It was another banner year for Poolesville Seniors at the Maryland Senior Olympics. Thirty-three members of the Poolesville Seniors pickleball group participated in the Maryland Senior Olympic Games Pickleball competition, May 16-19. Winners of these games qualify for the opportunity to represent Maryland in the national games in Iowa, in July 2025.
Poolesville Seniors Olympians participated in about fifty pickleball qualifier events and brought home thirty-two medals and ribbons from their wins in the tournament, with twenty players eligible for participation in the national games.
The Poolesville Seniors Pickleball group had players entered in all categories: singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles, and women’s doubles, in age categories from 50 to 80+! The results were nothing less than outstanding!
The Poolesville Seniors team had a terrific showing, winning five gold, eleven silver, and two bronze medals, as well as 2 fourth place, 4 fifth place, and four sixth place ribbons. Our Poolesville Seniors pickleball team and supporters were the largest fan group at these Olympics Games held at the Finksburg and Columbia Dill Dinkers facilities.
Listed below are the Senior Olympics results for 2024:
Singles
GOLD George Coakley, Division II (age 80-84)
SILVER Norman Spencer, Division III (age 80-84)
SILVER Jerry Greaney, Division III (age 70-74)
SILVER Elizabeth Ohmen, Division III, (age 64-69)
SILVER Tom Chang, Division III, (age 60-64)
SILVER Jeff McIntyre, Division III, (age 55-59)
Doubles
GOLD Samantha Baker/Lisa Fouche, Division III (age 50-54)
SILVER John Dansby/Norman Spencer, Division II, (age 80-84)
SILVER Brian Pepper/Jerry Greaney, Division IIII, (age 70-74)
SILVER Patty Walker/Becky Sisson, Division I, (age 70-74)
SILVER Dave Newcomer/Frank Tedeschi, Division III, (age 60-64)
SILVER Tom Chang/Tom Hassett, Division III, (age 50-54)
BRONZE George Coakley/John Cotton, Division II, (age 80-84)
Top 4 Maggie Newcomer/Deb Loftus, Division III, (age 60-64)
Top 5 Patty Civetti/Terri Bodnar, Division III, (age 60-64)
Top 5 Way Ng/Arlene Smith, Division II, (age 75-79)
Top 6 Terry Clark/Joe McIntyre, Division III, (age 80-84)
Top 6 Roger Brenholtz/Frank Howard, Division III (age 70-74)
Mixed Doubles
GOLD Brian Peper/Gwen Haney, Division III, (age 65-69)
SILVER Patty Walker/Mario D’Ambrosio, Division I (age 70-74)
SILVER Maggie and Dave Newcomer, Division III, (age 60-64)
Other participating Poolesville Seniors Team Members:
Lee Bristol, Martha Mason, Ross Ohmen, Jeff Stempler,
The pickleball Senior Olympics effort was made possible by the sponsorship of Poolesville Seniors and the support of the Town Commissioners. The Poolesville Seniors pickleball players want to thank the town for providing the pickleball courts at Stevens Park.
Pickleball is not only an activity that assists social, physical, and mental health, it is just plain fun. With over one hundred players, the Poolesville Seniors Pickleball group has grown into a successful sporting and social activity.
Stevens Park, with six courts, is the primary facility used by the Poolesville Seniors Pickleball group. In the warm weather, sponsored play normally occurs 5 days a week 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Stevens Park, with general play on weekends. During the Monday through Friday sponsored play sessions, players can come at any time and rotate into the ongoing play.
Interested players are welcome to sign up through Poolesville Seniors and join the group, no prior experience necessary. Sign up for the Postscript newsletter to see the many opportunities to get involved in this senior community.
