TARCOG area seniors proved their true competitive spirit at the Masters Games of Alabama and brought home great memories along with 107 medals.

The Masters Games were held in Valley during the third week of October when 39 North Alabama seniors earned 51 gold medals, 19 silver, and 23 bronze medals, along with another 14 medals for the completion of a One Mile Fun Walk.

At age 90, Gene Ross, of Harvest, had two gold and three silver medals hanging around his neck when he headed home with wins in Shuffleboard, Softball Throw, Basketball Free Throw, Billiards and Cornhole.

Ross said staying active is important in the aging process.

“These games are great because first of all, you have companions and friends of a lifetime participating and encouraging each other to get out there and do it,” he said. “Even if you can’t do it well, it keeps you moving.”

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Ross is a graduate of Kenyon College, and longtime North Carolina resident. He participated in and served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Senior Games while in North Carolina. He moved to North Alabama to be closer to his son after the death of his wife of 63 years, Ginny.

“I looked it up down here, found the Masters Games and started participating,” Ross said.

The Masters Games of Alabama is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles for active adults ages 50 and older. The goal of the games is to promote social, mental and physical activities for this age group.

From the opening to closing ceremonies, participants expressed excitement, determination and a friendly competitive spirit throughout the games which were held from Monday, Oct. 16 through Thursday, Oct. 19. It was the first competition since COVID-19.

A little more than 250 attendees from around the state participated in a Fun Walk and competed in Rook, Cornhole, Shuffleboard Billiards, Domino Singles, Pickleball, Billiards, Table Tennis, Bowling, Dominoes Doubles, Nerf and Frisbee throws.

The fun didn’t stop there. Pop up card games and impromptu line dancing were among ways participants kept themselves occupied between games. Women swooned as Elvis performed during the Sock Hop Wednesday evening.

On the younger side of the competition, Joann Carter, 54, of Fort Payne, participated for the first time. She works with the DeKalb County Center on Aging as a nutrition coordinator.

“I’m embracing life every day,” Carter said. “I love my job and I love life and I enjoy seeing our seniors, and well, myself, get out and live life and have fun and just be encouraged to do our best.”

She brought home six gold medals in the basketball free throw, cornhole, domino singles, frisbee throw, Nerf throw and softball through.

“Everyone had a great time and can’t wait until we do it all over again next year,” said Emmitt Davis, TARCOG’s Community Services Coordinator who also serves of the board of the Alabama Masters Games.

Click here for more photos of the 2023 Masters Games of Alabama

RESULTS: Masters Games of Alabama

North Alabama Medal Winners

Representing Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG) and North Alabama Regional Council of Governments (NARCOG) in Cullman, DeKalb, Jackson, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan counties.

