December, 2008, Cheer News & Views

DSO Sports News

By Marion Lisehora mlisehora@mchsi.com

Results: Almost all of this year’s Delaware Senior Olympics Annual Games results are now posted at http://www.delawareseniorolympics.org/ Click on the name of the sport on the home page.

Baseball: The Eli Barkan Charity Challenge Games on October 5 earned over $5,000 for a 30 year-old father of two, Tim Heiser, who has ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). The Tri-State 48+ Baseball League of Middletown and the Long Island Men’s Senior Baseball League met in Camden, New Jersey, to play a double header which Long Island won. Ray Lammie of Long Island and John DeBenedictis of Tri-State organized the benefit games. Tim is keeping a weblog at http://timheiser.wordpress.com/

Hall of Fame: Helen Chenoweth, a Delaware Senior Olympian of Georgetown, was inducted into the Kenwood Sr. High School (Balto. County, Md.) ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME on Oct.10, 2008. She was honored for her outstanding athletic accomplishments and leadership in softball, field Hockey and basketball; President of the Girl's Athletic Association (300 members), Sports Editor of the school paper and a 30 year career of teaching Jr. High and Middle School physical education. After graduation from college she continued to participate in fast pitch softball for 14 years, earned a national rating for umpiring softball; played with the Baltimore Field Hockey Association; played USTA and inter-club tennis; was a member of the Baltimore Bicycle Club (completing the Salisbury Century and numerous historic Baltimore Tour de Ports). At age 50 she began participating in the Maryland Senior Olympics in volleyball, tennis singles and doubles, doubles table tennis, and won medals in all events. After moving to Delaware she has been lucky enough to be a member of the Quick Chicks gold medal volleyball team for the past 3 years and also won gold in tennis singles in 2006. "Sports became a way of life thanks to the opportunity to play on teams in high school. And now, with the opportunity to participate in the Delaware Senior Olympics, I am still fortunate to be a member of a team, still compete in my 60's, and enjoy the health benefits.”

Basketball: This was a year of firsts for the First State’s Senior Olympic 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament. On Saturday, October 25, Delaware’s first tournament as an ”open” qualifying state, saw 21 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams from six states compete for berths in the 2009 National Senior Games at Palo Alto, California. The tournament also featured Senior Olympics’ first 4 on 4 co-ed basketball competition. One women’s team, YaYas 50+, and five men’s teams, Gino’s 50+, Beach Ball 50+, Dorsey Insurance 55+, Delaware Diamonds 60+ and the Korean War Vets 75+, earned berths for the 2009 National Senior Games.

Korean War Vets 75+ from Delaware and NOVA United Classics 65+ from Fairfax Co., Virginia, team up for the first DSO co-ed senior olympic basketball game. L to R: George Taylor, Bob Shaeffer, Marianne Gearhart, Charles Silk, Elise Patak, and Jerry Corrigan.

Huntsman World Senior Games: Many Delaware senior athletes traveled to St. George, Utah, in October to compete in their favorite sport. The Quick Chicks of the Senior Lo-Del Volleyball League that plays its games in Georgetown were competitive in the 60+ age group, while Marion Lisehora earned a gold medal in the 74+ age group, as a setter for the Michigan Movers.

Marion Lisehora poses with the 60+ Quick Chicks at the Huntsman Games wearing her 74+ volleyball gold medal that she won playing with the Michigan Movers. Back Row: Grace Pesikey, Willa Jones and Margaret Long. Front: Mary Warren, Cindy Anderson, Marion Lisehora, Judy Duerr and Sue West

Pickleball: The Sussex Family YMCA in Rehoboth will be offering pickleball starting in January. To find out more about it contact James Botti at JBotti@ymcade.org or call the YMCA at 296-9622 and ask for James.

Volleyball: A new beginner’s volleyball class for women, 45-70+, will be offered by IRSD Adult Education at Georgetown Middle School on Tuesday nights. The class will start in January. Learn to play the game and then advance to a team in the Senior Lo-Del Volleyball League. Call Adult Ed at 436-1010 to register.

01 Medalists in Horseshoes: L to R: Dick Seyler of Felton, 60-64 silver; Ty Coffield of Dover, 50-54 gold; Rich Menton of Newark 60-64 gold; Bill Pilecki of Milford, 60-64 bronze.