Seniors bring home gold at Delco Senior Games – Delco Times

SERVICE SUPPLIES After the annual break caused by the pandemic, the Delaware County Senior Games of 2021 returned this week to several locations around the county to the delight of many seniors in the area. The Delaware County Senior Games offer older athletes the opportunity to showcase their athletic skills, stay fit, and have fun. This year’s theme is Rebounding Strong! and residents aged 50 and over can participate at any skill level.
Wednesday’s games included a Corn Hole race at Rose Tree Park in Upper Providence.
Introduced this year, Corn Hole seemed like a popular raffle. The object of the game is to throw small bags filled with dried corn into an object that consists of a sloping wooden base with a hole at one end. The game was played in teams of two and was divided into blocks for men, women and collaborative groups. In 2019, a trial was held at the Broomall Veterans Memorial Park, an unjudged Corn Hole tournament at the same time as the judges ’competition. This year, it was updated in the minutes as an official game.
The 2021 Corn Hole winners are:
Women’s Division: Uneeda McIntosh / Eastlyn McIntosh Gold; Ruth Sperone / Linda Zapppacosta Silver; Nadine Atkinson / Carol Mueller Bronze
Men’s Division: Michael Iovannoni / Craig Snyderman Gold; Tom Diostilio / Bill OBrien Silver; and David Conboy / Joseph Hart Bronze.
Doubles: Jeannette Szakal / Steven Szakal Gold; Regina Weinhardt / James Weinhardt Silver; Marcia Dechan / Tom Dechan Bronze; Shirley Carroll / Tom McKelvey Bronze
According to COSA, the Delaware County Senior Games this year was a condensed version held without swimming, softball, basketball and a few other sports traditionally involved.
In recent years, I usually enjoyed running, jumping, softball, and swimming, but they weren’t available this year, so I tried Corn Hole, explained participant Yuping Huang Broomal. I’ve never played Corn Hole, so I had to learn more, but I like it. I also won the gold medal in table tennis this week.
Jack Kerins of Collingdale, Craig Snyderman of Glen Mills and Johnny Walker of Springfield stood aside waiting for an invitation to play.
This is the first year we play, but next year, please be competitive, joked Kerins.
We would learn this game quickly – it’s not rocket science, Walker added with a laugh.
Snyderman, who played Corn Hole before the party, said it was his first time to play competitively.
We may be amateurs this year, but next year – beware, he joked, less than an hour before taking the gold home.
Exercise, even moderate, can help seniors by improving mental functioning, preventing disease, improving healing, increasing balance, and prolonging life expectancy. According to COSA, the games encourage seniors to remain socially and physically active throughout the year and achieve their best. The games also promote friendships between athletes.
The 2021 senior games began Monday at the Pickleball Mixed Doubles event at BYCs ODonoghue Fieldhouse in Concordville and the Bocce and Field events at Rose Tree Park. On Tuesday, games continued with nine-hole golf at Clayton Golf Course in Garnet Valley and table tennis at the Upper Darby Watkins Senior Center, followed on Wednesdays by 18-hole golf at Paxon Hollow Golf Club in Broomall and Corn Hole Rose Tree Park.
Upcoming Thursday games include mini golf at 9 a.m. at Putt-Putt in Clifton Heights and Singles Bowling at 1 p.m. at Sproul Lanes in Springfield. The 2021 Senior Games will end on Friday, October 1st. Wii Bowling at Redwood Community Center, Upland Park and Horseshoes Singles Governor Printz Park, Essington, both starting at 9 p.m.
Delaware County senior games are sponsored by the Delaware County Council
The Department of Parks and Recreation and the Delaware County Aging Services Office (COSA). The 2021 Senior Games will be chaired by Marc Manfre, Park and Recreation Director, and Barbara Nicolardi, COSA Director.
Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to each age group, and all participating seniors and volunteers will receive a free Senior Games shirt. The Winners ’Circle Picnic will be held at the Redwood Community Center in Upland Park on Thursday, October 7th.
For more information on the Delaware County Senior Games, visit https://www.delcosa.org.