March, 2009, Cheer News & Views

DSO Sports News

By Marion Lisehora mlisehora@mchsi.com

DSO Sports News

By Marion Lisehora mlisehora@mchsi.com

National Senior Games: Delaware Senior Olympians, who qualified this fall to attend the National Senior Games in Palo Alto this summer, are now able to register. Athletes have been notified by e-mail that they may register online, and each qualifier has been assigned a number. Registration packets are arriving now in the mail, and registrations may also be mailed in. For more information about the National Senior Games visit http://www.2009seniorgames.org/

The National Senior Games Association’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans in January was attended by DSO’s Treasurer, Phil Klabunde and President Rich O’Shaughnessy. In addition to regular business they heard presentations by the Local Organizing Committees for the Palo Alto Games to be held this August and the Cleveland Games which will be in 2013. The attendees were impressed with the meticulous planning that goes into these National Events.

Senior Group Challenge Receives National Award: The highlight of the NSGA meeting for Klabunde and O’Shaughnessy was when Delaware Senior Olympics received the top award for Excellence for their new Senior Group Challenge program. This program which reaches out to seniors through groups to which they belong, uses competition between groups to encourage their members to attain a healthy lifestyle by adhering to the “Exercise Guidelines for Americans” which are published by the the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Delawareans who are interested in this program may contact the DSO Office – 1-888-881-6128 or admin@delawareseniorolympics.org.

The Eastern Shore Senior Games at Salisbury University are open to men and women over 50 who live in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Registration is now open for the games that will take place April 23-25. Register before March 20. Events are aquatics, badminton, bowling, cycling, fitness testing, floor and foul shooting, golf, personal training, pump and run, table tennis, track and field, volleyball. Registration forms can be obtained online at http://www.salisbury.edu/seniorgames/ or by calling Dr. Carol Wood at 410-548-3256.

Bowling: DSO lost its oldest bowler, Earl Radding, 96, of Seaford on February 1. He will be greatly missed by the bowling community and DSO. Most recently he was a bowling gold medalist in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Delaware State Games. He was a National Senior Games medalist in singles and mixed doubles in 2005.

Diamonds and Blue Bombers lead DSO basketball at midseason. Winning their tenth consecutive game, Bob Hefelfinger’s Delaware Diamonds swept into first place in the Blue Division (45-54 age bracket) of Gino’s DSO Senior Basketball League. The Diamonds are 15-7 in league play. Leading the Gold Division (55plus age bracket) are Charlie Ganter’s Blue Bombers with an 18-6 record. In 2008 both teams qualified for, and are heading to, the National Senior Games in San Francisco this August. Gino’s 12-team DSO league plays Thursday evenings at P.S. DuPont Middle School in Wilmington, with games getting underway at 6:15 p.m. Thanks to the league and players for contributing $1000.00 to DSO. For information contact Gene Mirrolli at 302-229-7633.

Men’s 3on3 Basketball Tournament tips off on April 18 at the Police Athletic League Center in Hockessin. Tournament coordinator, Charlie Ganter, is expecting 20-25 teams from several neighboring states. March 7 is the entry deadline. There is also a Hot-Shot Shoot Off. Call Charlie at 302-427-0930.

Morning pick-up basketball games at the Hockessin PAL on Monday and Wednesday at 8 a.m. for seniors are free. For more information, contact Kevin Sullivan at 302-731-1314.

Women’s Senior Softball: Senior softball players are waiting for April 20, when the 3 local teams will take the fields at Sports At The Beach once again on Monday evenings. Teams are looking for new players. There are two 50-54 teams and one 60-64 team. Older players may play down on a younger team, but younger players may not play up on an older team. If you would like to join a women’s team this spring, please contact a team captain. Delaware Diamonds 50s, Debbie Estes 644-7220; Delaware Alley Cats 50s, Maureen White, 226-8080; Delaware Diamonds 60s, Dorcy Wilkins, 933-0910. For more information call coordinator Marion Lisehora at 934-9512.

Olde Tymers Softball League: There will be a general organizational meeting at 7 p.m. on April 1 in the Bethany Beach Town Hall for men and women who are at least 55 years of age. Practices start in April with games being played from May through August on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the Dagsboro Church of God Field. For more information call Bo Wood, 945-1849.

Margie Knight Clinic: Salisbury volleyball coach Knight conducted a clinic for the Senior Lo-Del Volleyball League at Georgetown Middle School on January 22. She and two of her varsity players, Jamie and Stacey, taught new practice drills and gave helpful tips on improving skills and movement on the court.

The Senior Lo-Del Volleyball League is looking forward to several upcoming age group tournaments that the League’s 6 teams are entering. April 4 - Spring Fling at the Volleyball House in Elkridge, MD; April 25 - Eastern Shore Senior Games Volleyball Tournament at Salisbury University; March 28, April 18 and May 2 – Lebanon YMCA Tournaments in Lebanon, PA.

Senior Pickleball: From 12 to 2 on Thursdays senior men and women are playing pickleball at the Sussex Family YMCA in Rehoboth. For more information call the YMCA at 296-9622 and ask for James Botti.

Polar Bear Plunge: Three Sussex Countians, Marion Lisehora, Louise McGinniss and Mimi Peters, all of whom compete in swimming events in the Delaware Senior Olympics, were among the almost 3,000 people that plunged into the Atlantic Ocean at Rehoboth Beach on February 1 in support of Delaware Special Olympics. Nearly $500,000 was raised! The event is still called the Lewes Polar Bear Plunge, but it is now held each year in Rehoboth on the first Sunday in February, regardless of the weather. This year the weather was sunny with the air at 53 degrees and the water at 37 degrees, making it one of the warmest days in the history of the Plunge. To be a true Polar Bear, one must totally submerge, wearing only a bathing suit, which they all did!

Before plunging: L to R: Marion Lisehora, 77, of Millsboro (10th year); Marion’s granddaughter Katie Markelz of Philadelphia; Mimi Peters, 75, of Rehoboth (9th year); Louise McGinniss, 68, of Lewes (13th year) and friend Liz Brittingham, of Lewes.

Polar Bear Plunge: Mimi and Louise after being tumbled by a wave, with Marion reaching to help Mimi.

Margie Knight, Salisbury University volleyball coach, (4th from left in front ) poses with a group of Senior Lo-Del League players after she conducted a clinic for them on January 22.