The Villages Spring 2015 Senior Games was celebrated at two luncheons hosted by The Villages Recreation Department at Sea Breeze Regional Recreation Center on Monday afternoon, where medalists and non-medalists alike came together to enjoy recognition and camaraderie.
While gold, silver and bronze medals went to the first, second and third place winners at the end of each event, with ribbons awarded to those who came in fourth and fifth — The Villages Recreation Department directors and coordinators emphasize the main focus of the Senior Games is on participation rather than competition.
“This is about Villagers getting out, having fun, staying fit and meeting new friends,” Director of Villages Recreation John Rohan said. “It’s also about competing and improving in our individual sports.”
The games aren’t quite over.
“We still have some golf and a few other events to go — but this is a good time to invite everyone for lunch, to meet new friends and have a nice time. It also gives the Rec Department staff people a little breather from their months of hard work preparing and running the many events,” said Pam Henry of the Recreation Department.
The Villages Senior Games has continued to grow in interest and participation over the past 15 years as part of the Florida Senior Games, which began in 1992. The spring 2015 games began with signups on March 27, with meets taking place through April 15. Mike Washington and Sarah Kirschberg, event managers for the Florida Senior Games, were on hand to distribute packets for players wishing to compete at the state level.
While few luncheon guests had played in The Villages games for the entire 15-year history, there were quite a few who have played ten years or more.
“Ten, 11, 12 years, I’m not quite sure,” shot putt and discus competitor, Richard Mintken, said, as he was counting years on his fingers, trying to think back.
“Let’s just say it’s been a long time,” said Ursula Fargis who, along with Kathy Lappin, Carolyn Subjack and Don Greenlee, have all joined in The Villages Senior games for at least 10 years.
The hundreds of registered senior athletes, age 50 and over, who packed the SeaBreeze rooms twice on Monday, attest to the overall interest in fitness among a large segment of Villages residents, and the strong ‘can do’ attitude of all those who sign up for the games. Although there are some amazing athletes and avid competitors, others just enjoy the games at their level of skill and have a good time.
Julie Bradley, who played in 11 events, and wound up with ten gold and one silver medal, enjoyed lunch with Sheila Hartwell and Rosemarie Guzzardo, who played bocce; Jeanne Angleberger, who won gold, silver and bronze medals for basketball, and gold and silver badminton medalist, Barry Bradley. All-around athlete Julie’s sports included badminton, basketball, horseshoes, pickleball and tennis.
Sanibel Villagers Sam Fuller and Eva Orcutt joined Ken McClellan, Alberta McKinney and Jackie Schmidt, for the lunch of fried chicken, coleslaw, delicious fries and fresh fruit. New Recreation staffer, Kurt Mancauskas, was having a good time as he and Molly Farrar, Rec Supervisor, chatted with table tennis champion, Lynn Irish.
Irish, a snowbird for 12 years, with a home in Santo Domingo Village, was happy to see herself pictured in a Rec Department video shown to the lunch goers. She won the Florida Senior Games table tennis doubles game some years ago in Estoril, and has eight medals so far in all.
“One gold medal, and the rest are silver or bronze,” Irish said.
She said she had been playing table tennis since she was five years old.
“But I never realized what a sport it was until I came to The Villages and learned how competitive it can be. We have an excellent, active table tennis club with over 100 members — which meets at Laurel Manor. You make a lot of new acquaintances and good friendships too when you play on a regular basis with the same people — and some of us go out for dinner once a month. I’m single, and it makes for a great lifestyle knowing so many people with common interests. That’s what’s so wonderful about living in The Villages. I don’t do art or sewing, but I like music and play outdoor tennis in the good weather. On dreary winter days, there’s always indoor table tennis for exercise.”
An incredible number of sports are represented in The Villages Senior Games, in age categories set at five-year intervals, beginning with age 50-54 — stretching up to age ninety and older in some sports. There were exhibitions of dart baseball, fencing and lawn bowling; and a 5K road race for all ages held on April 4 at Spanish Springs. The 15-year-old grandson of Glenbrook Villagers, Ben and Kathy Myatt, Ben Hazelwood, from Bristol, Virginia crossed the finish line first, with Laura Hucic, 36, from Lakewood, Ohio, the first female finisher. Poinciana Villager and well known barber, Sotero Gutierrez, who will turn 79 this year, was the most senior person to finish the 5K.
There have been competitive meets in tennis, shuffleboard, billiards, badminton, basketball (shooting and 3-on-3 formats ); bocce, petanque, and table tennis — plus pickleball, horseshoes and even bag toss/cornhole games. There were both water and sand volleyball events, platform tennis, air gun and skeet shooting, archery, bowling — and, of course, golf. Among the swimming events were the freestyle races, the back stroke, breast stroke, butterfly and medley swimming.
