Over the past couple of years, Senior Olympics has presented some of its older participants the equivalent of the Free Lunch. By having it's age grouping contain a 85-89 category, it narrowed the number of older players so that the team or individual that had the energy to register and show up for the State finals in Pickleball automatically won the gold medal.
Indeed, I have several gold medals that were "earned" in this way. Over the past few years I have enjoyed the status of "gold medal winner", but have always hastened to tell the whole story in a self-deprecating way.
2023 is a different year. Most of the events in the overall Senior Olympics have been contested in the Nashville area, which is in Middle Tennessee. Pickleball has been in Chattanooga for the past 3 years at least. This city in Southeastern Tennessee, is not an easy drive for those folks who live west of us, so few make the trip.
Pickleball, this year is a 4-day event. That means a long drive, higher hotel bills, and a possible 4 days of participation for all those who do not live in our corner of the state.
The result in previous years: Most of the P/b medals were won by players in our area, and the older age groups contained only Chattanooga area players. My gold medals, were virtually uncontested. They hang on my wall downstairs, not a a symbol of quality play, but one of the blessing of overall health.
Not this year. The Senior Olympic organization made a special effort to get P/b players from other parts of the state, and the 2023 State Finals drew 630 players, at least 100 more than previous years.
So the 85-89 age group for men's doubles play had more than one contesting team. Jack and I could not win by just showing up. A west Tennessee team made the trip east, and as we watched them practice before the gold medal match, we knew they did not just come for the scenery.
The convention center was our venue. With 30 courts. filled with players, the activity was pretty loud and it was continuous. Our scheduled time to show up was 8AM on the first day of the Finals.
We even had new T-Shirts for our BX team.
Jack and I were behind for most of the first set, but managed to close with 3 straight points to win 11-9. Flush with our first game victory, we managed to lose the second game 2-11. Regrouping, we won the third game 11-5 to claim the age group title.
Gold Medals again this year, but with more sweat on them.
It is fun to win the gold, but more fun to have good competition and still take home the medal.
The lunch tasted far better.
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