re following her around.”

Scott’s sons are talented athletes as well.  Tristan plays Division II Baseball at Biola University in Los Angeles, while Brennan is a high school hockey player in their hometown of Chicago. They were unable to attend due to team commitments. 

Cathy’s daughter Kylie was on the cheerleading squad at Ball State University and her son, Sean, took a break from his duties as a F-15 fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force in Boise, Idaho, to join the family.

As a resident of The Villages, Cazel will find plenty of time to improve her golf game at the many courses within the Central Florida community. Her post-Senior Games competitive spirit is already beginning to show.

“She has a putting green in her backyard,” said fellow resident, and aspiring Senior Ghe ames athlete, from The Villages, Jeanette “Jay” Nemoda.

Cazel admits her athletic career, as she now knows it, is not completely over.

“I’m still going to play softball for the Golden Gals 75+ team,” she said.

The well-deserved farewell tour is still in effect for the Track and Field portion of Madeline “Tiny” Cazel’s career.

The imprint reads “I Can. I Will.”

You CAN find great 2022 Nationals gear in the merchandise store just outside of The Village.

You WILL feel proud showing off your gear back home.

Let them all know YOU are a National Senior Games athlete with our official merchandise. Even better, you can customize your apparel on the spot with graphics for your sport, your medal won, and many more options.

Get in gear and be proud all year!