OFF TO THE POLK COUNTY SENIOR GAMES

It's only been a few days since the Heartland Games, and a group of us are heading for the Community of Solavita in Poincianna, Fl. Poincianna is near Kissimmee. We all had our mapquest directions and headed out early in the morning. The games started early. But where are Jeff and Nancy? It's almost time for Jeff to play and they have not arrived. I had not brought their telephone number, it was getting late, and we were starting to worry. There they are!!

Not sure what Mapquest did to their directions, but they ended up way North of here. Probably travelled 50 miles out of their way........but they finally made it. We made sure they had the right directions to get back home!!

Today was the singles and doubles competition and tomorrow would be the mixed doubles. Unlike the Heartland Games, these were not quite as well planned out, but they at least had water for the participants. They do have five very nice courts to play on, but this was a single elimination tournament that meant if you lost your first match you were FINISHED.
Jeff was the first of the group to play. Good thing he found his way here!! This was his very first singles tournament and he took the Silver. The Gold went to Art Severn from The Villages.

Here's Rich, playing in his singles match. As you can see, some of the courts are behind these high fences, which makes it hard to get pictures. Two of the courts have the lower fence.

Jim Maynard and Chuck Keller compete in the men's doubles. I think they took home a medal today too.

Here's Al and Rich playing their first doubles match. They won this one, but then lost in the next round.

The games seemed to be taking forever today. Sit around and wait, lose your game then go home.... Linda and Suzanne look like their ready for a nap. Must be Jim and Chuck talking some strategy........or making sure the got the directions to get home!
Finally Gail Brown and Suzanne Goldman get to play! They looked good on the court, but unfortunately lost their match.

Anybody who goes to any tournaments, knows the ladies in PINK. Always a great game when you watch these two. This is Margie Diaz and Cathy Miller of Solavita. These are their home courts.

It was strange not seeing our Peace River crew today!!!

Nadine and Louann finally get to play. No medal for these two today either. But always fun to watch.

It was getting very late in the day when FINALLY Judy and Linda got to play. But luck was not with our group today. Judy and Linda didn't make it to the next round either.

All in all........it was a very long day, arriving at 7:00 in the morning and then sitting and waiting and waiting. Single elimination is tough. You wait for hourse to play and if you lose 2 games you're done.

We all still love the game and love to play, but after the Heartland Games, these were kind of a let down. The group didn't like the single elimination nor the long wait so they decided not to come back the next day for the mixed doubles. Rich was very dissapointed. He and Linda had been working together and practicing every day to compete against Bill Freeman and his partner Debbie Harris. They are a great team and a tough one to beat. But we were planning on heading back to Wesley Chapel after the games, and Linda did not want to drive up alone the next day.................So................Will Rich and Linda ever get to play Bill and Debbie?????