Games of Texas drops $7.7 million into community
By Kelli Nesbitt, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
Whenever you play host to a large-scale event that attracts thousands of visitors, you expect it to have a substantial impact on the local economy.
From July 26-30, 7,621 athletes from across the state competed in 11 sports in the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation’s Summer Games of Texas. The Olympic-like festival had only 225 local participants, which means the rest – along with about 19,000 of their coaches, family members, and friends – were visitors staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants, and shopping in our stores.
The estimated economic impact of all that activity? A cool $7.7 million.
Despite hot weather conditions, the games’ spirit and atmosphere thrived, thanks to hundreds of volunteers and the wholehearted support of our community. We heard scores of positive comments, with many participants saying this was the best Games of Texas to date.
Photos: 2018 TAAF Games of Texas
Here’s the breakdown of participants by sport:
| Sport | Participants | Venue |
| Archery | 52 | Texas A&M Physical Education Building |
| Judo | 81 | Texas A&M Physical Education Building |
| Golf | 58 | The City Course at Phillips Event Center |
| Lifeguard Competition | 60 | Bryan Aquatic Center |
| Pickleball | 77 | Lincoln Recreation Center |
| Sand Volleyball | 40 | Texas A&M Student Recreation Center |
| Skateboarding | 19 | Williamson Skate Park |
| Soccer | 304 | Veterans Park & Athletic Complex |
| Swimming | 2,472 | Texas A&M Student Recreation Center |
| Tennis | 152 | Texas A&M Mitchell Tennis Center |
| Track & Field | 4,306 | College Station High School |
| Total Participation | 7,621 |
Here are some interesting tidbits reported by the Bryan and College Station Parks and Recreation Departments, which partnered with Texas A&M to manage the event:
- Athletes set 72 Games of Texas records.
- Participants and volunteers consumed 22,000 bottles of water and used 32,120 pounds of ice.
- Local sponsors donated 1,165 meals for participants and volunteers.
- 328 volunteers assisted, including 93 from the Texas Army National Guard.
- 390 gold medals were awarded in track & field and swimming.
- 271 tennis matches were played over two days.
If you missed out on the fun, don’t fret. The Games of Texas will return to Bryan-College Station July 25-29, 2019.
On behalf of the Cities of Bryan and College Station, we extend a special thank you to our volunteers, TAAF liaisons, commissioners and Texas Army National Guard Warriors. The overwhelming success of the event is a direct reflection of your dedication. We sincerely appreciate your gift of time, energy, and enthusiastic support.
About the Blogger
Kelli Nesbitt (@kneztalk) has served the Parks & Recreation Department for 14 years, the last seven as marketing coordinator. A native of Bryan, Kelli earned a bachelor’s degree in health & kinesiology from Sam Houston State.
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This week’s Games of Texas to attract thousands
By Kelli Nesbitt, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
No, the fall semester is not starting a month early.
In fact, students have nothing to do with the thousands of people pouring into Bryan-College Station this week. Blame this friendly invasion on archery, golf, judo, lifeguard competition, pickleball, sand volleyball, skateboarding, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track field.
Those 11 sports comprise the 2018 Texas Amateur Athletic Federation’s Summer Games of Texas, which will be conducted Thursday through Monday at venues across College Station and Bryan. The Olympic-like festival features more than 7,000 amateur athletes of all ages from across the state competing in multiple sporting events, mostly in swimming and track and field.
Admission is free at all events except for swimming and track and field. Daily tickets are $7 for swimming and $5 for track and field. Credit cards will be accepted only at swimming.
The City of College Station, in collaboration with the City of Bryan and Texas A&M, is playing host for the sixth time after conducting the event in 1988, 1994, 2000, 2014, and 2015. We’ll be the host city again next year. The 2015 Summer Games of Texas attracted more than 20,000 athletes, coaches, families, and volunteers who registered an estimated economic impact of about $7.5 million.
We invite you to help us welcome our visitors at the opening ceremonies Friday at the Wolf Pen Creek Festival Site. The parade of athletes begins at 6:30 p.m. led by the Prairie View A&M University Drum Line and ending with Team Fastrax, a skydiving and pyrotechnic team.
