Nearly 650 senior athletes aged 50 and over competed in the 26th annual Delaware County Senior Games at a dozen different venues last month, writes Patti Mengers for the Daily Times.

To celebrate, close to 460 competitors attended a luncheon at the Drexelbrook. During the evening, they were saluted by Denise Stewart, Director of the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging, Marc Manfre, Director of Delaware County Parks & Recreation, Tore Fiore, Executive Director of Destination Delco, and Delaware County Council members.

One-hundred-year-old Sye Brandman, the oldest competitor and winner of the gold medal for singles bowling, headed for the exit at the end of the evening with a promise to be back next year.

“The older you get, the more exercise you need,” he said. “If you don’t keep active, you’ll rust away, that has always been my theory.”

Brandman lives by his creed, as he works out at a gym three times a week, plays golf once a week, and bowls in three different leagues.

Winner of a gold medal in both team and doubles bowling, Mary DePaolo-Roach, 89, has no intention of slowing down, either.

“It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “I love the competition and I make friends for a long time. It helps the mind, too, especially now.”

Read more about the senior games in the Daily Times by clicking here.