Active local senior citizens get in the Games

At 80 years old, Bill Fesperman can throw a bocce ball fairly far.

Bocce ball skills help when competing in the Lowcountry Senior Games, a five-day athletic competition for adults 50 and older. It also helps to have horseshoe, bowling and tennis skills.

Jenny Peterson
The Journal

Fayne Fesperman hopes for a ringer in horseshoes during the Lowcountry Senior Games at the Lowcountry Senior Center.

The 19th annual Lowcountry Senior Games, hosted by the city of Charleston, The Citadel and the Lowcountry Senior Center, were held last week. The games consist of a number of athletic events held in several locations. Participants could sign up for as many events as they wanted, and winners of each event got bragging rights and a medal.

However, according to the participants, the lifelong benefits of exercise are the greatest rewards.

Jim Fralix, who competed in the 75-79 age category of bocce ball last Thursday, said he has seen the effects of exercise in his body.

"You can tell with your heart, blood pressure," he said.

Fellow senior C.H. Meter, who already had won a gold medal in bowling, called the Senior Games "fun, fun, fun." He's participated in them for 16 years and was quick to say the exercise was good for him.

As the men played bocce ball on the Lowcountry Senior Center lawn last Thursday

morning, the women competed at horseshoes.

A "ringer" is two points, getting the horseshoe closest to the metal stake is one point. Many of the women gave each other tips on how to throw the metal horseshoe as close to the stake as possible.

For James Island resident Dottie Lewis, the games are all about "getting out and being with people," she said.

She clapped and cheered as her competitor, Fayne

Fesperman, got a ringer.

Louise Huff, 71, a former championship senior softball player, said she has not been exercising as much lately, and the Senior Games are getting her in an active mood.

"It's really good to come back," she said.

Paul Wieters, director of special events and wellness programs with the city of Charleston, said the Senior Games have gained in popularity this year, with more than 100 participants. City staff and sponsors serve as judges and scorekeepers for the events.

"This is the opportunity that the seniors have to reinforce what physical activity means in their lives," Wieters said. "They feel positive about themselves because they're out there doing things they like to do."

Participant Don Wallace said he exercises regularly.

"You gotta do it to get you moving," he said.

Fralix agreed.

"It's a matter of life and death ... life and breath," he said.