Hundreds of seniors compete in the annual Senior Games
David Ellis of Washington competes in the softball-throwing event during the 2017 Senior Games at Charleroi High School Tuesday.
Monna Johnson of Perryopolis competes in the corn bag-tossing event during the 2017 Senior Games at Charleroi High School Tuesday.
Andrew Grogan of Monessen competes in the football-throwing event during the 2017 Senior Games at Charleroi High School Tuesday.
Ruth Corrin (8) of Charleroi competes in the mile walk event during the 2017 Senior Games at Charleroi High School Tuesday.
CHARLEROI – Even two stents inserted into her artieries in January were not going to stop Ruth Corrin from participating in this year’s Senior Games.
“One doctor said no and the other one said OK so I figured I’d go,” Corrin, a retired physical education teacher from Charleroi, said with a laugh. “It’s endurance and a lot of stamina. It’s something you don’t do everyday.”
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency of Aging hosted the 31st annual event Tuesday at Charleroi Area High School. About 230 people 50 years old or older participated, but nearly 800 people were involved, including volunteers, vendors and spectators.
Corrin has won gold in the mile walk for the past 15 years at the event and hoped to make this one number 16. While placing was her main objective, the physical and social elements of the games were just as important to her.
“It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s about doing something different with your life,” Corrin said. “It’s nice to see people our age out and doing something instead of sitting at home.”
“It’s been created to not only honor individuals that are aging but also to provide them an opportunity to compete and live longer lives,” said Leslie Grenfell, the executive director of SWPA Area Agency for Aging.
Opening ceremonies took place at 9:30 a.m. and included the parade of athletes from the 18 senior centers across Washington, Greene and Fayette counties participating in the games. The torch from last year’s games was passed on and the Senior Games oath was recited.
For Donald H. Romito, 89, the games are more than just a time to get out and exercise.
“You meet a lot of nice people and you’re involved in all the activities, which is very good and it keeps you young,” Romito said. “I enjoy it and look forward to seeing it every year.”
Romito has been participating in the games since their inception 31 years ago. He said he has collected more than 85 gold, silver and bronze medals since then. He has gotten his daughter and son to participate as well.
“I always try and tell people my age to start joining the Senior Games.” Romito said. “The fun is all day long, you can’t beat it. Once you start into the games, you wait for them every year to come quicker, believe me.”
This year, he was going for the gold in shuffleboard.
Throughout the day, different types of sporting events took place. Among the most popular were bocce, the corn bag toss, a football throw and the 50-yard dash.
In addition to the games, seniors were able to participate in super bingo and visit the health fair, which consisted of 46 vendors that offered free health screenings, drawings and information on the services they provided.
Senior centers sponsoring the athletes cooked and served food in the school’s cafeteria to raise money for the centers.
New this year was the vintage fashion show, with fashions by Not 2 Common Thread. Fashion trends from the 1920s to ’80s were shown and Canonsburg singer Bobby Shawn performed.
“The events went wonderfully,” Kathy Costantino, the Washington County supervisor with the SWPA Area Agency of Aging, said. “We had a wonderful turnout at every venue at the games.”
The awards ceremony commemorating the victors of the games will take place at the Hilton Doubletree hotel at Meadowl Lands on June 27.