Traffic Delays and Facility Closures
- All College Station Parks and Recreation facilities except the Larry J. Ringer Library will be closed Thursday through Sunday.
- Expect delays around College Station High School from Thursday through Sunday. Lanes will be minimized to accommodate parking.
- Holleman Drive from Dartmouth Street to the former Sears Service Center parking lot will be closed Friday from 4-9 p.m.
You may follow the Games of Texas on facebook.com/taafnation. For more information, visit taaf.com/gamesoftexas or call 979-764-3486.
Related Links:
About the Blogger
Kelli Nesbitt (@kneztalk) has served the Parks & Recreation Department for 14 years, the last seven as marketing coordinator. A native of Bryan, Kelli earned a bachelor’s degree in health & kinesiology from Sam Houston State.
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Competitive spirit attracts 400 senior athletes to town
By Kelli Nesbitt, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
The competitive hearts of athletes have been on full display this month at the Winter Olympic Games in South Korea. Watching on television is a thrill, but witnessing the competition in person must be spectacular.
While we can’t offer the Olympics, we can offer the same spirit of competition at the College Station Senior Games Friday through Sunday at venues across our community. Admission is free.
A total of 410 athletes between the ages of 49-93 are competing, including 339 out-of-towners and 156 women. A total of 198 volunteers — mostly Texas A&M students — will help us orchestrate the event.
Notable Participants
- Swimmer Baker Lee Shannon of Houston is the oldest male athlete at the age of 93 years and nine months. He is competing in the 50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke, 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
- Distance runner Barbara Chenette of Crockett is the oldest female athlete at the age of 83 years and three months. She is competing in the 5K.
- Track & field athlete Michael McDavid of Buchanan Dam is competing in the most events at 13, including the discus, shot put, javelin, long jump, high jump, 50m, 3000m RW, 100m, 800m, 200m, 1500m RW, 400m, 1500m.
- Frank Hershman of Surrey, British Columbia traveled 2,364 miles to compete. Other out-of-state athletes represent Louisiana and Minnesota.
- Former Olympian Jim Gerhardt of Houston is competing in his fourth Brazos Valley Senior Games. He placed 11th in the triple jump at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. Gerhardt will participate in the discus, hammer throw, javelin, and shot put.
Participants by Sport
|
13 5K Road Race |
3
10K Road Race |
4 teams
Basketball |
12
Free Throws |
13
Basketball Skills |
|
55 Bowling |
31
Cornhole |
68
Cycling |
11
Disc Golf |
17 Golf |
| 124
Pickleball |
23
Swimming |
15
Table Tennis |
90
Track & Field |
15 Tennis |
The College Station Senior Games couldn’t happen without our generous sponsors. We offer our sincere thanks to Brazos Valley EMS, Integrity Urgent Care, Lifespan Cognitive & Motor Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity, Center for Population Health and Aging, Area Agency on Aging, Piranha Fitness and Mad Taco.
As we age, many of us are content to spectate rather than participate. But for some, an innate desire for competition doesn’t allow them to surrender to time. We invite you to check out the action for yourself!
For more information, visit cstx.gov/seniorgames or call 979-764-3486.
About the Blogger
Kelli Nesbitt (@kneztalk) has worked for the Parks & Recreation Department for 14 years, the last seven as marketing coordinator. A native of Bryan, Kelli earned a bachelor’s degree in health & kinesiology from Sam Houston State.
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Feed your hunger to compete at the 2018 Senior Games
By Gabby Salazar, Tourism Events Supervisor
When you used to think of senior citizens, you probably pictured older adults who were largely inactive, at least in a physical sense. But as the baby boom generation has grown older, that stereotype has changed significantly.
More of today’s seniors tend to be active, social, and vibrant folks who still enjoy physical activities and competition.
The College Station Senior Games was created for these not-so-over-the-hill competitors, offering athletes 50 years-and-older a choice of 14 activities at venues throughout our community. The 2018 games are set for Feb. 23-25, and the registration deadline is Feb. 12.
