September, 2008, Cheer News & Views

DSO Sports News

By Marion Lisehora mlisehora@mchsi.com

DSO Sports News

By Marion Lisehora mlisehora@mchsi.com

Delaware seniors are excitedly nearing their 2008 competitions in the Delaware Senior Olympics. This year’s Delaware State Games, which are qualifiers for the August 1-15, 2009 National Senior Games in the San Francisco Bay Area next year, will be held this fall throughout Delaware. The registration deadline has passed, but come on out to watch what DSO is all about! Then you will have a whole year to get ready to be a part of our state games in the fall of 2009! You will love the camaraderie and the opportunity to get fit doing fun things with other people your own age.

Triathlon: It’s not too late to register for this! Although it is not in the registration book, an attempt is being made to include triathlon in the 2008 games. It will be a 400m swim, 20K cycling, and 5K road race. At this writing (8/15) a date has not been set, but for more information or to register, please contact Bill Moyer at 302-678-1165, William_Moyer@msn.com or Cheryl Moore at the DSO Office at 1-888-881-6128. All we need to hold this event is athletes! Pass the word!

New DSO Advisory Council:" This Council has been established with five former DSO Board Members: Chris Oakes, Wilmington: Gary Whittington, Long Neck; Ed Freel, Wilmington; Steve Webb, Felton; and Tony Figliola, Wilmington.

Sue Brooker: In a Digitas Health documentary filmed July 21 and 22, 58-year-old softball player Sue Brooker is telling the world how she's adopted a healthier lifestyle. With the help of a new medication from a large pharmaceutical company, Sue is taking control of serious health issues. With a new awareness, she is now promoting healthy lifestyles for other seniors. The documentary will be online in November. Sue also walks on the beach and swims in her community pool.

Nominate Athletes For Awards: Athletes and other interested parties are encouraged to make nominations for Outstanding Athlete(s), Outstanding Volunteer(s), and the Charlie Marten Award. More information is available by visiting http://www.delawareseniorolympics.org . Awards will be decided by a committee, chaired by Barb Viera, and presented at the Annual DSO Dinner in November.

Help! Got a little time on your hands? Want to have some fun helping DSO? Are you a computer geek? Like to stuff envelopes? Do typing or data entry? Speak about DSO to a Seniors group? Help your sports coordinator? Organize a fund raiser? Write a computer program? Help man the DSO booth at a Health Fair? Be on a committee? DSO can sure use your help. Contact Cheryl Moore at the DSO Office.

Pennsylvania Senior Games: Three Delaware women’s teams competed in the games held in York on July 26. The downstate Delaware First Staters finished second in their age group, while the Lady Wonders and Quick Chicks were competitive in their matches.

Volleyball was not a popular women’s sport when people who are seniors now went to school. It was a mass event with too many people on the court. If you played it at a picnic, where no one really knew HOW to play, the taller men reached for everything, and the poor women were left looking at men’s hands reaching in front of their faces to play the ball. The sport fell to the bottom of women’s likes at that time. The game has come a long way since then. Teamwork is the key that makes it so much fun. Knowing the correct way to contact the ball makes a huge difference in self-confidence, and proper technique also minimizes the possibility of getting hurt. Growing up as a successful basketball, softball and soccer varsity starter in high school, volleyball was not my sport, either. Now, although I still play other team sports, nothing compares to my love for volleyball. At 77 I still feel very competitive in the sport, and I feel it is the best team sport for senior women to play. If you liked sports when you were young, you will learn to love volleyball!

Beginner’s Senior Volleyball Class: Indian River School District’s Adult Education offers this class, which I will be teaching on Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. at Georgetown Middle School on West Market Street in Georgetown starting September 9 and ending December 16. The newest rules and skills will be taught, and games will be played for fun. This is an excellent way to learn the game or to update your skills in the game. From this class you may advance to one of our Senior Olympics teams, and you’ll be ready to compete in the 2009 Delaware Senior Olympics! If you live in the Indian River School District, you should have recently received its brochure in the mail. There is a registration form included. You do not need to live in the district to join this class. Any woman 45 and older may register online at http://www.irsd-adulted.com/

Arline Brown of the upstate Lady Wonders bumps the ball during a volleyball match against a team from Maryland in the Pennsylvania Senior Games. Teammates shown are Peggy Olivero, Ginny Jacobs and Judy Moran.

Delaware Quick Chicks’ Cindy Anderson, Rehoboth; Grace Pesikey, Lewes; and Jo Ann Pessagno, Ocean City watch the ball following Cindy’s hit in the Pennsylvania Senior Games. Cindy has just returned to her team following a hip replacement in March!

The Delaware First Staters are all smiles after their second place finish in the Pennsylvania Senior Games. Shown left to right are Judy Stevenson, Georgetown; Delores Blakey, Dover; Marion Lisehora, Millsboro; Mandy Bouvier, Millsboro; Georgia Billger, Rehoboth; Harriet Mair, Georgetown.