Alice Machado, 83, used to watch others play the Wii, a popular video game system, at Crescent Heights senior living facility and thought it looked like fun.
“They have all kinds of activities here, and once in a while I would come and play with them,” she said.
Wii is used in many senior facilities because it keeps the residents minds sharp and provides some movement and exercise for the residents, according to Peggy Litton, activities director at Crescent Heights.
Recently, however, the competitive aspect on the game has hit the seniors hard.
Two teams of Wii bowlers will face off in duel for a trophy and bragging rights today at Crescent Heights.
Six bowlers from Oak Park Retirement Community in Salisbury will face the five member Crescent Heights team. Seniors from five different community living facilities have been competing for four weeks in the tournament. Sandy Mullins, executive director of Senior Helpers, conceived the idea and has been working with activity directors from five senior communities.
A bracket system was used to eliminate teams. The final two teams will meet on Wednesday to crown the champions and celebrate with lunch.
Members from both teams are exceptional Wii bowlers with scores ranging from the 200s to a perfect score of 300, organizers said. The talent is one that most of them have only recently discovered, but many of the participants bowled in real bowling leagues when they were younger.
“I like to get strikes,” Machado said.
“I think we will win, of course there is no doubt about it,” Gene Irvine, 64, said.
Irvin competed last year in a similar event against local firefighters.
Sixty-eight year old Andrew Whitted always admired bowling, and decided to give it a shot.
“I watched them and tried to bowl like them,” Whitted said.
Watching the others paid off, Whitted said. His high game is a perfect 300.
Lee Lehew and Phil Shanley round out the team of bowlers from Crescent Heights.
One look at the Oak Park team in their matching bowling shirts makes it clear, they’re here to compete.
Coach Clayton Briggs worked with the team for several weeks, watching their form and perfecting their style.
Joy Leonard, 80, had never played video games before coming to Oak Park three months ago. It keeps her moving she explains.
“I need the exercise. I can’t use my legs as much as I’d liked, but I can use my arms,” she said.
Bowling wasn’t always her favorite sport. Leonard was an archer when she was younger. Her high score is 235, not bad for a beginner, Briggs said.
“We are going to cream them,” Pat Cooper, 85, said.
She started to Wii bowl at a retirement community in Cincinnati, Ohio. When she moved to Salisbury, she continued to play.
“I enjoy it, it’s a challenge,” she said. “My high score is 224. This is something new for me. I’ve never competed in something like this.”
Five women on the Oak Park team hope to beat the competition, but they are also hoping to out bowl the only male on their team, Briggs, who can bowl a perfect 300.
He encourages the other residents to participate in Wii activities.
“These ladies are great, and we have a good time,” he said.
Audrey Roberson and Louise Baker complete the team from Oak Park.
The team has garnered support from two local businesses, Memories 1280, the local Salisbury radio station and Ashlee’s Embroidery.
The team hopes to compete in other tournaments in the future.
For the seniors from both teams, the experience can be summed up by one simple statement.
“It’s just fun,” Irvin said.
Contact reporter Robin L. Gardner: 704-789-9140.
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