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.
April 2019 Athlete of the Month
Debbie Klecan, 64, Edgewood, New Mexico Chama the Charmer Debbie Klecan is a multi-talented person – masters swimmer, photographer, illustrator, art teacher and expert dog trainer. Her best attribute, however, is how she has met extreme physical challenges brought on by a horrific car accident 18 years ago with a smile and more determination to
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March 2019 Athlete of the Month
Zoltan Zsohar, 71, Dallas, Texas Competing from Z to A What makes for a competitor? There are many possible answers to that, but for cyclist Zoltan Zsohar, it might just have started with his name. “I was last kid in line in a lot of situations,” he explains. “When I started college they assigned seats
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February 2019 Athlete of the Month
Sue Benjamin, 57 | Karen Strittmatter, 58 | Diane Pevny, 59 | Jersey Strong 50+ Softball For Jersey Strong, it’s Deja Vu in ABQ It’s hard to imagine any athletes being more excited to be going to the 2019 National Senior Games presented by Humana than three special teammates on the Jersey Strong women’s 50+
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January 2019 Athlete of the Month
Heide Moebius, 80, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 80-Year-Old Makes Birthday Run in the Cradle of the Marathon What does your average person think about doing when they turn 80? Heide Moebius is definitely not average, because she set a goal of running a marathon in Greece and finished in Olympic style. The feat is remarkable, but not
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Extra Frames – December 2018 Athlete of the Month
Joe Dorough, 68, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri Joe Dorough knows what it feels like to get a second and third chance in life, and he’s making the most of it. The 68-year-old retired Teamster started bowling at age of ten and it became his favorite activity. “I did it regularly, except for the times when I
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Too Good Not to Share – November 2018 Athlete of the Month
Betsy Hall is like many people who participate in Senior Games–she loves it so much, she is motivated to tell others to get involved and keeps after them until they do. The Ohio native was a late bloomer who did not participate in sports as a youth, but caught the running bug at age 45
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Heart to Heart – October 2018 Athlete of the Month
David Kucherawy, 66, Washington, Pennsylvania All dog owners enjoy a bond with their pets, but David Kucherawy has a special connection with his cocker spaniel Raleigh. In fact, he jokes that in a sense they saved each other’s lives. David has been competing in sprint track events and collecting medals in masters and Senior Games
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Seventh Decade Stretch – September 2018 Athlete of the Month
Bonnie Strang,75, Millsboro Delaware Softball has the second-highest athlete participation of all sports in the National Senior Games. Since Bonnie Strang first entered Delaware Senior Olympics in 2007, she has become known as a talented and fierce competitor among Senior Games softball players. While Bonnie also enjoys playing badminton and pickleball in recent years, she
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The Old College Try – August 2018 Athlete of the Month
Ken Mink, 83, Maryville, Tennessee An often-heard joke among senior athletes after a good performance is, “Too bad you don’t have any college eligibility left.” Of course, no one takes it seriously, right? Basketballer Ken Mink did, setting a most unique sports record in the process. Ten years ago, at the age of 73, the
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Just What the Doctor Ordered – July 2018 Athlete of the Month
Susan Paulson, 62, Alexandria, Minnesota Cyclist Susan Paulson enjoyed an active youth, biking on gravel roads and ice skating near her northwest Minnesota farm home and discovering her competitive nature by playing recreational volleyball and basketball and running track in school. She was also active in dance line and as a hockey cheerleader. But gradually
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