About 500 seniors compete in Indiana State Games

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - With a paddle in hand and his knees slightly bent, John Varner confidently took his stance before serving the orange Ping-Pong ball across the net to opponent Martin Bender.

They volleyed the ball a few times in the gym of University of Southern Indiana's Physical Activities Center before it hit the ground. The two men - the oldest athletes in the table tennis event - continued for three games, when Varner, 88, was declared the winner. The scores were 11-9, 11-3 and 11-5.

"I beat him on edge," Varner said.

Their friendly competition was part of the 2016 Indiana State Games, formerly the Indiana Senior Games, sponsored by SWIRCA & More. The event is a variety of individual and team athletic competitions for people 50 years and older.

From May 19-27, about 500 registered athletes from 17 states are expected to compete in 25 different competitions. Those include disc golf, horseshoes, 5K and 10K road races, track and field and bowling.

Varner, a retired educator of 13 years and milk machine salesman of 45 years, traveled from Grandview, but he has connections to Evansville. He went to the University of Evansville for his undergraduate studies, and one of his children graduated from UE and another from USI. He's competed in the local games for at least 10 years, he said.

"I play my very best all the time, but I never take it too serious," Varner said. "I don't lose sleep over it, but people I play with tell me I'm very competitive. So I can't argue with that. ... I like the camaraderie of talking with people I've met here in previous years."

Bender, 93, is a retired local urologist from Evansville. He also competed in badminton, swimming and shuffleboard. And he was considering playing golf. He said he's participated in the Indiana State Games for 35 years.

Varner and Bender played as doubles partners after their singles match.

Holly Schneider, Indiana State Games coordinator for SWIRCA & More, said it takes about 200 volunteers to make the event possible.

"This is really important for those over the age of 50 to give them something to strive for to stay healthy, be energetic and have some competition," she said. "Some of (the competition) is friendly, some of it a little more aggressive, but they all have a good time and get to see people from other states they've met at other events."

For about 18 years, Cindy Mills has volunteered to help at the table tennis games. Mills said she likes table tennis because it's fun and anyone, any age, can play it.

"It keeps these people's minds active and their bodies active," she said. "And they're really good at it."The Indiana State Games serve as the qualifying site for the National Senior Games in Birmingham, Alabama, in June 2017.

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Source: Evansville Courier & Press, http://bit.ly/1Z0f6T8

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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com