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Week three of the 2025 Seniors Games saw an array of different games played ranging from men’s billiards to women’s air rifle target shooting.
The week kicked off with men’s and women’s singles bowling, then wrapped up with the second day of swimming competition.
Bowling
Senior Games bowlers gathered at the Multi-tainment Center inside Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel for singles competition on May 13.
Earning gold in men’s singles were Donnie Hallman, Tony Schneidt, Bill Battle, Frank Ohara, Robert Rodde and Kenneth Thigpen. Earning silver were Bart Harrison, Michael Wilkins, Gary Preisser and Richard Yeomans. Earning bronze were Paul Craig, Joe Tanno and Ray Smith.
Women who earned gold in singles competition were Christina Prince, Linda Knowles, Jenny Turner and Mary Walsh. Earning silver were Melissa Watson, Jill Dash and Pauline Fry. Earning bronze were Carla Davis, Michele Preisser and Marlene Nelson.
Pickleball
After rain delayed women’s singles and men’s doubles pickleball, the competition got underway on the rain date of May 14.
Earning gold in women’s singles were Michele Preisser and Nancy Baumann. Judy Markley won silver.
Earning gold in men’s doubles were the teams of David Alsobrook/Lyndell Holt, Jack Barnes/Michael Wilkins, Simon Childs/Dan Dones and Jim Ackerly/Harry Hearne.
Men’s doubles teams earning silver medals were Alan Gutierrez/Bob Martin, Bruce Peck/Cobby Barfield and David Baumann/Gary Preisser. Earning bronze were the teams of Fitch Hasbrouck/Michael Kelischek, Paul Swanson/Harry Jarrett and Steve Champ/Tony Desantis.
Billiards
In the afternoon of May 14, men competed in billiards singles competition at Rack ‘Em Billiards in Murphy.
Earning gold medals were Jim Bispo, Brian Kearney, Mike Crubaugh, Gary Preisser, Bill Graves and Jerry Leslie.
Earning silver were Jack Banres, Larry Clouse, Ray Smith, Barry Fry and John Sias. Earring bronze were Fred Dimmick and Vann Harrell.
Air rifle target shooting
After gaining popularity at last year’s Senior Games, air rifle target shooting returned to competition for the second time. This year, 14 participants gathered to shoot it out to earn medals.
Earning gold medals were Kemberly Martin, Christina Prince, Katherine Smutz, Holly Carlisle and Margaret Smith.
Earning silver medals were Crissy Raxter, Regina Horn, Chris Faries and Mary Walsh. Earning bronze were Robin Alessi and Marcia Dones.
Despite the popularity of air rifle target shooting, it is not a state qualifier event and is only held on the local level.
Swimming
The swimming events at the Senior Games wrapped up Saturday with their second day of competition.
In the 50-yard butterfly, Cathy McNeely won gold. In the 50-yard backstroke, Art Hubbard won gold.
In the 100-yard backstroke, Art Hubbard earned gold. Robert Gougler won silver and Mark Smutz won bronze. In the 100-yard breaststroke, Art Hubbard won gold and Robert Gougler won silver.
In the 100-yard freestyle, Michael Colandrea and Robert Gougler won gold. Michael Kelischek won silver. In the 100-yard individual medley, Cathy McNeely and Robert Gougler won gold.
In the 200-yard backstroke, Art Hubbard won gold. In the 200-yard freestyle, Michael Kelischek won gold.
Up next
The final of the 2025 Cherokee/Clay Senior Games has arrived. At 1 p.m. today, the golf competition will tee off at Mountain Harbour Golf Club in Hayesville.
At 1 p.m. Thursday, the men will compete in air rifle target shooting in Hayesville. At 12:30 p.m., there is a mandatory safety orientation for those competing in air rifle target shooting.
At 1 p.m. Friday, there will be the badminton competition. There will be competition in men’s and women’s singles, as well as doubles and mixed doubles. Badminton will be held at the Murphy Rock Gym.
Mini golf was pushed to it’s rain date of 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 27. The mini-golf competition will be held at Bear Creek Adventures in Ranger.
On Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m., there will be a 10K road race on the Chatuge Dam trail in Hayesville.
Saturday, May 31, at 5 p.m. will be the closing ceremony at Tri-County Community College’s Enloe Auditorium in Peachtree. The closing ceremony will include a banquet, performances from the Silver Arts performing arts and a multitude of awards. Tickets are $5 for Senior Games participants and $15 for guests.