WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2026
1B
THE COASTLAND TIMES
SENIOR LIVING
Dare County Senior Games: Where competition, creativity and community thrive after 50 By Danielle Puleo danielle.puleo@ thecoastlandtimes.com
There is a particular kind of joy that comes from watching someone cross a finish line, not because they are racing against time, but because they are proving that despite societal “norms,” they have a body to take care of and a heart to be the best version of themselves they can be. In Dare County each year, that joy shows up in swim lanes, on pickleball courts, behind easels, at woodworking tables and even in the quiet focus of a quilting square. The Dare County Senior Games (DCSG) are more than a collection of competitions. They are a celebration of vitality, creativity and connection for adults 50 and older who call Dare county home. “This year marks our 38th annual games,” said Jenna Wienert, DCSG coordinator. “We were one of the first counties to adopt this Olympics for older adults. The mission is really to promote camaraderie and wellness … continuing to move, use skills, learn new ones and showcase talent.” Sanctioned by the North Carolina Senior Games, Dare County hosts one of 54 local games in the state. What began in 1983 as a statewide vision for year-round health promotion for adults 50 and older has grown into a participant-driven movement now serving more than 60,000 North Carolinians. Locally, the games have steadily expanded. Last year, Dare County welcomed close to 250 participants, a strong showing for what Wienert describes as a mid-sized competition. Some larger counties see 400 to 500 athletes, but growth here has been consistent and community-driven. “The health and wellness of our older adults in this county is the real mission for us,” Wienert said. “Getting them to still have fun and do things that keep them active.” When Wienert stepped into her leadership role, she saw an opportunity to broaden the reach of the games. The Baum Senior Center, located in Kill Devil Hills, serves as a hub for programming, but Dare County stretches far
DARYL LAW PHOTO
Members of the 2025 Dare County Senior Games swim team, from left and kneeling in front, are Joseph Hopp, Greg Florence, John Wallace, Richard Jones and Robert Trivette. In the middle row, also from left, is Elaine McCracken, Charlie Erwin, Rita Ayers, Brian Tress and Karen Anderson. Standing in the back row from left is Kathleen Morgan, Dave Tonnesson, Harry Schiffman, K. E. Morgan and John Donlan.
beyond there. From Hatteras to Roanoke Island to Duck, she wanted every resident to feel included. “When I came on board, my vision was making sure people in Manteo and Hatteras still felt included in the competition and showcase,” she said. “That’s part of why we changed it from the ‘Outer Banks Senior Games’ to the ‘Dare County Senior Games.’ It’s more encompassing of the entire county. I want every part of our county to know it’s for them, too.” DCSG is presented by Dare County Older Adult Services in cooperation with the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department and the Dare County Public Works Department. The games are open to Dare and Currituck County residents age 50 and older who have lived locally for at least three consecutive months of the year. Athletic competitions range from bowling, cycling, golf and pickleball to swimming, shuffleboard, cornhole, bocce ball and more. But competition in Dare County extends well beyond athletics. The Silver Arts portion of the games—established statewide in 1986—offers outlets in visual arts, literary arts, performing arts, heritage arts and even cheerleading. Participants compete in photography, woodworking, quilting, knitting, painting and writing, showcasing talents that reflect the same discipline and dedication
found in sports. Qualifiers from local games advance to the state finals each fall, and every two years, state champions move on to the National Senior Games. Dare County has seen participants compete simply for fun—and a handful advance all the way to nationals. Yet for many, medals are not the driving force. Few embody that philosophy more than Harry Schiffman, who has been participating in the games as a swimmer for about 20 years. “I think I started about 2009,” Schiffman said. “Back in 2011, Robert Trivette and I put our heads together and said, ‘Well, we should build a team.’ We only had four or five people then. Now we have in excess of 30.” Their team has won the swimming points title every year since the state began tracking team totals, a system Schiffman and Trivette advocated for. “We had to lobby the state about keeping team points for swimming,” he said. “We wanted to use that as a recruiting tool. The gold medals are one thing, but the health benefits—that’s the real goal.” Swimming in the Senior Games is divided into five-year age groups, beginning at 50, with men and women competing separately. But Schiffman is quick to point out that the program is not just for elite athletes. “My goal all along has
been to interest people who may have never competed in swimming,” he said. “We finally got the state to award points through eighth place so people who weren’t elite swimmers could see a purpose, and have a goal to participate and contribute to the team.” He remembers one competitor in particular, a woman around 73 years old who had never competed before. “She qualified and went to states with us. She won a gold medal,” Schiffman
said. “She never dreamed of winning a medal, much less a gold medal. She was on Cloud 9 all the way home. That made the whole meet for me.” For Schiffman, the joy is contagious. “We welcome people of all degrees and abilities,” he said. “No matter what.” Among the swimmers is Rita Ayers, whom Schiffman describes as an inspiration. When he first met her, she shared that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. “She told me the doctors said the best thing she could do to manage it was exercise,” he said. “She took that to heart.” Ayers has biked from California to Florida. She has competed in swimming at the National Senior Games. Though not an elite swimmer, she participates consistently and with determination. Recently diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer, Ayers continues to stay active by traveling, biking in France with her husband and encouraging others to move. “She’s a great example of not folding up when adversity hits,” Schiffman said. “She hopes somebody will hear her story and be motivated to exercise, get off the couch and do what you can to help your body.” Stories like hers define the Dare County Senior
Games. There is a strong contingent of athletes who have competed in Dare County for more than 20 years. There are also brand-new participants discovering the games for the first time. From first-time swimmers like Mike Bryant of Manteo, who earned gold medals last year after never having competed before, to longtime veterans, the message is consistent: participation matters. The Dare County Senior Games are not about defying age. They are about embracing it. They are about showing up, whether on a pickleball court, behind a camera lens, in a quilting circle or at the starting block, and proving that vitality does not expire at 50. “The health and wellness of our older adults is the real mission,” Wienert said. And in Dare County, that mission is alive in every lap swum, every brushstroke painted, every friendship renewed. Because here, competition is simply the vehicle. The real victory is movement, companionship and understanding that we are more than capable of exceeding our own expectations every single day. For those interested in learning more or competing in this year’s games, go to darenc.gov/ seniorgames.