ROCHESTER, Michigan, August 14, 2015 – The National Senior Games Association (NSGA) honored 67-year-old racquetball player Sharon Huczek with its Personal Best Award last night at the Michigan Senior Olympics Celebration of Athletes dinner held at Steiny’s Restaurant and Banquet Hall in Shelby that featured Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame legend Willie Horto ton as keynote speaker.
NSGA has been presenting the award to 10 to 12 senior athletes around the country each year who epitomize the positive qualities of fitness, perseverance and inspiration to others to pursue their own personal best lifestyle. Huczek, a self made woman who paid her own way through college and had a distinguished 40 year career in public education and counseling in the Van Dyke School District in Warren, has overcome many life challenges to succeed as a medal-winning athlete, mother and fitness advocate. Though retired, she still conducts pilates and cycling classes at the North Oakland
Family YMCA.
“This is more than just a recognition of athletic ability,” said NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker, who made the presentation. “Sharon Huczek epitomizes NSGA’s new definition of personal best that goes beyond a moment of athletic achievement,” said NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker. “Sharon’s ongoing journey on and off the playing field to strive for fitness and health while also inspiring others to follow her lead made her an excellent selection.”
The National Senior Games is the world’s largest multisport event for seniors and is held every two years, with athletes qualifying at member state games like Michigan Senior Olympics. The 2015 Games were held in Bloomington, Minneapolis and St. Paul Minnesota last month and featured nearly 10,000 athletes 50 and over in 19 medal sport competitions. Michigan athletes came home with 109 medals, the sixth largest state result. Huczek earned one gold and one silver medal for her racquetball singles and doubles play.
“We are proud to have Sharon selected as a Personal Best athlete for our state,” Michigan Senior Olympics Director Becky Ridky noted. “She not only a great athlete, she encourages others to be fit and volunteers to help at our Games. She’s a role model for our community, and I hope her story helps motivate others to get involved.”
An extended profile of Sharon Huczek and other athlete honorees can be found on the Personal Best page at www.NSGA.com. “This tour and recognition program is intended to send a message out to aging adults to ‘get in the game’ and enjoy an active, healthy lifestyle and the rewards it brings,” said Riker. “These athletes demonstrate that everyone can be their own personal best. The senior games movement offers fitness, fun and fellowship, but even if
people don’t want to participate in sports we want to encourage everyone to get out and get active in some way.”
The National Senior Games Association (NSGA) is a nonprofit member of the United States Olympic Committee that promotes health and wellness for adults 50 and over through education, fitness and sport. NSGA governs the biennial National Senior Games and sanctions member state organizations across the country that host Senior Games or Senior Olympics to provide seniors with quality sports activity. Visit www.NSGA.com for more information.
