This Week in FLASports

Haven’t qualified yet for the Florida Senior Games State Championships?

There are still four chances to compete in November

While the Florida Senior Games State Championships is a mere five weeks from the first competition on Saturday, December 1 in Lee County and the City of Cape Coral, there are still four chances for senior athletes to qualify at a Local Senior Games event.

The following sports require a qualifying performance at one of the Sanctioned Florida Local Senior Games Qualifiers:

Badminton, 3-on-3 Basketball, Basketball Shooting, Bowling, Cycling, Golf, Horseshoes, Racquetball, Shuffleboard, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis and Track & Field.

The Florida Sports Foundation defines an “OPEN” event as one in which an athlete is not required to participate in a Sanctioned Florida Local Senior Games Qualifier. Archery, Billiards, Bocce, Bridge, Pickleball, Powerlifting, Race Walk, Road Race and Volleyball are considered “OPEN” events.

The four remaining Local Senior Games Qualifiers are:

Martin County Golden Games

November 2-12, 2007

Contact: Jesse Moore

Ph: (772) 221-1419

jmoore@martin.fl.us

Golden Age Games

November 3-10, 2007

Contact: Kim Eltonhead

Ph: (407) 302-1010

eltonhek@ci.sanford.fl.us

www.ci.sanford.fl.us

Miami-Dade Senior Games

November 5-12, 2007

Contact: Jason Cover

Ph: (305) 818-7188

jcover@miamisports.org

www.miamidadeseniorgames.org

Sarasota County Games For Life

November 10-16, 2007

Contact: Steve Yeskulsky

Ph: (941) 861-8194

syeskulsky@scgov.net

http://parksonline.scgov.net

Athletes registering for the 2007 Florida Senior Games State Championships have until Monday, November 19 for online registration. Athletes who will be sending in their registration materials via the U.S. Mail must have their registration postmarked by Friday, November 16. CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION

More than 2,000 of Florida’s finest senior athletes are expected to participate in 24 sports and events of the 16^th Annual Florida Senior Games State Championships. The Games are presented by the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports promotion and development organization of the State of Florida, in conjunction with the Lee County Sports Authority.

Lightning Coach John Tortorella Celebrity Fishing Tournament raises money for The Children's Home

The 3rd annual John Tortorella Fishing Tournament was held on September 8, helped raise money for the Child Abuse Council, The Children’s Home, Inc. and the Lightning Foundation, to help kids victimized by abuse, neglect and abandonment. Sponsors gave financial support to these charities and went fishing with a local celebrity and a guide. Tampa Bay Lightning players, coaches, and broadcasters served as celebrities. Other celebrities participating in the event included Oren Koules, an investor in Absolute Hockey Enterprises and the co-founder of Evolution Entertainment, Tony Mayberry and Mark Royals of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and “Hooked on Fishing” host Captain Bill Miller. Others included Lightning alum Daren Puppa and Ron Diaz, a radio host on 620 WDAE.

Participants competed in the tournament in three categories: snook, redfish, and trout in angler and celebrity categories. The grand slam winner caught a fish in each of these categories and had the cumulative longest length of each fish. This year’s winner was 11-year-old Catherine Weaver, who also received the junior angler award as well as a second-place finish in the trout category. Lightning equipment manager Ray Thill also had a grand slam in the tournament and finished first in trout in the angler division as well as second place in snook. Coach John Tortorella won an award in this year’s tournament by winning second place in the snook category.

Captain Mike Anderson, chairman of the event and head guide, received this year’s Community Fisherman Award for his success on and off the water. Captain Mike is one of the area’s best inshore fishing guides and he is committed to helping raise much needed funds for the three charities. Captain Mike also puts a lot of time into the tournament by arranging the guides and handling all the fishing logistics each year.

On Thursday, October 11th the Dr. James R. Smith Neighborhood Center unveiled its refurbished computer lab.

In partnership with the City of Orlando, the Orlando Magic provided furniture, computers, an overhead projector and screen, and hardwood floors. The Magic also enhanced the lab with new paint and framed Magic photos. The Magic donated more than $48,000 for this project.

On hand for the unveiling were the James R. Smith Neighborhood Center kids and seniors, Orlando Magic center Adonal Foyle, Magic Chief Operating Officer Alex Martins, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and City Commissioner Samuel B. Ings of District 6.

The computer lab will provide a program that addresses the need for children to learn computer skills. The lab will also be available to community residents in the area.

Foyle spoke to the kids at the center about overcoming obstacles, the importance of education and encouraged the community to take advantage of the classes being offered.

The Dr. James R. Smith Neighborhood Center was built in 1983, west of downtown Orlando. An addition was built in 1996 including a weight room, teen room and gym. The facility was named after Dr. James R. Smith, a prominent physician from Aurora, Illinois who became the first black physician in Orlando to establish a maternity clinic for black women. In addition to his medical career, Dr. Smith found time to better his community.

Amateur Sports Accolades

The Florida Athletic Club (FAC) won the National Masters 2007 Team Championship, August 2-5 in Orono, Maine. The FAC totalled 403 points, scoring 107 points more than its nearest competitor, Southern California Fleet Feet. A total of 141 Masters Track & Field teams competed in the meet.

Among the medal winners were team members who have competed in the Florida Senior Games State Championships and Sunshine State Games Masters Track & Field Meet.

Sandra DeNoon, Clermont, 5K Race Walk

Joanne Sampson, Hallandale, 100 meter dash
John Anoka, Maitland, 100 & 400 meter dash, Shot Put, Long Jump
Bob Cahners, Naples, Hammer Throw
Robert Fine, Delray Beach, 200 meter dash, 5K Race Walk
Wayne Hansen, Melbourne, 100 meter dash
Tom Harasti, Altamonte Springs, Javelin
Brian Hickey, Tallahassee, 10000 meters, 3K Steeplechase
Joe Johnston (pictured at right), Apopka, High Hurdles, Long Jump, Triple Jump
Richard Lowery, Spring Hill, Long Jump, High Jump, Discus, Hammer Throw
George McNeill, Coral Springs, Long Jump, High Jump
Robert Norton, Gainesville, Long Jump, High Jump, Pentathlon
Gary Winters, Bradenton, Shot Put

The FSF congratulates all of these Master's Track & Field athletes for representing Florida in such a fine manner and wishes them the best of luck in future competitions.

FlaSports Calendar of Events this week, October 29-November 4