October 2016
Bloomingdale/ FishHawk Edition
Sports
Page 57
Connection
Story and photos by Tamas Mondovics
Father (89), Son (68) Compete Bloomingdale High Cheer Squad Ready for Competitive Season 2016 County Senior Games For more than three WWII Navy Veteran, a decades, the annual competitive swimmer, who Hillsborough County keeps an active lifestyle, Senior Games has been which includes, playing bringing together hunTennis as well as swimdreds of local residents, ming laps for an hour at 50 years and older to least three times a week. compete in a wide variety Last year, at age 88, of athletic activities. Robert competed in 15 The three-week comevents, winning Gold in petition will feature plenty most, and taking Silver of intense athletic battles and Bronze in the rest. as participants vie for gold, “My dad has been an silver, or bronze in sportinspiration for all of us and ing events such as powerI am so excited to be able Jeffrey Williams, 68, left, and to fly in to compete with lifting, cycling, golf, picklehis dad Robert 89, ball, swimming, tennis, him this year,” Jeffrey said, pose for a photo. track and field, table tenwhile crediting his dad’s nis, billiards, bowling, bean bag toss, active lifestyle to his involvement with the dominoes, darts, baking, hobby show, YMCA as an executive director. and a talent showcase. “Dad’s motivation now is to stay Of course, while the program is about healthy, not just for his own sake, but to healthy competition, for most participants be able take care of his wife, Buni who it’s about much more than that as it brings has been placed in a local assisted living together friends and, sometimes families, home,” Jeffrey said. such as in the case of Robert Williams, “The Senior Games offer activities for 89, who is once again ready to compete socializing and competing, while having in every track event and every swimming fun with your peers,’’ said Debbie event. Robinson with Parks & Recreation, which Williams, has four sons, six grandorganizes the games. children and five great-grandchildren and Registration is $30 for two tickets to will be joined by his son, Jeffrey Williams, the Celebration Luncheon at All People’s 63, who has made arrangements to travel Life Center, 6105 E. Sligh Ave. in Tampa from New Jersey for a chance to comon Friday, October 14. pete in the track events alongside his To see the full schedule of activities dad. and to register for 2016 Senior Games, ““I’ll just be trying to keep up with visit hcflgov.net/seniorgames or call (813) him,’’ Jeffrey said, adding that his father, a 744-5595, ext. 38206.
Thanks to a shortfive, however, did not er summer break, come easy for the Hillsborough County squad including an area students who are injury during the finals performance that eager to prove their forced the girls top skills and talents had a halt the routine. chance to do just that Befitting a chama bit earlier this year. pionship caliber team, Bloomingdale Members of the Bloomingdale High a decision was made Senior High School School cheerleading squad. to regroup and finish student athletes were the job. The rest was history. no different and, for many of them, the While proudly boasting that to be a official start of the year was simply a conpart of the Bloomingdale cheerleading tinuation of an already very active sumsquad is “something special,” Groat is mer. now looking forward to another season of “The girls had a great summer, but competition with a goal of nothing less stayed busy,” said Bloomingdale Cheer than last year’s success. coach Michelle Groat, who is now in her Aside from three new members of 14th year coaching and starting her secthe squad who are also new to the ond season with the Bulls. Following the dreaded tryouts, Groat school, Gadson and Haywood are expressed confidence of this year’s team among the 15 girls and that are returning this year, effectively adding to the proroster that is now featuring 18 talented gram’s strength. athletes, including seven seniors, all led “We have worked out some bugs,” by senior captains, Raven Gadson, and Groat said. Taylar Haywood. Bloomingdale is hosting the season’s “Both girls were a key part of last first local competition scheduled for year’s competitive season success that Wednesday, November 11, 2016. ended with us in fourth place in the 2A The event is a great way to get the Medium Varsity Division during the 2016 girl ready for the rest of the season’s Florida High School Competitive competitions including the much anticiCheerleading State Championships,” pated Western Conference and the Groat said. annual FHSAA Competitive State The event finals were hosted by the Cheerleading Championship in late Florida High School Athletic Association January. (FHSAA) at the USF Sun Dome, last The BSHS cheerleading squad can March. be followed on twitter@bshscheer. Claiming its rightful place in the top