Wayne County Senior Games
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on April 8, 2018 6:09 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Henry Battle tosses a football through a hole during the football throw event on opening day of the Wayne County Senior Games.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Vivian Clark tosses the football in her age group at the games. In addition to athletic competitions, there are also events for artists and performers such as dancers, singers and instrumentalists during the games.
Full SizeEdna Watson has participated in the Wayne County Senior Games for years, but it's getting harder and harder to find someone to compete against. That's because she will soon turn 96, and not many people that age take part in the games.
Participants must be at least 50 to do the Senior Games, which have been going on in Wayne County for 23 years, although people here participated as part of a region for seven years before that.
The games are held the whole month of April, with different events each day. There are 270 participants this year.
"For the athletic events, they are judged in five-year increments, starting with 50," said Stasia Fields, recreation superintendent for Goldsboro Parks and Recreation Department. "So we wouldn't have 50-year-old compete against a 95-year-old.
"If you are an artist, we have the art displayed at the Arts Council the whole month. It will be judged."
There are also the Silver Arts Follies for dancers, singers, instrumentalists and others, which will take place at the Paramount Theatre April 19 at 6 p.m.
For any of the Senior Games events, those who place first, second or third are eligible to go to the state finals in Raleigh.
Fields said some people look forward to the Senior Games all year long.
"Some of them are very competitive," she said. "And some of them are just out to have a good time.
"So many of the people are repeats. They start it, they love it and they keep going year after year."
Fields said if you listen closely, especially during horseshoes, cornhole and shuffleboard, you can hear just a bit of trash talking among the participants, but it's all in fun.
"Basically, the Senior Games are around to promote friendship and healthy activity," she said. "And some people try their hand at something brand new when they come."
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Watson has done the Senior Games since they started here.
"I've done just about all of the events," she said. "To begin with, I had swimming, horseshoes, shuffleboard, football throw, softball throw, croquet.
"My favorites are shuffleboard and croquet because t here's a lot of competition there."
Watson said she likes being with her friends at the Senior Games. And she gets her exercise, too. Having done the games for so long, she no longer gets nervous at any event.
When not doing the Senior Games, Watson keeps busy volunteering at the hospital, something she's done for 36 years now, and playing canasta.
Henry Battle began taking part in the Senior Games four years ago.
"The older you get, the more you need to do," he said. "So you better stay active."
That's exactly what he does at the Senior Games, participating in events like the football throw, shot put, softball throw and discus throw.
The 54-year-old likes the competition.
"I am very competitive and ready to do an event," he said. "I'm a little nervous and a little excited, but that's what gives you more.
"Usually I do fairly well, I don't lose too often. I don't have time to practice the events throughout the year. This is basically God's gift."
Battle said people are usually surprised at what he can do, but he tells them don't be surprised.
Wade and Shelda Johnson compete in the games, but in different age groups.
Wade, 61, began taking part when he was 55.
"I was one of the young ones then, but I wanted to get out here so I could get off the couch," he said.
Wade does about 20 events at the Wayne County Senior Games and about 10 at the state finals. They include pickleball, ping pong, cornhole, shuffleboard, horseshoes, walking events, shot put, softball and foot throws and croquet.
"I used to be competitive, but I've mellowed," Wade said. "I used to be diehard, I wanted to win. Now I'm more about helping other people. I'd rather go help the guy get up than beat him. The ones who are 70 and 80, when they're doing something, I try to help them without helping them so they thing they're doing it on their own. I do that a lot. It's just automatic."
Wade, who coaches volleyball and track at Rosewood High School, said he doesn't practice the events throughout the year in order to compete, but so he doesn't look silly at the games.
"I'm in it for the fun of it," he said. "And I like the fellowshipping and socializing. It's another group I can be part of."
Shelda, 58, joined the Senior Games three years ago to try and make herself be more active to be a little healthier as she gets older and to get involved in something.
She does a lot of the events, but pickleball is what really inspired her because it's such a good game.
"I enjoy all the events and the lighthearted competition," Shelda said. "You want to kind of win and you want to do your best, but you also cheer others on. That's the good thing about it."
She said she's tried things at the games that she would never have tried on her own.
"Shuffleboard I had only played on a cruise and I didn't even know how to do it then," Shelda said. "I didn't know how to count anything."
Although she and her husband compete in different age groups, last year she had more points then he did in the football throw.
"I beat most of the men actually," she said. "But I didn't do that good this year."
Shelda admires the older ones who compete in the Senior Games.
"Even at the state level, there are 90-year-olds that kick butt," she said.
"But again, it's just friendly competition. It's just about the cheering on of each other."