TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Seniors Show Mettle, 'Just Play' At Annual Games

File photo

From left: Mike Jellots and Gene Josey compete against each other at the 2007 Heartland Senior Games. This year's games will start in March.

ADVERTISEMENT

By MANDY SHEETS | Highlands Today

Published: February 25, 2008

SEBRING — You don't have to be a star athlete to win a medal at the Heartland Senior Games.

"The motto of it is 'Just Play,'" said Becky Rousch, director of community education at South Florida Community College. "The senior games have less of an emphasis on competition than it has on living a healthy lifestyle, staying active and trying new things."

In the spirit of trying new things, a new sport has been added to this year's line-up – pickleball, a sport similar to badminton that is played with a wooden paddle and wiffleball.

"Pickleball has been all the rage across the state and is very popular with senior citizens," Rousch said. "This is the first year we have been able to offer it, and we are very excited to be able to do that."

The Heartland Senior Games, organized by SFCC, start March 4 and continue throughout the month, at venues in Sebring and Avon Park, ending with a Celebration of Athletes on March 28 at Caddy Shack.

In addition to pickleball, the games will feature basketball, horseshoes, shuffleboard, billiards, table tennis, bowling, cycling, tennis, bocce, golf and 5K run.

Rousch said she hopes to have 200 athletes participate. Anyone who is 50 on or before Dec. 31, 2008 is eligible. All participants receive a T-shirt and the top three finishers in each age division and gender receive a medal.

David Schuknecht, adult education specialist, said cycling is typically the most popular event, which features both a 5K and 10K race held on roads behind Sun 'n Lake.

"People like our course and a lot of people travel to compete in that event," Schuknecht said.

With a gamut of sports being offered, Schuknecht said senior citizens of all fitness levels can participate.

"We have active sports like cycling, tennis and pickleball, and we have sports like bowling and shuffleboard, which are less intense," Schuknecht said. "We want to encourage our athletes to try out new sports."

Larry Weise, of Sebring, enjoys the games every year and will be competing in shuffleboard and bowling this year.

"The senior games give you an opportunity to participate in sports with new people and have someone to compete against," Weise said. "You enjoy good exercise and you get the chance to meet a lot of new people."

Pat Bentz, of Sebring, is excited for the games and plans to compete in tennis and golf. Bentz formerly played tennis competitively and, during the senior games, has qualified several times for the state competition, which is held in December in Cape Coral.

"It's a lot of fun to play different people, especially at state because you meet people from all over Florida," Bentz said. "Some people are really competitive and some just want to have a good time playing."

The top three contenders in every gender and five-year age division, starting at 50, qualify for the state competition. The top competitors from the state tournament will advance to the 2009 National Senior Games, which will take place in San Francisco.

The registration fee is $6, which allows athletes to participate in as many sports as they want. Golf, bowling and billiards have additional fees.

Registration is due Feb. 29, and forms and schedules are available at South Florida Community College or online at the Web site. For more information, call 784-7388.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT