KEYSER, W.Va. — Avonelle Swaner will be the first to admit she doesn’t like to act her age.
Although she won’t admit what year she was born, Swaner is one of the 114 participant athletes in the 23rd Mineral County Senior Olympics being held on the campus of WVU Potomac State College this week.
“I’m an old lady and this event makes me feel like a kid again,” she said.
Swaner has been attending the games since they were founded in 2002. She is one of three original participants that still attend the games.
Naomi Snider and Dawn Streets are the other two.
“I have been attending this from the very beginning. I wouldn’t miss it,” Streets said. “And don’t ask me what event I am competing in. I will compete in whatever speaks to me.”
“Oh, I always have a wonderful time here,” Snider said. “I am 94 years old and I make a point of being here every year.”
While on campus, seniors aged 55 and older compete in 22 different games. Each game is divided into age group categories depending on the number of registered participants.
“The event does have a somewhat serious competition aspect to it — and you can tell who has that athletic competition nature — but most people attend for the annual social connection with each other,” said Scott Mallery, executive director of Aging and Family Services of Mineral County, the organization behind the event. “There is a competitive nature to it but most of the folks are here to have a wonderful time and see each other. But you can tell sometimes who the real athletes are.”
Ashley Anderson is the executive director of the Upper Potomac Area Agency on Aging located in Petersburg. She attends the event annually.
“Being a part of this event is truly the highlight of my year,” she said. “I come every year now. I truly admire everyone who participates in these events. Each and every one of them prove that age is just a number.”
PSC President Jerry Wallace delivered the opening ceremony remarks via video address on Tuesday afternoon.
“I hope when I am your ages, I am as agile and resilient as you all are and I hope I have your stamina,” he said.
This year’s Senior Olympics features representatives from 19 counties and five states.
“These folks tend to travel a long distance,” Mallery said. “Mineral County sent 32 athletes this year. Neighboring Allegany County has 11 athletes here. Other counties have sent 12 and 15.”
Many of the participants stay on campus, lodging inside the otherwise vacant living quarters of University Place.
“For a lot of these folks, they might not have never gone to college and never gone to summer camp, so this is their week away to experience that and to stay in the dorms and have a roommate,” Mallery said.
Events are held all over the PSC campus. During the day, the action shifts from Church-McKee Arts Center to the soccer field, women’s softball field, the quad, Lough Gymnasium and inside the Davis Conference Center.
All events are free for spectators. The events continue Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m., Thursday at 8:15 a.m. and conclude Friday at 12:15 p.m. with an awards and medal ceremony.
“In fact, we welcome people to come to Potomac State College and cheer these folks on this week,” Mallery said. “It’s impossible to watch these Senior Olympics and not smile.”
For more information about this year’s Mineral County Senior Olympics, visit the Facebook page of Aging & Family Services of Mineral County, call 304-788-5467 or email smallery@wvaging.com.