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West Milford brings home the gold

| 11 Jun 2015 | 09:50
    Photos by Ginny Raue Carlo Fioranelli lobs a rubber chicken at the bucket. Fioranelli won a medal at the 2015 games.
    Photos by Ginny Raue Carlo Fioranelli lobs a rubber chicken at the bucket. Fioranelli won a medal at the 2015 games.
    Mary Ann Ackerman, a medal winner, shows good form at the basketball competition.
    Mary Ann Ackerman, a medal winner, shows good form at the basketball competition.
    Pat Sarnella takes a swing at Tee ball.
    Pat Sarnella takes a swing at Tee ball.
    After the competition, lunch was served on the beach at Bubbling Springs Park.
    After the competition, lunch was served on the beach at Bubbling Springs Park.
    Even after the games and lunch, the senior Olympians still had plenty of energy to dance on the beach.
    Even after the games and lunch, the senior Olympians still had plenty of energy to dance on the beach.
    Senior Olympians Bill and Dot Novak, Senior Services Recreation Program Specialist Marlene Terhune, Cecile and John Picioccio gave it their best at the Tri-County Senior Olympics. West Milford finished first.
    Senior Olympians Bill and Dot Novak, Senior Services Recreation Program Specialist Marlene Terhune, Cecile and John Picioccio gave it their best at the Tri-County Senior Olympics. West Milford finished first.

By Ginny Raue
WEST MILFORD — The West Milford Senior Olympics team brought home the gold - again.

They are quite a group. Spirited, fun-loving and up for a challenge. There aren’t many natural blondes or brunettes among them; gray hair is prevalent, but so are the smiling faces. They are the West Milford Senior Olympians and despite the mileage on their odometers, they are winning athletes, achieving first place in the annual Senior Olympics, bringing pride to the township.

On June 3, at 8:30 a.m., the six teams arrived at Bubbling Springs Park in West Milford. Senior players from Pequannock, Sparta, Randolph, Wayne, Rutherford and West Milford got together for coffee and bagels and a warm-up. At 9:30, the March of the Olympians took place and, 15 minutes later, surely someone must have said “Let the games begin” – and they did, and they played until noon.

Fortunately, the sun came out that morning and dried the fields somewhat. The participants faced off in basketball, tee ball, chicken toss, soccer kick, Frisbee golf and horseshoes. Teams trotted from one event to another, up and down the hills and around the park numerous times – enough walking to make just getting to the various competition venues an Olympic event in itself.

The night before the competition, the seniors gathered at Frank’s Pizza in West Milford for a carb-loading dinner. There were pom-poms and a few glasses of wine for toasting. It didn’t seem like a pep talk was at all necessary. Pep is in their bloodstreams.

Getting it togetherAccording to Marlene Terhune, Senior Services Recreation program specialist at West Milford’s Community Services and Recreation (CSR), it takes a lot of planning to host this six-town, 200-strong participant event.

“All the towns work very well together and are very supportive,” she said.

At home, the efforts of CSR are greatly augmented by the park crews, West Milford First Aid Squad, health department and volunteers. Generous donors provide food and monetary contributions.

“A big part of the preparation is practice and our seniors practiced twice a week here at Hillcrest," Terhune said. "I guess it paid off! We are all very proud of our Senior Olympians. They’ve already started talking about how to come in first again next year.”

The leader of the pack Carlo Fioranelli has been the captain of the West Milford Olympians for the past 10 years. The 24 members range in age from 63 to 83 years old and their track record is good: second place in 2014, tied for first place in 2013, and first place in 2012.

Beginning in April, they get together to hone their skills.

“Individuals will practice the different events as they feel necessary and we constantly share technique improvement where possible,” Fioranelli said.

The team enjoys the camaraderie and competition and their goal is to bring home the prize again next year.

“Winning is always sweet. However, this year’s win was sweetest for the whole team. All 24 members contributed to the win. It was a true team effort,” he said.

All of the Olympians gathered at picnic tables on the beach for lunch when the games were finished. And there was dancing – yes, dancing. After being on their toes all morning they had enough oomph in them to kick of their heels.

Congratulations to the West Milford Senior Olympians.