In the fall of 1979, Bob Zeigler, a kinesiology professor at Towson University, was picked to lead the fledging Maryland Senior Olympics.
“It all started with a young lady named Vicki Stalling, the coordinator of senior fitness in Baltimore County,” said Zeigler, a fit 75. “She went out to a conference in Illinois and came back with this idea.”
At an introductory meeting of 30-40 interested parties, Zeigler emerged as the interim chair.
“I?m still not exactly sure how,” he said, but it?s a position Zeigler kept right through this week, the opening of the 27th Annual Senior Olympics. The games kicked off Monday with bowling at the Normandy Brunswick Lanes in Howard County.
Ed Lanehart, 71, and Jackie Lanehart, 69, of Ellicott City, rolled three-game totals of 641 and 503 respectively, to capture the mixed title Tuesday and qualify for the National Senior Games next year in Louisville, Ky. They?ve been bowling together at the Maryland games for 14 years and have won the gold previously at the national competition. Both Zeigler and the Lanehart?s insist it?s about more than medals.
“We have representatives competing from every county in the state,” Zeigler said. “We try to emulate the Olympic ideals as much as possible and you?ll really see people helping out each other here. You?ll see a better bowler, for instance, helping someone with their approach or their release.”
“I like what the Senior Olympics motto says, ?To participate is to win,?” said Ed Lanehart, a physical education teacher in Baltimore County for 33 years.
“We see a lot of the same people every year, plus a couple of new faces,” Jackie Lanehart said.
Events are varied, but duckpin bowling retains a special hold with the seniors; nearly all played the game growing up.
“You think of Maryland, you think of serious duckpin bowling,” said Hilda Anderson, 78, a Catonsville Community College physical education professor and coach for 22 years. “It?s not competed at the national games, but it?s always popular here.”
From shuffleboard to bowling, badminton, cycling, archery, volleyball, golf, tennis, softball, swimming and track and field, there is something for nearly everyone who is at least a little bit recreationally inclined. The highlight of the games are probably the track and field events, including the pole vault, at Towson University?s Johnny Unitas Stadium.
Senior Olympic games are now held in every state, Zeigler said, adding roughly 1,500 athletes compete each year in the Maryland Senior Olympics.
“I think what I come back for is to enjoy the camaraderie that prevails among the athletes year to year,” Zeigler said.
