Hayesville – The torch was lit and the games have started, which means the 2025 Cherokee/Clay Senior Games has officially begun.
On Saturday morning, senior athletes from Cherokee and Clay counties gathered at Clay County Recreation Center for the opening ceremony.
The ceremony began with playing the national anthem and reciting the pledge of allegiance, with colors provided by American Legion of Clay County Post 532.
Gary Preissier, who has won countless Senior Games medals at multiple levels, carried the torch to signify the start of this year’s event. A total of 65 senior athletes were in attendance to compete in Saturday’s games.
The games started off with the annual fun walk, which has become a staple event in the Senior Games’ opening-day festivities.
After some of the athletes completed the fun walk, they cycled through competing in football throw, softball throw, discus, shot put and basketball shooting.
Basketball shooting
Females earning gold medals in basketball shooting were Chrissy Raxter, Carolyn Gutierrez, Georgina Morolla, Michele Preisser, Lucy Lovins and Karen Hall.
Earning silver was Christina Prince and Jill Dash. Earning bronze was Melissa Watson and Linda Knowles.
Men earning gold in basketball shooting was Michael Colandrea, Donnie Hallman, Jack Barnes, David Miller, Garry Preisser and Charles Staten.
Earning silver medals was Steve Gutierrez, Alan Gutierrez, Michael Wilkins and Jack Frahmann. Earning bronze was Randy Glass, Bart Harrison, Kenneth Beccard and Rick Alringer.
Discus
Females earning gold were Crissy Raxter, Carolyn Gutierrez, Georgina Morolla, Jill Dash, Lucy Lovins, Marcia Dones and Karen Hall.
Earning silver was Melissa Watson, Linda Knowles, Jan Beccard and Martha Reese. Earning bronze was Christina Prince and Lucy Jordan.
Men earning gold were Michael Colandrea, Donnie Hallman, Bart Harrison, David Foltz and Gary Preisser.
Earning silver were Randy Glass, Fred Dimmick, Bill Battle and Jack Frahmann. Earning bronze were Steve Gutierrez, Mark Smutz, Kenneth Beccard and Daniel Dones.
Football throw
Females earning gold were Crissy raster, Carolyn Gutierrez, Melissa Watson, Jill Dash, Lucy Lovins, Nancy Frahmann and Karen Hall.
Earning silver were Georgina Morolla, Lina Knowles, Joan Beccard, Marcia Dones and Suzan Grinarml. Earning bronze were Christina Prince, Michele Preisser, Martha Reese and Ruth Harris.
Men earning gold were Michale Colandrea, Steve Gutierrez, Robert Law, John Nicholas, Gary Preisser and Charles Staten.
Earning silver were Donnie Hallman, Alan Gutierrez, Simon Childs and Rick Alringer. Earning bronze were Randy Glass, Mark Mutz, Richard Bennett and Mike Lalone.
Shot put
Female earning gold were Crissy Raxter, Carolyn Gutierrez, Georgina Morolla, Jill Dash, Lucy Lovins, Marcia Dones and Karen Hall.
Earning silver were Donna Bennett, Linda Knowles, Joan Beccard, Nancy Frahmann and Ruth Harris. Earning bronze were Melissa Watson and Lucy Jordan.
Men earning gold were Michael Colandrea, James McNeely, Steve Gutierrez, Alan Gutierrez, Bill Battle, Gary Preisser and Charles Staten.
Earning silver were Randy Glass, Paul Craig, Kenneth Beccard and Rick Alringer. Earning bronze were Fred Dimmick, David Foltz and Ralph Lovins,
Softball throw
Females earning gold were Crissy RAxter, Carolyn Gutierrez, Georgina Morolla, Jill Dash, Lucy Lovins, Marcia Dones and Suzan Grinarml.
Earning silver were Christina Prince, Linda Knowles, Joan Beccard, Martha Reese and Karen Hall. Earning bronze were Donna Bennett, Michele Preisser and Nancy Frahmann.
Men earning gold were Michael Colandrea, James McNeely, Donnie Hallman, Alan Gutierrez, Kenneth Beccard, Gary Preisser and Charles Staten.
Earning silver were Steve Gutierrez, Mark Smutz, John Nicholas and Rick Alringer. Earning bronze were Randy Glass, Bart Harrison, Bill Battle and Jack Frahmann.
Coming this week
The games will wrap up their first full week as they continue today with women’s billiards at 1 p.m. at Rack ‘Em Billards, 3190 U.S. 64 in Murphy. The cost is $5.
Thursday at 9 a.m. is doubles cornhole, and at 1 p.m. is women’s singles cornhole. Both will be at the Murphy Rock Gym on Connahetta Street.
Friday, also at the Murphy Rock Gym, is mixed doubles cornhole at 9 a.m. and men’s singles cornhole at 1 p.m.
Saturday at 10 a.m. is track & field events – 400-meter and 1,500m runs, standing long jump and running long jump – at the Murphy High School track. At 1 p.m. Saturday at the Murphy Rock Gym is 3-on-3 basketball.
The second week of Senior Games will kick off Monday with women’s singles horseshoes at 10 a.m. and men’s singles horseshoes at 1 p.m. at Konehete Veterans Park in Murphy. At 6 p.m. Monday is the 5K power walk at the Chatuge Dam trail in Hayesville.
On Tuesday at 1 p.m. is women’s singles bowling at Harrah’s Valley River in Murphy. The cost is $5.
Details: For results and the event schedule, visit cherokeecountyseniorgames.org. Sign-ups for all games can be done the day of the game.