Senior athletes have fun, stay young on court

Group plays energetic volleyball

By LUPE CHAVEZ

The Monitor

McALLEN -- Don't tell Richard Tacogdoy he's too old to play, or he'll bury you with his wicked serve.

On the volleyball court at the McAllen Senior Citizens Center, the 79-year-old Ricky means business.

''Punto!'' (point), he yells, already confident he will score even as the ball leaves his hand and streaks across the net.

After several volleys, Ricky -- bantam in body but goliath in spirit -- sprawls on all fours, digging a ball out from the cold tile floor like a 20-year-old playing on the sands of California's Venice Beach.

Punto! it is.

Tacogdoy is just one member of a group of senior citizens who play volleyball Monday through Thursday, center supervisor Ruth Rodriguez said.

''The only reason they don't play on Fridays is because it's occupied by an activity that has priority,'' she said.

Jose Gonzalez, director of the Area Agency on Aging in McAllen, said about 100,000 senior citizens live in Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties. And physical activity is key in aging well, he said.

''Exercise is very important, especially in preventive care,'' Gonzalez said. ''Remaining active helps the individual live independent as much as possible.''

From noon until about two, senior citizens ranging from 60 to 81 years of age play competitive full-court action volleyball. Protected by knee pads, wrist guards and caps, each player gets physical, squatting, hands clenched, anticipating the other team's serve.

If they didn't have to go home, the games would last forever, activities director Vianey Moreno said.

''I wish I had their energy,'' she said.

''STCC (South Texas Community College) holds their volleyball classes here and some of our seniors play with them,'' Moreno said. ''They're beating college students.''

Eudelio Martinez, 66, plays despite limited vision after recent eye surgery.

''The doctors say I'm not healthy, but I don't seem to get tired playing,'' Martinez said as he headed back to the sidelines after about an hour of play.

Play was interrupted as Moreno asked Rafael Flores if he had signed his consent form required to participate in the physical activity.

''I'll go in and sign it after they carry me out on a stretcher,'' Flores joked.

Play continued as Tacogdoy's team lost serve on a side out.

Now, they had to face Maria Sheldon.

She might have a nice smile, her opponents say, but they dread her underhand serve.

Sheldon, a diminutive 81-year-old, is allowed to come up a couple of feet from the normal serving distance, a sign that the group knows their physical limitations.

''This game is in my heart and I've always played,'' Sheldon said.

She also loves ceramics, making arts and crafts, and playing cards at the center.

Her prowess does not end on the volleyball court.

''I know how to play pool,'' she said with a sly smile, ''but I prefer golf.''

Usually, nine teams of senior citizens play volleyball at the center, but the summer months are slow, because Winter Texans who visit the center leave and locals spend more time with their grandchildren.

Winter Texans helped make the sport popular at the center because volleyball is not a traditional sport linked to the area's Hispanic culture, said Rodriguez, the center supervisor.

''One of our members, Rudy Rodriguez, who passed away last year and who knew very little English, used to get very excited playing,'' Rodriguez said, imitating his friend's chants of ''Arriba!'' to keep the ball in the air.

''The Winter Texans would always ask for Rudy,'' she said.

Doctors agree that exercise helps senior citizens deal with the sorts of diseases that come with increased age, like high blood pressure, osteoporosis and diabetes.

But 70-year-old Feliciano Lara of McAllen and his friends just play for the love of the game.

''How you feeling?'' Lara asked the group after two hours of game points.

''One more?'' he prompted, smiling. ''Andale!''