Senior Olympics turnout lowest in decade By MATT OTTE Special to The Gazette Despite the lowest turnout of contestants in a decade and a 20 percent drop from last year's record participation, the Central Wisconsin Senior Olympics planning committee is looking ahead enthusiastically to the 2002 Games. The committee, which is headed by Kathy Fandre who coordinates the program for the Department on Aging, held its annual post-competition evaluation meeting last week. There was understandable disappointment over the entry total of only 154 for the 2001 Games held May 21-24. But it was recognized that not all people of Senior Olympic age, the average this year was almost 72 years, are able to ward off aches, pains and illnesses year after year. In other words, it should not necessarily be a surprise if in a given year participation takes a nosedive. This happens to be one of those years, the committee agreed. The 154 in 2001 compares to 192 in 2000. Six times before last year's record turnout the total was at least 180 during the 1990s. The Olympics go back to 1991 for a figure like 2001; it also was 154 that year. The program for 55-year-olds and older began in 1984 with 86 participants. It eclipsed 100 the next year and never again in its 17-year history dropped below three digits. Next year the Senior Olympics will take place May 20-23. Taking an optimistic viewpoint, the committee discussed new events such as bocce and croquet to stimulate interest. These events could be additions on the track & field program or, if facilities become a problem, either or both could replace miniature golf. Although ordinarily a heavy participation activity, miniature golf took a beating this year because many felt Cera Park halfway to Wisconsin Rapids was too long a trip to take. There were only 22 players this year compared to 63 last year and 64 in 1999. Golf (the real kind) and bowling continue to be the most popular items on the Senior Olympics agenda. But both saw a significant drop off. Golf fell to 87 from 112 in each of the last two years. About 20 of the golfers took rain checks this year because of wet and cold weather. Bowling slipped to 69. There were 76 a year ago and 81 in 1999. Other activities also went down this year. Field events had 23 compared to 35 a year ago. Horseshoes dropped from 20 to 14 and shuffleboard from 16 to 12. Track and tennis each had four while eight-ball pool had no entrants. This year's total number included 80 men and 74 women. A year ago it was 102 and 90, respectively. There were 23 this year participating for the first time. That means only 131 of last year's 192 (about 69%) were returnees. A year ago there were 32 newcomers, meaning 157 (83%) came back from the previous year. Of this year's 154 contestants, 102 were at least 70 years old compared to 116 of 192 in 2000. Thirty-five Olympians were 77 or older this year; 50 were in that category last year. The oldest participant both years was 85. Top scores in the 2001 Olympics: Golf Grand ribbon winners were Gene Moss with 41 and Kathlene Gronski with 49, both gross scores. Jim Koehl (44) was runner-up to Moss in the Under 70 bracket. Jack Thompson, Carroll Lodahl and Jim Kluck shot 46s to lead the 70-76 bracket; and Will Lehner's 45 and 46s by Tom Hagen and Gene Budelier led the 77-plus category. Alice Lindstedt's 53 topped women 77-plus while Gladys Maziarka had 53 to lead the 70-76 group. Barbara Lowell's 54 was runner-up in 70-76. Jean Moss and Irene DeMeyer had 54s to lead the 62-69 group. Handicap winners were (women) Madeline Kovalski in 55-61, Maxine Galecki in 62-69, Pat Thompson and Lu Kriewald in 70-76 and Eleanor Neibauer in 77-plus. Val Omernick (men's handicap) won in the Under 70, Jim Kriewald in 70-76 and Russ Lindstedt in 77-plus. Best scores in putting were (women) Sarah Strosin (18) and Lindstedt, Pat Boedecker, Arlene Domaszek and Gronski, all with 19s. For the men, Lindstedt and Koehl had 17s, with Bill Steward, Bob Ritter, Pete Gavinski, Erv Euler, Kriewald, Greg Galecki and Carroll Dana, all earning 18s. Bowling Grand ribbon winners were Larry Repinski with a 575 series and Arlene Domaszek with 518, both scratch scores. Bill Wald-herr's 430 led men 77 years and older, Gerald Bluma (562) and Hank Yokers (541) finished 2-3 behind Repinski in the 70-76 category. Tony Kunst rolled 501 to lead the Under 70 group. Theresa Turzinski topped women 77-plus with 452; Pat Boedecker (469), Teckla Wroblewski (464) and Lorraine Lundgren (463) led the 70-76 bracket; Joan Raikowski (472) and Margie Burtch (463) were 2-3 behind Domaszek in the 62-69 category, and Janet Brilowski's 480 topped the 55-61 group. Handicap honors went to (women) Charlotte Prusinski, 77-plus; Wroblewski, 70-76; Raikowski, 62-69 and Brilowski, 55-61. For the men Waldherr won the 77-plus, Ken Blumke, 70-76 and John Raikowski Under 70. Track & Field Grand ribbon winners were John Imhoff for the men and Agnes Mallek for the women. Imhoff won the 400-meter race and had a composite score of 520 (out of a possible 900) in the field events. Mallek posted the top score (422.5) in field events and also ran the 400. Winner of the 400 for women was Madeline Kovalski. The top composite score performer in field events for men was Lynn Van Dien with 565. Matt Otte was runner-up with 545. Both were in the 70-76 group. Wilbur Newby led the 77-plus category with 464. Composite score leaders for women besides Mallek were Minnie Board-man (389) and Prusinski (340) in the 77-plus bracket. Gladie Lila led the 70-76 group with 349. Margie Imhoff (381.5) was runner-up to Mallek in the Under 70 category. Field event top performers were Garth Whittaker and Imhoff (men) and Mallek (women) in bean bag toss; Van Dien (men) and Boardman (women) in Frisbee throw; Van Dien (men) and Mallek and Prusinski (women) in softball accuracy; Imhoff (men) and Mallek (women) in softball distance; Darrell Holubetz (men) and Imhoff (women) in miniature foot- ball distance, and Imhoff (men) and Boardman (women) in basketball shooting. Some top efforts included: Boardman with seven out of 10 and Van Dien five out of 10 in frisbee; Mallek and Prusinski with eight of 10 and Van Dien seven of 10 in softball accuracy; Imhoff with a softball throw of 135 feet and Mallek with 60 feet, and Holubetz with a football toss of 81 feet. Miniature Golf Grand ribbon winners were Bill Schaefer and Carol Liston, both with 22s, to lead men and women, respectively. Ralph Starr (23) and Ray Bagemehl (24) were 2-3 in the 71-plus group and Bob Boedecker led the 65-70 category with 25. For the women Charlotte Prusinski's 27 paced the 77-plus people. Sandy Starr (24) and Pearl Bagemehl (25) followed Liston in the 70-76 group. Dolores Durtschi (27) led the 62-69 people followed by Vonnie Hillman (28). Madeline Kovalski (28) topped the 55-61 bracket. Horseshoes Grand ribbon winners were Gene Budelier (36) and Gladie Lila (32). A perfect score in Olympic horseshoes would be 60. Matt Otte (17) topped men's novice competition. Novice women were led by Lorraine Check (10) in 70-plus and Marian Polum and Madeline Kovalski (8 each) led Under 70. Shuffleboard Gladie Lila (71) led women in the 70-plus bracket followed by Eloyce Mason (69) and Patricia Lartz (62). Madeline Kovalski's 45 topped the Under 70 group for men and women.