Seniors keep young at their own Olympic games
Woodbridge hosts event for the first time; some came from Wash. state
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Top, Mildred Francis, East Orange, takes aim during the billiards tournament at the Woodbridge Community Center that was part of the Senior Olympic Games held at different facilities throughout the township on Sept. 7, 8 and 9. Right, Jerry LuCante, Sewaren, participates in a basketball accuracy contest at the Senior Olympic Games.

WOODBRIDGE - With the help of two canes and the crowd cheering him on, 84-year-old Jack Pennington gave it his best in the 100-meter race held at the John F. Kennedy Memorial High School's track in Iselin during the Senior Olympic Games over the weekend.

"You are seeing, for the first time, the one-minute dash," said Pennington in a Boston Marathon T-shirt as he headed to the finish line on Sept. 8.

Pennington, who has 68 marathons under his belt including 12 Boston Marathons since 1978, came in under two minutes.

"I gave it my best," said Pennington, who ran his last marathon in 1997. "I ran all four seasons, but I wasn't able to run much when I was a Navy officer. I retired with real vigor and ran until my knees gave out."

Pennington, of Pennington Borough, was one of over 500 male and female senior athletes 50 years of age and older who came to Woodbridge for the 2007 Senior Olympic Games on Sept. 7, 8 and 9.

The games were held on the fields and facilities in and around the township, which included the YMCA at the Woodbridge Community Center, The Club at Woodbridge, the JFK High School track and event fields, county and municipal parks, and private venue facilities that included bowling centers and nearby golf courses.

The Community Center and The Club at Woodbridge provided a combination of multipurpose recreational and sporting facilities, including a full-size gymnasium, an Olympic-size hockey and ice skating rink, an NHL-size hockey and ice skating rink, a wellness center, a walking track, meeting rooms, and recreational and lounge areas.

There were 15 sporting events that included archery, basketball foul shooting and accuracy shooting, three-on-three basketball, bocce, billiards, bowling, cycling, darts, golf, horseshoes, racquetball, team softball, swimming, tennis, and track and field.

Pat Trombetta, Frank St. Marie and Chester Kinal, who began working in February with Mike Garamella, the executive director of the New Jersey Senior Olympic Committee, and his administrative assistant Kelly Irizarry to bring the games to Woodbridge, carried the torch to open the Senior Olympics ceremonies on Sept. 8 in front of the Woodbridge Community Center.

The four men were joined by Mayor John E. McCormac, Perth Amboy Mayor and Assemblyman Joseph Vas (D-19), Congressman Mike Ferguson (R-7), Woodbridge Council President Brenda Velasco, and Councilmen James Carroll and Gregg Ficarra.

Approximately 65 high school students from Woodbridge, Colonia, and JFK high schools volunteered during the sporting events throughout the three-day Senior Olympic Games.

Garamella, who has been involved with the Senior Olympics for the past 20 years, said that over the years the games have been held at Fort Dix, Fort Monmouth, Kean University and Freehold Township, but nothing compares to Woodbridge.

"The Woodbridge facilities are impeccable, they are all state-of-the art," he said. "It's been hard over the years because we don't get any state funding anymore."

Garamella said the Senior Olympics is "New Jersey's best-kept secret" and gives seniors "something to do and a better quality of life."

"This event is not only about winning and competition, but about enjoying yourselves," he said.

The seniors received Senior Olympics T-shirts and free coupons and lotions donated by the 10 sponsors.

Thomas Kennedy, 85, who traveled to Woodbridge from Pompano Beach, Fla., with his wife, Mary, competed in the basketball foul shooting and accuracy shooting event held at the basketball court in the Woodbridge Community Center.

"I've been playing basketball since 1932," said Kennedy, who made almost every shot as he was warming up. "I was a pretty good ball handler and I played guard. I played most of my basketball in Saudi Arabia as I worked for the Saudi Arabian American Oil Company [ARAMCO] from 1947 to 1962."

Kennedy said he has been competing in the Senior Olympics since 1986.

"I have over 100 medals," he said. "I also used to do track and field until my knees gave out."

Bobby King, 66, Bergen County, Sam Sabaliauskas, 60, Edison, Jerry Sullivan, 67, Passaic, and Don Zaccardo, 73, North Hampton, Pa., all participated in the different track and field events. They said they participate in the Senior Olympics because it makes them feel young again.

"It keeps me staying fit," said King, who competed in the shot put and discus event. "My grandkids said, 'Grandpa, we want you to do it,' so I did. I like getting involved."

Sabaliauskas, who competed in the discus, tennis - where he won second place - and the 1,500-meter run, said he likes the competitive nature of the games and it keeps him healthy.

"I was a pole vaulter in school and I played soccer," he said. "I coached soccer for 21 years and I'm also on an adult ice hockey team."

Sullivan, who competed in the basketball foul shooting and the discus, said he has made a lot of friends in the Senior Olympics.

"It's more for morale than the competition," he said.

Zaccardo said he has met many people from all over the country at the different track meets he has attended.

"I moved up here from Florida, where they held 17 track meets a year," said Zaccardo, who has won over 450 medals at the various Senior Olympic Games. "Here they only hold two games a year. I get very bored, but this is a great event."

Zaccardo, who competed in the discus, javelin and shot put, said he qualified for the U.S. Olympics for weightlifting in 1952 and qualified for archery in 1962.

"I stay pretty active," said Zaccardo, who uses the pool and gym at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania.

Back on the track at JFK High School, the seniors dealt with the over-90- degree weather.

Seventy-five-year-old Suat Akpun, of Hopatcong, who is in his second year participating in the Senior Olympics, came in first place in the 100-meter run at 16.7 seconds.

"I felt very good," Akpun, who is a retired physician, said after the race. "It is very hot; I'm glad I don't have to run a 3,000 meter race."

Lelia Nelson, 62, of Old Bridge, who participated in the 100-meter and 200-meter run, said she went for a run every day since February to get ready for the games.

"I have also participated in tennis and golf along with my husband," said Nelson, who added that she won championships for the events.

Ron Snipe, 63, who traveled to Woodbridge from Port Angeles in Washington State solely for the games, competed in the swimming and horseshoe events.

"People are still surprised when I say I traveled here just for the games," said Snipe, who is a teacher. "I have also participated at games in Montana, Mississippi and Wyoming. Everyone has been so nice, and I have been having a great time. I love it."