Age can’t slow down these Delco Senior Gamers
UPPER DARBY » Whether their skills date back to participating in family or scholastic sports, hundreds of seniors gathered Wednesday to celebrate the Delaware County Senior Games.
From June 12-23 at 13 venues across the county, 681 seniors, ranging from 50 to 101 years old, participated in multiple sports events from swimming and track and field to bocce and bowling.
In their 27th year, the games are sponsored by Delaware County Council, the county Department of Parks and Recreation, Destination Delco and the County of Delaware Services for the Aging. On Wednesday, the Winner’s Circle reception was held for the participants at the Drexelbrook Corporate Events Center.
Mary Washington of Darby Township, who at 95 won a gold medal in bowling even using her cane, said she started the sport in 1973.
“It gets me out of the house and I like the camaraderie of it,” she said, adding, “As long as I can get up to that lane, I will release that ball.”
Sye Brandman, at 101 years of age, was the oldest participant.
“I’m just a bowler,” the silver medalist said. “I used to be a good bowler. Now, I’m just a bowler.”
He also said the friends added to the joy of the sport.
Plus, Brandman said, “It keeps you active.”
Mary Lou McEneaney of Drexel Hill shared her story of how she got into the lanes.
“I’ve been bowling since I was 18 years old,” she said. “My whole family was a bowler, except for my mother. My mother, it wasn’t her cup of tea.”
She spoke of the call that forever changed her.
“My dad was bowling in a league and he called me up one night and he says, ‘We need a bowler, come up,’” McEneaney said. “I said, ‘Dad, I never bowl that much.’ He said, ‘Come up.’
“I started bowling then and I’ve been bowling ever since,” she smiled, adding, “And, I have four children and I bowled through most of my pregnancies ... and one of them, (my doctor) thought I was going to have the baby bowling.”
She was sitting with some friends and fellow teammates who took the gold medal for the sport in the 80 to 84 Women’s Team division.
Teammate Naomi Westermann explained they practice most of the year long at Wynnewood Lanes, sometimes once, sometimes twice a week. She said she plans in the Guys and Dolls League during the winter.
They’ve even let newcomer Rita DeSanto of Broomall join them.
“My husband died three years ago, so I decided to bowl,” DeSanto said of former Marple Township Commissioner Bill DeSanto. “This is my first year that I joined (the Senior Games.) I just came back to bowling. I’m lucky I can throw my 9-pound ball.”
At first, she had a little trepidation.
“I walk in this bowling alley all alone and ... they tell you where to go,” DeSanto said.
Then, she said, she found, “the people I am bowling with and against are super friendly.”
DeSanto enjoyed it so much she’s planning her return.
“I will expand next year, I will go into more,” she said. “I will do team and even do Wii bowling next year. I will do it again if I’m still here.”
Nearby, multiple medalist and national placer Robert Jones spoke of the love he has for swimming.
Growing up in Akron, Ohio, his high school, Firestone High School, had just gotten a new pool and he found himself swimming at 6 a.m., then two or three other times a day.
It paid off. The team placed second at the state championships in 1966, then won it in 1967 and in 1969, when he was the team captain.
Jones shared what it took: “Discipline – and listening to your coaches.”
Even now, he’s in the water four times a week.
That’s reaped him seven gold medals in swimming and a second place, third place and four fourth place wins at the National Senior Games in Birmingham, Ala. three weeks ago.
“For me, it’s a challenge,” he said.
The 65-year-old said it can be grueling to swim the 2- to 3-miles he’ll do each time he’s doing laps. Yet, a doctor once told him he’ll never feel better all day than he will an hour after his swimming workout.
And, besides, he uses it in business.
The owner and operator of two businesses, he looks at it like no one can throw him anything more difficult during his day than he already had in his swimming workout.
“The harder you work,” Jones said, “the more you’ll get out of it.”