CYCLING: Simeon Gipson Has a Heart as Big as the Cherokee Nation
In 2020 we introduced you to Oklahoma cyclist Simeon Gipson, who picked up cycling to work his way back to health and away from diabetes and who has become a role model in the Cherokee Nation. (Read his inspiring Personal Best story here.) Since that time, Simeon was given a new racing bike by
- Published in 2022 Games Daily News, May 22, 2022
ARCHERY: A Boy Named “Blu” is Just Happy to Keep His Attendance Streak Going
Carrol “Blu” Walsh only discovered archery eight years ago, but the Charlotte resident has quickly become the best in his recurve barebow class in North Carolina senior play and has earned two bronze medals and been close to the podium in National Senior Games since 2013. At 60 Blu found out about organized sports for
- Published in 2022 Games Daily News, May 22, 2022
There’s No Crying in Baseball, But There is Laughing in Softball
By Vincent Pensabene The New Jersey Diehards are the quintessential team to represent what the 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana are all about. They are competing in their third consecutive Games playing men’s softball in the 75+ division. Al Cheli had no issue transitioning to a managerial position for this year’s event as
- Published in 2022 Games Daily News, May 22, 2022
FLORIDA FEATURE: Thanks for the Sunshine Stories, Nick!
Editor’s Note: Nick Gandy (on right with athlete Ed Soderberg) does an excellent job as the media director for the Florida Senior Games and was eager to contribute stories about “his people” to the Games Daily. Nick is your typical veteran sports writer, but he’s not burned out or lost his passion for people nor
- Published in 2022 Games Daily News, May 22, 2022
TABLE TENNIS: Deurksens Say “Live Long, Play Pong”
For Jarol and Leah Duerksen, table tennis is more than a game, it’s the glue that holds them together and drives their social interactions.It even played a key role in introducing them six decades ago. “We were both freshmen in 1956 at Multnomah College (now Multnomah University) in Oregon,” Jarol recalls in between their mixed
- Published in 2022 Games Daily News, May 21, 2022
CORNHOLE: Inspired by The Hurricane; NSGA Staffers Enter the New Sport
By Jennifer Coco As Charlene Kemp-Queener competed in the javelin and shot put at the 2019 National Senior Games in Albuquerque, her mother Susie Kemp and sister Sherry Kemp sat cheering on the sidelines. Sherry recounts turning to Susie after watching then 103-year-old Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins run the 50-meter race and saying, “You know mom,
- Published in 2022 Games Daily News, May 21, 2022
TENNIS: Question of the Day
Over 650 athletes are serving their best shots at the 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana Tennis competition hosted at the Veltri Racquet Club. We posed a question to a few of these devoted athletes to see how staying active through tennis competition has benefited their lives. How has playing tennis, being involved in
- Published in 2022 Games Daily News, May 21, 2022
FLORIDA FEATURE: Miami’s Dave Zarco is Mr. South Florida Badminton
By Nick Gandy, Florida Senior Games If there’s a badminton event going on in South Florida, it’s a pretty good bet that Dave Zarco, of Miami, is going to have something to do with it. A Florida Senior Games badminton player and sport director, Zarco has served as the National Senior Games badminton sport director
- Published in 2022 Games Daily News, May 21, 2022
BOWLING: Bringing Generations Together
After each frame of their bowling mixed doubles finals round, siblings Elsie Armijo and Carlos Rodriguez returned to a table behind the lane to check in with a small crowd of family members looking on. This home base included Elsie’s daughter, Sonia, and two grandchildren, and Carlos’ wife, Margaret, all sporting matching shirts displaying the
- Published in 2022 Games Daily News, May 20, 2022
SHUFFLEBOARD: An Uncle’s Inspiration Gets Ray Corpuz into The Games
Ray Corpuz had his first taste of bigtime shuffleboard at the 2019 National Senior Games in Albuquerque, but his inspiration to eventually participate goes back a dozen years. When Ray, who is equal parts Filipino and Native American, retired from his career as a Toyota mechanic in 2009, he and his wife moved from Long
- Published in 2022 Games Daily News, May 20, 2022