Games aren’t just for kids
Brownfield seniors Loretta Newell and Corrine McKnight play a friendly game of bocce ball.
From left, Barbara Bridge, taking first place, Martha Ghilani, Bernie Cutshall and Barbara Geisler compete in the 50-yard dash at the 2013 Senior Games at Charleroi High School Wednesday afternoon.
Center On the Hill seniors Carol Ambler and Toots Kapsel dance to “Great Balls of Fire” during the flash mob at the senior games.
CHARLEROI – The woman with the snow-white hair and baseball cap turned around and asked the other guests sitting with her on the shuttle bus, “How old do you think I am?”
Esther Vanorsdale is not afraid to let anyone know how old she is. She doesn’t even look her age. In fact, the 90-year-old from Connellsville is quite active and she, along with 700 other senior citizens from Washington, Greene and Fayette counties, participated in the 27th annual Senior Games at Charleroi High School Wednesday.
The Senior Games is sponsored by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging and Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services Aging Services.
Senior centers from Washington to Monongahela participate in the event, and this year’s theme was “Spark Your Energy.” Seniors participated in events like the 50-yard dash, a mile walk, horseshoes, a basketball throw, and a softball throw.
“(Senior) centers gear up for this for four to five months,” said Kathy Costantino, Washington County supervisor for the Area Agency on Aging. “It’s a planning process.”
After months of planning, the games started off with a bang – crowds of senior citizens gathered in Charleroi’s amphitheater for the opening ceremony and the parade of athletes. The amphitheater was festive – athletes stood proudly behind their team banner, waiting to march in front of the crowd. Things got even more interesting when the athletes limbered up by dancing in a flash mob; even the Washington County commissioners perched on stage joined in the fun.
The opening ceremony ended, but the fun and activities for the senior citizens was only beginning. Charleroi’s football stadium was busy as seniors tossed a football and softball to and fro, while sprinters prepared for the 50-yard dash on the track.
“You’re always a winner when you participate,” shouted one of the workers as she handed Barbara Bridge a medal. Bridge was the only one to run in the 50-yard dash in her age category, so she received a gold medal. Even though she was put in another age group, she said she still thinks she beat the others.
“I’m her coach,” joked Bridge’s husband, Don, as he sat next to her on the football field after her race. The couple participated in both the 50-yard dash and the one-mile walk.
“(You) try your best and try not to get hurt,” Barbara said. She wasn’t kidding. After three 50-yard dash heats, two men struggled with pulled hamstrings and one woman suffered from a laceration on her nose. Despite the potential for pain, seniors participated in the events with enthusiasm and determination, moving from event to even despite the heat.
Shirley Noschese, 77, of Connellsville, said she likes all of the different events. “Time goes by fast,” she said. “The older you get, the faster it goes. It’s nice to do things with the (senior) center – that they have it.”