Hayesville The 2024 Cherokee/Clay County Senior Games kicked off Saturday morning with an opening ceremony and a series of events.
The opening ceremony saw more than 100 people fill seats at the Clay County Recreation Center. Clay County American Legion Post 532 presented the colors, while Mike Kelischek carried in and lit the ceremonial torch. Lisa Sellars was scheduled to carry the torch, but she could not be there Saturday.
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After the opening ceremony, the games officially began with a fun run of a half-mile. Once the games were underway, athletes cycled through the football throw, softball throw, basketball shooting, shot put and discus.
“It went really well today. Weather finally cooperated. After that first shower, I thought, ‘Oh man,’ because we really don’t have any fallback if it starts raining,” said Terence Faries, organizer of the Senior Games.
“We got extra volunteers this year, which really, really helped. I owe Harrah’s a big thank you for the extra volunteers. That freed up a lot of stuff for seniors to participate in. All the comments I got from everyone were positive. The events were run professionally. Everybody had fun, and that’s what the whole thing is about.”
Faries said he is looking forward to one of their first-time events, billiards, as well as the long distance runs this week. He is also looking forward to bowling and table tennis.
For the opening game – the fun run – in lieu of first-, second- and third-place medals, everyone who participated received a pin. Basketball shooting allowed the athletes to get a break from the sun and enjoy shade and air conditioning while competing in a game.
For the women, Michele Hallman won gold in the 55-59 age group. In the 60-64 age group, Donna Miller won gold and Jill Dash won silver. In 65-69, Michele Preisser won gold and Linda Knowles won silver.
In 70-74, Violet Smith won gold, Joan Beccard won silver and Irene Cappa won bronze. In 75-79, Nancy Frahmann won gold. In 85-89, Marilyn Ogden won gold.
For the men, Scott Stophel won gold in the 55-59 age group. In 60-64, Randy Glass and David Miller tied for first, with Donnie Hallman and Darren Shepherd tied for second. In 65-69, Mike Alessi won gold, Bob Martin won silver and Kenneth Beccard won bronze.
In 70-74, Mike Lalone won gold and Simon Childs won silver. In 75-79, Gary Preisser won gold, Rick Alringer won silver and Daniel Dones won bronze.
In the discus throw, a traditional track and field event, many people won medals across all age groups. For the women, Kemberly Martin won gold in the 50-54 age group. Donna Miller won gold, Jill Dash won silver and Lorie Shepherd won bronze in 60-64. In 65-69, Linda Knowles won gold and Michele Preisser won silver.
In 70-74, Marcia Dones won gold and Violet Smith won silver. In 75-79, Frahmann won gold and Martha Reese won silver. In 80-84, Karen Hall won gold and in 85-89, Marilyn Ogden won gold.
For the men in discus, Stophel won gold in the 55-59 age group. For 60-64, Miller won gold, Hallman won silver and Glass won bronze. In 65-69, Joseph Proper won gold, William Battle won silver and Mike Alessi won bronze. In 70-74, Simon Childs own gold and Cobby Barfield won silver. In 75-79, Jack Frahmann won gold, Gary Preisser won silver and Eddie Walker Jr. won bronze.
In the football throw, Kemberly Martin won gold in the 50-54 age group and Michele Hallman won gold in the 55-59 age group. In 60-64, Jill Dash won gold, Miller won silver, while Sandy Owen and Lorie Shepherd tied for third. In 65-69, Linda Knowles won gold, Robin Alessi won silver and Michele Preisser won bronze.
In 70-74, Marcia Dones won gold, Irene Cappa won silver and Karyn Fridley won bronze. In 75-79, Frahmann won and Martha Reese tied for first. In 80-84, Suzan Grinarml won gold and Karen Hall won silver. In 85-89, Marilyn Ogden won gold and Bonnie Motes took silver.
In the men’s football throw, Stophel won gold in the 55-59 age group with 110 points, which broke the local games record in his age group. In 60-64, Miller won gold, Glass, Hallman and Darren Shepherd tied for silver, while Martin Smith won bronze. In 65-69, Jack Barnes won gold, Mike Alessi and Mark Smutz tied for silver and Bob Martin won bronze.
In 70-74, John Nicholas won gold, Simon Childs won silver and Cobby Barfield won bronze. In 75-79, Gary Preisser and Jack Frahmann tied for gold, Rick Alringer won silver and Jon Rasmussen and Daniel Dones tied for bronze. In 85-89, Dean Motes won gold.
Shot put is another event at the Senior Games that is a traditional track and field event. For the women, Kemberly Martin won gold in the 50-54 age group. Sandy Owen won gold, Donna Miller won silver and Jill Dash won bronze in the 60-64 age group. In 65-69, Linda Knowles won gold, Michele Preisser took silver and Robin Alessi won bronze.
In 70-74, Marcia Dones won gold and Violet Smith won silver. In 75-79, Frahmann won gold, Karen Hall won gold for 80-84 and Marilyn Ogden won gold for 85-89.
For the men in shot put, David Miller won gold, Darren Shepherd won silver and Martin Smith won bronze in the 60-64 age group. In 65-69, Mike Alessi won gold, Mark Smutz won silver and William Battle won bronze. In 70-74, Simon Childs won gold. In 75-79, Eddie Walker Jr. won gold, Gary Preisser won silver and Daniel Dones won bronze.
Softball throw one was of the most popular events. The events had a long line for most of the day, with everyone wanting a chance to compete. For the women, Michele Hallman won gold in the 55-59 age group. In 60-64, Miller won gold, Sandy Owen won silver and Jill Dash won bronze. In 65-69, Linda Knowles won gold and Michele Preisser won silver.
In 70-74, Irene Cappa won gold, Marcia Donnes won silver and Denise Rasmussen won bronze. In 80-84, Suzan Grinarml won gold and Karen Hall won silver. In 85-89, Norma Kemp won gold, Bonnie Motes won silver and Marilyn Ogden won bronze.
For the men’s softball throw, Stophel won gold in the 55-59 age group. In 60-64, Hallman won gold, Martin Smith won silver and Darren Shepherd won bronze. In 65-69, Martin Smutz won gold, Kenneth Beccard won silver and Steve Coulombe won bronze.
In 70-74, John Nicholas won gold, Simon Childs won silver and Barfield won bronze. In 75-79, Gary Preisser won gold, Rick Alringer won silver and Frahmann won bronze. In 80-84, Charles Staten won gold.
This week is the first full week of competition in the Senior Games. Today is women’s cornhole at 1 p.m. at the Rock Gym in Murphy and day one of chess at 6 p.m. at the Cherokee County Arts Council. Thursday is men’s cornhole at 1 p.m. and day two of chess, if necessary, at 6 p.m.
Saturday at 9 a.m. is the 400-meter and 1,500m runs, as well as standing and running long jump at Murphy High School. At 11 a.m. is orientation and training for the air rifle target shooting at the Hayesville American Legion, with the event beginning at 1 p.m. after the training session.
Monday is golf at 1 p.m. at Mountain Harbour Golf Club in Hayesville and the 5-kilometer road race at 6 p.m. at the Chatuge Dam trail in Hayesville. Tuesday is mixed doubles bowling at 1 p.m. and men’s billiards in the UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy.
Details: Visit cherokeecountyseniorgames.org or call Terence Faries at 727-470-7947.