Events include track and field, swimming, cycling, golf, 5K run, 10K run, bowling, pickleball, disc golf, table tennis, tennis, 3-on-3 basketball, cornhole, and basketball skills. We’re also introducing a recumbent division to the cycling event.
Participants compete in nine age divisions, with team sports divided into three age brackets. Partner and team groups are determined by the age of the youngest partner or team member.
The $30 participation fee includes a shirt and two reception tickets with an additional fee per event. For more information and to register, go to cstx.gov/SeniorGames.
At the age of 91 years and nine months, swimmer Baker Lee Shannon of Houston was the oldest male athlete in 2017. Baker competed in the 50-meter backstroke, 50-meter breaststroke, 50-meter freestyle, and 100-meter freestyle. Barbara Chenette of Crockett competed in the 5K run and was the oldest female athlete at the age of 81 years and three months.
Photos: A Look back at the 2017 Senior Games
The College Station Senior Games have developed into a respected event that attracts hundreds of participants from as far away as Los Angeles. The success of the local games has even led to our Parks & Recreation Department being named to the state and national senior games board of directors.
If you’re over 50 and still yearn to engage in spirited competition, sign up for the College Station Senior Games today!
About the Blogger
Tourism Events Supervisor Gabby Salazar is in her third year with the City of College Station. Before joining the city staff, she was the night manager at Texas A&M’s Reed Arena. A product of A&M’s sports management program, Gabby earned her bachelor’s degree in 2014 and is working toward her master’s. A native of Alamo, she was also a member of the Aggies’ nationally-ranked track and cross country teams.
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Veterans Park complex rated as top 10 sports venue
By J.D. Wood, Tourism Manager
Athletes, coaches, and spectators have long considered College Station’s Veterans Park & Athletic Complex to be a premier venue for local, regional and national tournaments.
They aren’t alone.
SportsEvents, a prestigious trade magazine in the sports tourism industry, wholeheartedly agrees.
The publication has named Veterans Park as one of the top 10 multi-use facilities in the country for exceeding expectations and offering a memorable experience. The rankings will appear in the magazine’s June issue.
“Sports events planners find multi-use sports facilities to be a top choice for their events,” SportsEvents Managing Editor Sherri Middleton said. “Multi-use complexes and facilities not only provide a range of fields and courts to host a variety of sports, but many facilities also take it a step further by offering everything a planner could need from a friendly and accommodating staff to upgraded state-of-the-art amenities and more.”
The top 10 facilities (in alphabetical order by location):
- Blaine, Minn. – National Sports Center
- College Station, Texas – Veterans Park & Athletic Complex
- Frederica, Del. – DE Turf Sports Complex
- Gatlinburg, Tenn. – Rocky Top Sports World
- Little River, S.C. – North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex
- Manheim, Pa. – Spooky Nook Sports
- Mansfield, Texas – Fieldhouse USA Mansfield
- Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Sports Center
- Westfield, – Grand Park Sports Campus
- Wichita, Kan. – Wichita Sports Forum
None of this happened by chance.
The fact that our peers and event participants selected Veterans Park & Athletic Complex proves we have established a winning formula that will continue to pay dividends well beyond the hundreds of events we’ve hosted in recent years.
This year alone, we’ve scheduled 30 events – including U.S. Quidditch and USA Archery – that are expected to attract some 35,000 participants. That number doesn’t even include the family members and friends who will come along to watch.
The level of service our parks employees provide, along with the quality of maintenance by our parks and recreation staff, helps set College Station and Veterans Park & Athletic Complex apart. Our success is also a direct result of the strong partnerships we’ve developed throughout our community.
While we’re proud of the high national ranking, we’re far from content.
Sports tourism is a highly competitive industry, and we continually work to enhance the quality of our services. With plans to add two more synthetic fields with lights – giving us 13 multi-purpose rectangle fields and five softball fields – we’ll be able to attract more and larger events in the future.
About the Blogger
J.D. Wood has been the City of College Station’s tourism manager since 2014 after serving as lead athletic supervisor for a year. His extensive experience in sports and tourism includes stints with the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau and Texas A&M Athletics. A native of Onalaska, J.D. earned his bachelor’s (2009) and master’s (2010) degrees in sports management from Texas A&M.
