Gary Hennerberg
The 2026 Living Well Olympics proved once again that staying active is even more rewarding when it’s shared with friends.
This year’s event was bigger and better than ever, with approximately 20 different activities and competitions designed to bring neighbors together for four weeks of fun, fitness, and friendly competition. From May 18 through June 20, 162 residents participated in the Games, culminating with an Awards Luncheon on June 27, where participants gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and recognize this year’s winners.
Throughout the Games, participants took part in a variety of events, including cycling, exercise classes, lap swimming, walking, and walk/run challenges, along with many other activities that encouraged residents to stay active while enjoying friendly competition and camaraderie.
Whether competing for medals or simply participating for the fun of it, everyone played an important role in making this year’s event a tremendous success. The Living Well Olympics continues to demonstrate that age is no barrier to living an active, healthy, and engaged life.
A special thank-you goes to the many volunteers and event coordinators who devoted countless hours to planning, organizing, and assisting throughout the competition. Their dedication helped ensure every event ran smoothly and created an enjoyable experience for all.
The community also extends its appreciation to the staff members whose behind-the-scenes support made the Olympics possible, including Rhett Hubbard, Shelbi Berg, Linda Caron, Craig Pullman, Autumn Milstid, the restaurant staff, and the RR Patrol team.
Congratulations to all of this year’s first- and second-place winners, whose enthusiasm and sportsmanship exemplified the spirit of the Living Well Olympics. More importantly, congratulations go to every participant who stepped forward to compete, try something new, and encourage one another along the way.
Through friendly competition, laughter, and shared experiences, participants created lasting memories while strengthening the sense of community that makes this annual tradition so special. Here’s to another successful Living Well Olympics—and to even more fun in 2027!
Olympic Awards went to:
Basketball Free Throws (Bob and Sheryl Cook, volunteers)
1st Jerry Buck; 2nd Aasha Jones
Bean Bag Baseball (Randy Scott, volunteer)
1st Randy Scott; 2nd Ray Blanton
Bicycle Poker 3.5-mile Ride (Pilot Knob Rotary, Dee and Jack Kearney, volunteers)
1st Fred Self; 2nd Chuck Tanner
Bolo Toss (Patti Smith, volunteer)
1st Kelly Flynn; 2nd Nancy Taylor
Bocce (Donna Steibel, volunteer)
1st Mark Mieir, Steve Morales, Dave Wortman, and Frank Cianci; 2nd John Humphries, Nathan Goeke, Clint Owens, and John Switzer
Chair Volleyball (Gerri Fortina volunteer)
1st Linda Eyeington, Ingrid Currier, Jeri Heath, Rich Fortina, Trudy Jones, Judy Martin, Tom Parmenter, Alan Schiegg and Carol Rusk
Cycling: Most Miles (Randy Catron and John Jordon, volunteers)
1st Kevin Nokels 514; 2nd Ron Bane 420
Cycling: Most Five–Mile Rides (Randy Catron and John Jordon, volunteers)
1st Ron Bane. 79; 2nd Kevin Nokels 26
Monthly Exercise Classes (Patti Smith volunteer)
1st Lin Hubble Ku
Golf: 9-hole Scramble (Craig Pullmen, Debbie Dodge, and Nancy Wetzel, volunteers)
1st Ruth Lowe, Sherri Watkins, Joyce Marshall, and John Wyatt; 2nd Mark and Nancy Taylor, Kelly Flynn, and John Goins
Golf: Putting (LaDonna Womochel, volunteer)
1st Mark Taylor; 2nd Clint Owens
Golf: Chipping (LaDonna Womochel and Deb McCarthy, volunteers)
1st John Goins; 2nd Ray Blanton
Horseshoes: Ringers (Joey Misiaszek and Bob Cook, volunteers)
1st Bruce Condit; 2nd Joe Dougherty; 3rd Nathan Goeke (no award)
Horseshoes: Dingers (Joey Misiaszek and Bob Cook, volunteers)
1st Nathan Goeke; 2nd Bruce Condit; 3rd. Bob Cook (no award)
Horseshoes: Horseshoe Madness (Joey Misiaszek and Bob Cook, volunteers)
1st Joe Dougherty; 2nd Paul Oldham; 3rd Bruce Condit (no award)
Pickleball (Yvonne Towers and Bill Dodge, volunteers)
Division A:
Men’s: 1st Bill Walker; 2nd Ron Bane
Women’s: 1st Georgia Brown; 2nd Leslie Plant
Division B:
Men’s: 1st Mark Taylor; 2nd James Martucci
Women’s: 1st Teresa Boyd; 2nd Leah Jewel
Division C:
Men’s: 1st Rick Layser; 2nd Grant Robinson
Women’s: 1st Laura Jordon; 2nd Dana Pence
Division D:
Men’s: 1st Joe Dougherty
Women’s: 1st Carol Huffman; 2nd Melodee Reese
Lap Swimming (Debbie Dodge, volunteer)
1st Bob Bailey 1,100 laps; 2nd Chuck Tanner. 702 laps
Lap Walking (Debbie Dodge, volunteer)
1st Trudy Jones. 919; 2nd Patti Ewoldt. 740
Table Tennis (Don Pooley and Marcia Elving, volunteers)
1st Lean Jewell; 2nd Bob Bailey
Texan Toss (Debbie Dodge, volunteer)
1st Mark Taylor; 2nd Richard Miller
Volleyball (Ron Bane, volunteer)
1st place: Jim Baucher, Kelly Flynn, Aasha Jones, Mary Parker, and Nathan Goeke
Water Volleyball (Ruby Wilson, Sheryl and Bob Cook, volunteers)
1st Tom Parmenter, Elise Treu, Larry Warner (subbed for Karen Simpson), Patti Ewoldt, and Ruby Wilson; 2nd (no award) Sheryl and Bob Cook, Charles Schunior, Marti Conley, and Kathy Escamilla
Walking Running (Marcia Elving, volunteer)
1st Kevin Nokels; 2nd Dawn Nokels.