Roger Bedingfield, Athens

2nd Billiards

2nd Table Tennis

Linda Black, Athens

3rd Billiards

1st Table Tennis

Amy Golden, Athens

1st Basketball Free Throw

1st Frisbee Throw

1st Nerf Throw

2nd Shuffleboard

2nd Softball Throw

Tony Thornock, Athens

1st Cornhole

1st Domino Singles

3rd Frisbee Throw

2nd Nerf Throw

Larry Snell, Athens

3rd Basketball Free Throw

1st Softball Throw

Christine Ashley, Fort Payne

3rd Cornhole

1st Nerf Throw

Joann Carter, Fort Payne

1st Basketball Free Throw

1st Cornhole

1st Domino Singles

1st Frisbee Throw

1st Nerf Throw

1st Softball Throw

Debbie Daniel, Fort Payne

3rd Basketball Free Throw

2nd Frisbee Throw

1st Nerf Throw

3rd Shuffleboard

2nd Softball Throw

Connie Green, Fort Payne

2nd Domino Singles

3rd Nerf Throw

Denise Harris, Sylvania

1st Bowling

3rd Domino Singles

Wanda Henderson, Fort Payne

3rd Basketball Free Throw

2nd Cornhole

3rd Softball Throw

Dee Vaughn, Geraldine

1st Basketball Free Throw

1st Bowling

1st Cornhole

1st Shuffleboard

1st Softball Throw

Debra Collins, Athens

1st Basketball Free Throw

3rd Billiards

1st Cornhole

3rd Shuffleboard

3rd Softball Throw

Dianne Manning, Collinsville

1st Bowling

1st Cornhole

James Manning, Collinsville

1st Bowling

2nd Cornhole

3rd Softball Throw

Carmie Pettry, Fyffe

3rd Bowling

Charles Simmons, Collinsville

2nd Bowling

Regina Emerson, Elkmont

1st Basketball Free Throw

2nd Billiards

3rd Frisbee Throw

3rd Nerf Throw

1st Softball Throw

Steve McFarland, Athens

1st Basketball Free Throw

1st Cornhole

Gene Ross, Harvest

2nd Basketball Free Throw

2nd Billiards

2nd Cornhole

1st Shuffleboard

1st Softball Throw

George Stone, Union Grove

1st Basketball Free Throw

3rd Softball Throw

Ann McLemore, Athens

3rd Domino Singles

STATE PARTNER MEDAL WINNERS

Amy M. Golden, Athens / Tony G. Thornock, Athens

1st Domino Doubles

Betty Bolton, Athens / Claude N. Marks, Athens

1st Rook

Carolyn H. Weatherford, Athens / Peggy J. Davis, Athens

1st Pickleball Doubles

Denise Harris, Sylvania / Wanda J. Henderson, Fort Payne

1st Rook

Dot A. Twilley, Fort Payne / Patsy E. Griggs, Fort Payne

3rd Rook

Krystyn “Krys” Gromek, Athens / Carolyn H. Weatherford, Athens

1st Pickleball Mixed Doubles

Larry L. Snell, Athens / Steve McFarland, Athens

1st Pickleball Doubles

Linda C. Black, Athens / Ann N. McLemore, Athens

1st Rook

Regina M. Emerson, Elkmont / Tony Thornock, Athens

2nd Rook

Rhonda Weatherford, Athens / Jenny K. Ford, Athens

1st Pickleball Doubles

Rhonda Weatherford, Athens / Larry Snell, Athens

3rd Pickleball Mixed Doubles

ONE-MILE FUN WALK

Christine Ashley, Fort Payne

Linda Black, Athens

Betty Bolton, Athens

Joann Carter, Fort Payne

Debra Collins, Athens

Debbie Daniel, Fort Payne

Regina Emerson, Elkmont

Connie Green, Fort Payne

Patsy Griggs, Fort Payne

Wanda Henderson, Fort Payne

Steve McFarland, Athens

Louise Snell, Athens

Tony Thornock, Athens

Dot Twilley, Fort Payne

The TARCOG region filled a dozen places make it on the Masters Games of Alabama Scoring Highlights List. Overall winners from District 2, which includes Cullman, DeKalb, Jackson, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall and Morgan counties were:

In the BASKETBALL Free Throw, all women had to shoot 21 shots from the adjusted free throw line. This year, a new rule was added that allowed women aged 80 and older to shoot from a shorter goal. All men had to shoot 30 shots. Those who were 80-plus also shot from the adjusted line. Anyone under 80 shot from the regular free throw line.

Female

• Sarah “Alice” Miller, Lacey’s Spring, won Second Best Women’s Score for hitting 10 baskets, Female, Age 90+

Male

• Dee Vaughn, Geraldine, Best Men’s Score for hitting 28 baskets, Age 55-59
• Charles “Rick” White, Cullman, 2^nd Best Men’s Score for hitting 24 baskets, Age 80-84
• Earnest Lee, Hartselle, 2^nd Best Men’s Score for hitting 24 baskets, Age 85-89
• George Stone, Union Grove, 3^rd Best Men’s Score for hitting 23 baskets, Age 70-74

BOWLING

Female

• Dianne Manning, Collinsville, 2^nd Best Women’s Score with a three-game total of 452, Age 77-79
• Denise Harris, Sylvania, 4^th Best Women’s Score with a three-game total score of 369, Age 65-69

Male

• Charles Simmons, Collinsville, 4^th Best Men’s Score with a three-game total score of 507, Age 80-84

NERF THROW

Male

• Tony Thornock, Athens, was in the Male Age 75 – 79 group which had the longest and farthest playoff rounds in the Nerf ball throw. After seven playoff rounds, starting at 15 feet and finishing at 30 feet, Thornock earned 2nd place

SHUFFLEBOARD There were 54 female and 16 male bracketed games.

Male

• Earnest Lee, Hartselle, Best Men’s Score with 50 points, Age 85-89

SOFTBALL THROW

Male

• Dee Vaughn, Geraldine, Best Men’s Throw at 123 feet, Age 55-59
• Larry Snell, Athens, 2^nd Best Men’s Throw at 117 feet, Age 75-79

Thank you and CONGRATULATIONS to all of our winners!