The club launched an aquatic challenge on April 25, rallying its members to collectively swim and water-walk a monumental 250 miles. Crushing that initial milestone with waves of enthusiasm, the determined athletes refused to slow down, instantly resetting their sights on a second goal.

According to local Sun City Bocce Ball Club enthusiasts, Bocce Ball was developed in its current form in Italy. Bocce is derived from the word “bacio” which means to kiss, which is what you try to do when you roll the Bocce balls. Bocce Ball has been documented as early as 5200 B.C. in Egypt. Bocce is the third most popular sport in the world after soccer and golf. An estimated 25 million people in the US alone play Bocce Ball.

“This is the third year we have offered it and it grows every year,” Sun City Pickleball Club President Pam White said.

The partnership began with a rod-building seminar in Coach Lachel’s classroom, where the rods could dry safely.

About three weeks of regular season games remained when a good-size crowd gathered at Veterans Memorial Field July 24 for the all-star game. Lumbarjacks manager Joe Gattone’s Patriots team took on Mustangs manager Pat Klatt’s Stars and Stripes team. A couple of hours of softball fun ended with Stars and Stripes winning 6-3.

The HFD outlasted the HPD, 3-1, for its third straight win in the First Responders series and took a 6-5 lead in games won overall at Veterans Memorial Field Aug. 4. The event is organized by the Sun City Neighborhood Watch/Neighbors Helping Neighbors group.

“The pickleball season is off to a fantastic start,” Sun City Pickleball Club President Pam White said.

“There was a clear need for fitness tailored specifically to neurological challenges,” says Osborn, who helped advocate for the program.

Spearheading the current tennis club’s campaign is TOTC member Nancy Fontana, with the main purpose a chance to grow the sport’s initiatives.

Schwan competed in the age 75-59 bracket at the US Open Pickleball Tournament. He faced four players with a higher rating than his 4.0, and won three matches. He lost to Ed Klarman, of Naples, Fla., a 4.5 rated player, 16-14 for gold, on April 12. This year marked Schwan’s third time to qualify for the US Open, and he won his rating bracket’s gold medal the last two years.

Advisor Crystal Miguel explained some of the highlights for the participants, ages 8-22.

“Many athletes do multiple events at once,” Miguel said. “Some were in soccer skills and participated in track-and-field, or on the soccer and track-and-field teams. Every year our program keeps growing. There are 22 athletes on the track-and-field team, 12 in soccer skills and 12 are on the high school soccer team.”

Officials said the club is about 600 members strong, with a steady growth from 164 members back in 2017.

About 200 players on 14 teams will take to the diamond in 16-inch A.M., 16-inch P.M., and a 12-inch softball leagues. May 11 is opening night with the Adjusters and Coyotes of the 16-inch PM league going at it in a contest starting at 5:30 p.m.

“We have more players than last year, due to advertising and more exposure,” Sun City Softball Club President Chuck Hund said. “We have a stand-by list. The ages of the players are still from the 60s to 80s.”

“Our playgroup season starts the week of May 11,” Sun City Tennis Club President Robin Chambers said. “We also have tennis and master tennis lessons scheduled all season.”

For many, the image of martial arts is one of high-flying kicks and explosive power, but for a growing number of seniors, the Korean art of hapkido is a preferred path to aging with strength and purpose. Hapkido emphasizes coordinated power instead of brute force, making it uniquely accessible to older adults. Emphasizing circular movements and redirecting an opponent’s energy allows practitioners to maintain effective self-defense skills without undue stress on aging joints.

The winning team for the monthly gathering was John Hudal and Jim Suerth of Sun City and Gary Konca of Pingree Grove. They answered the most questions correctly on Chicago Cubs, Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls and the wildcard category, college sports nicknames.

“We are always excited anytime we start playing at the beginning of the year because it’s a brand new season, and that’s what we look forward to,” said Chuck Hund, president of the Sun City Softball League.

“Our vision for Whisper Creek is clear,” Sam Patel said. “We want to restore the club to its original luxury standard.”

“I think this season has been the most surprising, and I’ve been a fan since 1961,” North said. “It was the seven comeback wins, and the win in Week 11 over Philadelphia,” North said. “I thought going into the season, they would end up with seven wins.” The Bears came up with the stop of a “tush push” play by the Eagles in a 24-15 win.

The Huntley Rotary Club fourth annual run was the start of the day of village sponsored 17th annual Very Merry Huntley activities Dec. 6. In addition to the 5K, kids could participate in a block long race down Coral Street and there was a walk for 1K.

“We had 200 participants, and they all played well,” Pickleball Charter Club President Pam White said. “We had participants from age 50 to 100, and some of the older players beat some of the younger ones.”

The season concluded with 90 minutes of intense softball and a 6-3 Lumbarjacks’ comeback triumph for the title over the Monarchs at Veterans Memorial Field Sept. 3.