The first full week of games wrapped up over the weekend at the 2025 Cherokee/Clay Senior Games with athletes competing in various games from table tennis to bowling to cornhole.
The week kicked off with table tennis at the Murphy Rock Gym on April 28 and wrapped up with track & field events and 3-on-3 basketball on Saturday.
Table tennis
Up first was the table tennis singles event. Earning a gold medal in women’s table tennis singles were Angie Barnes, Jill Dash, Holly Carlisle and Nancy Miller. Earning a silver medals were Georgina Morolla, Robin Alessi and Jenny Turner. Earning bronze were Christina Prince and Linda Knowles.
Earning a gold medal in men’s table tennis singles were Steve Gutierrez, Jim Torchia, David Miller, Rick Alringer and Jerry Leslie. Earning a silver medal were Donnie Hallman, Jack Barnes, Bob Martin, Terence Faries and Siegfried Hackbarth. Earning bronze were Doug Carlson and Paul Swanson.
5K road race
On the evening of April 28, 12 athletes competed in the 5K road race at the Chatuge Dam trail.
The first runner to cross the finish line was John Metzgar in the 60-64 age group. He completed the 5K in 20:07, which is an average pace of roughly 6:27.
Other athletes to earn a gold medal in their age group in the 5K were Crissy Raxter, Hope Reagan, Michele Preisser, Mark Smutz, Van Estes and Chuck Staten.
Earning silver medals in the 5K were Katherine Smutz, Mark Berlinski, Fred Dimmick and Bill Battle.
Bowling (doubles)
The only event held on April 29 was the doubles bowling event at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel.
In women’s doubles, the teams of Kathleen Ferguson/Karen Hall, Linda Knowles/Michele Preisser, Lori Coy/Marilyn Ogden and Mary Walsh/Marlene Nelson earned gold. The team of Margaret Smith/Pauline Fry earned silver.
In men’s doubles, the teams of Joe Warren/Kenneth Thigpen, Frank Ohara/Richard Haas, Terence Faries/Ralph Lovins and Richard Yeomans/Robert Rodde earned gold. The team of David Baumann/Gary Preisser won silver and the team of Ray Smith/Barry Fry earned bronze.
Billiards (women’s)
April 30 was also a one event day as the women’s billiards event took place at Rack ‘Em Up Billiards in Murphy.
Carla Davis, Linda Knowles, Jenny Turner and Margaret Smith earned gold medals. Jill Dash and Jackie Bispo earned silver. Gina Horn earned bronze.
Cornhole
Thursday and Friday were dedicated to four different competitions in cornhole, which is an athlete favorite game each year.
In women’s singles, Georgina Morolla, Jill Dash, Jackie Bispo, Pauline Fry, Ruth Harris and Marilyn Ogden won gold. Kathleen Ferguson, Michele Preisser, Joy Dockery, Margaret Smith and Norma Kemp Womacks silver. Angie Barnes, Robin Alessi, Marion Severy and Mary Walsh won bronze.
In men’s singles, Jack Barnes, Mike Crubaugh, Gary Preisser, Barry Fry and John Sias won gold. Tony Schniedt, Michael Wilkins and Rick Alringer won silver Bart Harrison, Joe Tanno and Ray Smith won bronze.
In women’s doubles, the teams of Melissa Watson/Jill Dash, Robin Alessi/Marcia Dones and Pauline Fry/Margaret Smith won gold. The teams of Lynda Brown/Sandra Kenyon and Michele Preisser/Linda Knowles won silver. The team of Gina Horn/Jenny Turner won bronze.
In men’s doubles, the teams of Jack Barnes/Michael Wilkins, David Miller. Mike Crubaugh and Rick Alringer/Gary Preisser won gold. The teams of Larry Clouse/Vann Harrell and Ray Smith/Barry Fry won silver.
In mixed doubles, the teams of Jackie Bispo/Jim Bispo, Linda Knowles/Jack Barnes, Patty Singer/John Singer, Pauline Fry/Barry Fry and Karen Hall/John Sias won golf. The teams of Lenore Berlinksi/Mark Berlinski, Jill Dash/Rick Alringer and Margaret Smith/Ray Smith won silver. The team of Michele Preisser/Gary Preisser won bronze.
Track & field
The week wrapped up with the track & field events at Murphy High School on Saturday morning.
In the women’s 400-meter dash, Lenore Berlinksi and Michele Preisser won gold. Katherine Smutz won silver.
In the men’s 400m dash, Mark Berlinski, Mark Smutz, Bill Battle and David Baumann won gold. Fred Dimmick won silver and Bart Harrison won bronze.
In the women’s 1,500m run, Denise Metzgar and Michele Preisser won gold. In men’s 1,500m run, John Metzgar and Mark Smutz won gold and Mark Berlinski won silver.
In the women’s 1,500m power walk, Debra Bolle and Ruth Harrell won gold. In the men’s 1,500m power walk, Bill Battle won gold.
3-on-3 basketball
The final event of the first week was 3-on-3 basketball held at the Murphy Rock Gym. The team Jack’s Pack won gold, beating out Court Kings, The Generals and TT Titans.
Up next
Today’s the first day of their biggest game, pickleball. At 9 a.m. women’s singles kicks off, followed by men’s doubles at 11 a.m. Both are at the Hayesville pickleball courts.
At 6 p.m. today is the first day of chess competition at the Cherokee Count Arts Council, 33 Valley River Ave., Suite C, in Murphy.
Pickleball continues Thursday with women’s doubles at 9 a.m. and me’s singles at 11 a.m. at the Hayesville pickleball courts.
At 1 p.m. Thursday is women’s shuffleboard at the Murphy Rock Gym. If necessary, day two of chess will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Cherokee County Arts Council.
At 9 a.m. Friday, mixed doubles pickleball will take place at the Murphy pickleball courts.
At 1 p.m. Friday is men’s shuffleboard at the Murphy Rock Gym.
Saturday at Murphy High School, track & field events will start at 10 a.m. The 50-meter, 100m, 800m run and 1,500m Power Walk will take place then.
At 2 p.m. Saturday is the first day of swimming events at Murphy Health & Fitness. The 50m backstroke and breaststroke, the 100m butterfly and freestyle, the 200m backstroke, breaststroke and individual medley, as well as the 500m freestyle, will all take place.
On Monday, May 12, at 6 p.m. is the 10K road race at the Chatuge Dam trail.
At 10 a.m. Tuesday is the mini-golf competition at Bear Creek Adventures in Murphy. At 1 p.m. Tuesday is men’s and women’s singles bowling at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River. The cost for mini-golf and bowling is $5 per person.