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Rowan County senior residents have spent the month of September competing with seniors throughout North Carolina for the bragging rights of being the best in the state.

They competed in events such as archery, bowling, golf, field event, swimming and racquetball, along with the SilverArts artists. Individuals compete for awards in their own gender and age category within five year increments: 50-54, 55-59, 60-64 and up to 100+.

Senior Games began in 1983 with a vision to create a year-round health promotion and wellness education program for adults age 50 and better. Senior Games is a holistic approach to keeping the body, mind and spirit fit while enjoying the company of friends, family, spectators and volunteers. SilverArts is a celebration of the creative Spirit and is a major component of the competition of senior game. Salisbury / Rowan Senior Games & SilverArts are the largest senior games program in the state of North Carolina, serving over 800 seniors in the Spring programs.

“When I took this position in 1998 with Rowan County I had 68 seniors total; today we have 872 artists and athletes participating,” said Phyllis Loflin-Kluttz, Senior Games & SilverArts Coordinator for Rowan County. “Savannah Daniel, our assistant games coordinator and I are setting our Spring schedule for 2018 and also seeking sponsorship to help keep the program strong in Rowan County.”

Salisbury / Rowan Senior Games & SilverArts is a 501C3 non-profit program.

Rowan County winners to date:

Mary Jo Agner: swimming 200 yd. Individual medley – Gold, 500 yd. freestyle – Gold, 200 yd. freestyle – Gold, 50 yd. butterfly – Gold.

Ralph Brown: Golf – Gold.

Robin Cohen: 50 yd. backstroke – Silver.

Dennis Eccleston: archery Comp. w/sight and release aid – Bronze.

Cherrathee Hager: Visual Art Acrylics, “Charlie” Bronze.

Peter Harvey: racquetball – Gold.

Dave Hibbard: racquetball – Gold.

David Karns: basketball shooting – Silver.

Brett Kimminger: bowling mixed doubles partner Barb Reynolds – Gold.

Chris McNeely: basketball shooting – Silver.

Grey Medinger: golf – Silver.

Ruthie Norman: bowling doubles partner Eileen Reynolds – Bronze.

Barb Reynolds bowling mixed doubles partner Brett Kimminger – Gold, bowling singles – Gold.

Eileen Reynolds: Bowling doubles partner Ruthie Norman – Bronze.

France Shepherd: swimming 50 yd. butterfly – Gold, 50 yd. breaststroke – Gold, 500 yd. freestyle – Gold, 50 yd. freestyle – Gold.

Phyllis Steimel: swimming 100 yd. backstroke – Silver, 50 yd. backstroke – Silver, 50 yd. breaststroke – Gold.

Shane Tolliver: racquetball – Silver.

Hazel Trexler-Campbell: bowling singles – Gold, football throw – Gold, horseshoes – Gold, softball throw – Gold, billiards – Gold, table tennis singles – Gold.

September was just the start of the State Finals competition. Still to come is Bocce & Cornhole Tournaments in Clayton Oct. 3-4; Men & Women Softball Tournaments at Thomas Brooks Park, Cary Oct. 9-12; Pickleball Tournaments Oct. 17-19 at Carolina Courts in Concord; and the Men & Women Basketball Tournament East Carolina University in Greenville Oct. 27-29.

For more about how to participate, sponsor or volunteer contact Phyllis Loflin-Kluttz or Savannah Daniel at 704-216-7780, or www.rowanseniorgames.org