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Senior Games prove age doesn’t have to be a limitation
By Hallie Kutch, Marketing Staff Assistant
Olympic great Jackie Joyner-Kersee once said “Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind.”
Joyner-Kersee knows a little about persevering over perceived limitations. She overcame severe asthma to become arguably the greatest female athlete of all time. The world record Joyner-Kersee set in the heptathlon at the 1988 Olympics still stands.
When she says age isn’t a limitation, she means it.
That philosophy will be on full display Friday through Sunday when 400 dedicated athletes will compete in the Brazos Valley Senior Games at venues across Bryan-College Station. Admission is free. Click here for a schedule of events
The 50 years-and-older participants will face off in track and field, swimming, basketball, cycling, golf, 5K run, bowling, horseshoes, pickleball, disc golf, washers, table tennis, tennis, 3-on-3 basketball, cornhole and basketball skills. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded in each event and age group.
Photos: 2016 Brazos Valley Senior Games, 2015 Brazos Valley Senior Games
These athletes seek competition to prove that health and fitness don’t have an age limit. Driven with purpose and dedication, they’ve dismissed boundaries and prove that athleticism and passion don’t have to fade as the years pass.
Here are a few of the fierce athletes who will be competing this weekend:
- Baker Lee Shannon of Houston is the oldest male athlete at the age of 91 years and nine months. He is competing in four swimming events – 50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke, 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
- Barbara Chenette of Crockett is the oldest female athlete at the age of 81 years and three months. She is competing in the 5K run.
- Michael McDavid of Buchanan Dam is competing in 16 events – all in track & field – more than any other participant.
- Joe Durrenberger of Los Angeles traveled 1,484 miles to compete in four track & field events – discus, hammer throw, javelin and shot put. Durrenberger was a standout basketball player at Rice in the mid-1950s, setting a Southwest Conference record with 30 rebounds against Baylor in 1956 (with 32 points). He’s also an actor who has appeared in several movies and television series, including Everybody Loves Raymond.
- Jim Gerhardt of Houston, a 1952 Olympian, will compete in his fifth Brazos Valley Senior Games. He’ll participate in four track & field events — the discus, hammer throw, javelin, and shot put. Gerhardt placed 11th in the triple jump at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland. He and Durrenberger are members of the Rice Athletics Hall of Fame.
- Joe Barger of Austin will compete in seven track events – 50M, 100M, 200M, 400M, 800M, 1500M and 5K run. The 91-year-old is a survivor of the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
- DeEtte Sauer of Houston will compete in five swimming events – 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle and 100 individual medley. Sauer has won 50 swimming medals in various local, regional and national senior games and is a member of the Texas Senior Olympics Hall of Fame.
Facts & Figures
- Total Athletes: 400 (268 men, 132 women)
- States Represented: 5 (Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and California)
- Brazos Valley Athletes: 57
- Out-of-Town Athletes: 343
- Volunteers: 140
Participants by Sport
- 5K Run: 27
- Basketball: 6 teams
- Basketball Free Throws: 18
- Basketball Skills: 16
- Bowling: 37
- Cycling: 41
- Cornhole: 16
- Disc Golf: 7
- Golf: 29
- Horseshoes: 16
- Pickleball: 110
- Swimming: 23
- Table Tennis: 17
- Tennis: 14
- Track & Field: 92
- Washers: 13
This event couldn’t happen without our generous sponsors. We offer our sincere thank you to the Brazos Valley Council of Governments, CHI St. Joseph Health, Innovative Fitness, KIND Snacks, Piranha Fitness Studios, Pita Pit, Signature Care, and Waldenbrooke Estates.
Need proof that age doesn’t have to be a limitation? Pick your favorite sport and venture out to watch these inspiring athletes compete this weekend.
About the Author
Hallie Kutch is in her second year as marketing staff assistant in the Parks & Recreation Department after graduating from Texas A&M in 2014 with a degree in sports management and a minor in tourism research management. She has previously worked with the Dallas Sidekicks professional soccer team and Texas Team Junior Golf. Originally from White Oak, Hallie also attended Kilgore College and was a member of the famed Kilgore Rangerettes dance team.
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