Athlete of the Month
Each month, NSGA selects an interesting athlete to highlight from the vast diversity of people who participate in National Senior Games. These stories demonstrate the spirit of The Games and the benefits of fitness, fun and fellowship that athletes enjoy through their competitive efforts. Everyone has a story to share – what’s yours?
Click Here to submit your information, or nominate someone who inspires you!
Use the search box to find athletes by name or year of story.
Fitness and Tradition Keep New Mexico Couple Moving
May 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Joseph Leonard Loretto,78 Felipita Loretto, 75 Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico Senior athletes know that you need to move to enjoy longevity. Joseph Leonard Loretto and his wife Felipita just celebrated their 56th anniversary, and they say time has taught them that advice also
- Published in Athlete of the Month
Elite Swimmer, Coach Draws Inspiration from Others
April 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Susan Ingraham, 64 San Antonio, Texas Susan Ingraham makes waves in the pool in more ways than one. The sleek elite Texas swimmer has stacked up medals and accolades since she returned to competitive swimming 21 years ago after a long break. However,
- Published in Athlete of the Month
Sam is Keeping Sports in the Fam
March 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Sam Barnabas, 81 Webster, New York Sam Barnabas cannot remember a time when he wasn’t playing sports with his family. He was born in India to a family whose father was a diplomat, so they moved frequently. “We always managed to play games
- Published in Athlete of the Month
Matt Meister is Happy he Found Golf (He Thinks)
February 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Matt Meister, 59 Kearney, Nebraska Many golfers will tell you they have a love-hate relationship with their sport. Matt Meister did not come to appreciate why some call it “a good walk spoiled” until midlife when he took up the game searching for
- Published in Athlete of the Month
Mother Follows her Children to Get on Track
January 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Vickie Liddell, 67 Pine Bluff, Arkansas We all know the story about the old woman who lived in a shoe with so many children she didn’t know what to do. Vickie Liddell had 10 children, but she knew just what to do with
- Published in Athlete of the Month
“Some Day” Finally Came for Edna Siniff
December 2023 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Edna Siniff, 87 Mahtomedi, Minnesota When Edna Siniff was three years old, she discovered her competitive spirit and sharp eye when she insisted on shooting BB guns with her older brother. “Dad set us up in the basement shooting at hanging corks,” she
- Published in Athlete of the Month
Fitness Foundation Keeps Table Tennis Medalist Spinning
November 2023 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Hiro Moriyasu, 76 Los Angeles, California Hiro Moriyasu is one tough out, as evidenced by the two gold medals he collected in National Senior Games Table Tennis competition this summer in Pittsburgh. He has often repeated that feat since joining in The Games
- Published in Athlete of the Month
“I Was Never Alone”: Softball Team Bolsters Player Through Breast Cancer Journey
October 2023 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Janet Mitchell, 67 Gaithersburg, Maryland It’s not easy to deal with the shock of a breast cancer diagnosis, but Janet Mitchell says softball and her team helped her overcome the challenge five years ago. Janet hardly knows a time when she wasn’t on
- Published in Athlete of the Month
James Lewis Finds Senior Games – and a Beautiful Box of Crayons
September 2023 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist James Lewis, 68 Harvey, Illinois No one loves basketball more than James Lewis, and it has been a constant presence in his life. One testimonial to this is his induction into the Masters Basketball Association Hall of Fame. Yet, as deep as his
- Published in Athlete of the Month
Extra Frames and Extra Innings June 2023 Athlete of the Month
Bob Knight, 79 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Bob Knight has a lot of resilience and a sense of humor that will ease any situation. Ask him if he has bowled and played softball all of his life and he quickly replies, “Not yet!” The Pittsburgh area native has needed both of those qualities to overcome the many
- Published in Athlete of the Month