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Get Your Game Face On!

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Archers take aim during the 2004 Mass. Senior Games
Get your game face on! Athletes needed for Mass. Senior Games By Debbie Gardner PRIME Editor SPRINGFIELD The call is out for athletes ages 50 to 90+ to demonstrate their abilities at the 14th annual Massachusetts Senior Games. The Games, slated for June 23-26, will once again be held on the grounds of Springfield College. This year's Games sponsor is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. "This year is a National Senior Olympics year, and 250 Massachusetts athletes are going to Pittsburgh to compete June 3-18, so we are glad Springfield College was able to give us a later date this year. We usually hold the Games on Father's Day weekend," said Games Coordinator, Carl Fetteroll. "We should have 500 athletes converging on Springfield College at the end of June." A sport for every athlete Male and female Senior Games athletes will compete in five-year age brackets, beginning with age 50 and continuing through age 70+ for team sports; age 90+ for individual competitions. These competitors are invited to register in the following events: archery; badminton; basketball (3 on 3); Billiards (8-ball); bowling (10 and candlepin); bocce; cycling; golf; horseshoes; lawn bowling; conventional pistol shooting; race walking and racquetball. Competitions will also be held in these areas: road race; shuffleboard; softball; swimming; synchronized swimming; table tennis; tennis; track & field; the triathlon; and volleyball. "The Mass. Senior Games are the largest of the six New England States, and the athletes enjoy the competition here," said Fetteroll. "And the Senior Games are geared for everybody ... we have sports like shuffleboard, lawn bowling, bocce and horseshoes, that everyone can participate in." You could be a medalist! Medals will be presented to Massachusetts' first, second and third place competitors in each age category for both men and women. Out-of-state competitors will also receive first, second, and third place medals, if appropriate. Medals are presented at each competitor site at the conclusion of the event. Come just to walk, or dance! Non-competition events on Friday will again include line dancing and an Olympic fitness walk (special $10/person registration fee for either event). "The fitness walk drew 59 people last year," said Fetteroll. "Friday is a low-key day to ease into the Games. This year we're going to have a strength and conditioning expert come in and do a talk on training for seniors at 4 p.m." Register early! The entrance fee to participate in the Mass Senior Games is $35/sport for Mass. residents who register prior to June 3; $40/sport for non-residents, both with a $10 fee for each additional sport. Between June 3 and 17 the fees rise to $40/sport Mass. resident; $45/sport for non-residents, and the $10 per additional sport fee still applies. In addition, the sports of basketball, bowling, golf, synchronized swim and track & field require separate facilities fees, which are listed in the registration form. For more information about the Massachusetts Senior Games, or an application to compete, call Games Coordinator, Carl Fetteroll, at 748-3811; or e-mail senior_games@spfldcol.edu, or on the web at www.maseniorgames.org Part of a national organization The Massachusetts Senior Games (MASG) is a member of the National Senior Games Association (NSGA), which sponsors a National Senior Games every two years at select sites around the country. The 2005 nationals will be held in Pittsburgh, PA. just prior to the Massachusetts Senior Games