How Kathleen Fitzgerald Built a Home for Senior Athletes in Oklahoma
Kathleen Fitzgerald has spent her life moving—across the country, across careers, across decades of change. But wherever she’s gone, one thing has remained constant: a deep love for athletics and a belief in the power of competition to bring people together.
Now, as the executive director of Oklahoma Senior Games, Fitzgerald is leading a statewide effort to keep older adults active and socially engaged through competition. Under her leadership, participation has surged, events have expanded, and the organization has become a thriving hub for senior athletes. But her journey to this role has been anything but ordinary.
Fitzgerald’s passion for organizing sporting events can be traced back to her teenage years. In the seventh grade she left her home near Cleveland and went off to a girls’ boarding school. It was there, in the world of school athletics, that she first learned the ins and outs of event management—an experience that would set the stage for her future.
“They had a student-run sports program,” Fitzgerald said. “That’s where I learned to run a sports program. And that’s one of the reasons I can do what I’m doing.”
In her early years, Fitzgerald lived in several states, picking up experience and making connections wherever she landed. But through all of this change, sports was a constant in her life.
Like so many adult children, Fitzgerald found herself stepping into the role of caregiver when her parents grew older. She moved to Florida to be closer to them, immersing herself in the responsibilities of caregiving, but in her leisure time, she continued to compete in sports. It was here that Kathleen found success even competing against the fierce competition of senior games in Florida. But a fateful Facebook search would take her life in a dramatically different direction.
Life has a way of bringing people full circle, and for Fitzgerald, that meant reconnecting with a man she had dated when she was a teenager. Their paths had diverged for decades, and she was delighted to see his Facebook status was “single.”
That rekindled relationship led her to Oklahoma, where she quickly sought out ways to get involved in the community. Naturally, she found herself drawn to the senior games, where she began competing right away, but the senior games weren’t held consistently. A few years after moving to Oklahoma, Kathleen even had to go to Arkansas to qualify for nationals. In 2016, Kathleen and a group of Oklahoma senior athletes brought the Oklahoma Senior Games back to life.
Under her leadership, participation numbers have skyrocketed. Events have grown in both size and scope, offering more opportunities for older adults across the state to compete in everything from pickleball to track and field. Fitzgerald has helped bring in new sponsors, strengthen community partnerships, and elevate the profile of the games.
In addition to running the Oklahoma Senior Games, Kathleen participates in as many events as she can. She competes in water walking, swimming, long jump, sprints, and table tennis, which she has played since childhood.
“I compete in as many events as I possibly can,” Fitzgerald said.
From her days as a boarding school student to her unexpected move to Oklahoma, Fitzgerald’s life has been anything but predictable. But through it all, she has remained dedicated to the power of athletics to inspire, connect, and transform lives.
Thanks to her efforts, senior athletes in Oklahoma have more opportunities than ever to compete, connect, and celebrate the joy of sports.
- Published in 2025 Stories, Athlete Stories
From Soldier to Senior Games: Mark Woommavovah Runs with Purpose
For Mark Woommavovah, the road to the Oklahoma Senior Games started in small-town Oklahoma, but his story has traveled far and wide.
Growing up in Cache, Oklahoma, Mark’s passion for sports was evident from an early age.
“It started at Cache High School,” Mark said. “I ran track and cross country. I also played basketball and football.”
That foundation earned him a track scholarship to Northeastern A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma, where he began his collegiate athletic career. From there, he walked on to the University of Oklahoma’s cross country team and also became active in the Army ROTC program—setting the stage for his next chapter of service.
Mark went on to serve in the United States Army for an impressive 31 years, a testament to his discipline, endurance, and leadership. While in the Army, he continued his athletic pursuits.
“I ran while I was in the Army,” Mark said. “Every year in October they host the largest 10-mile race in the United States. It starts and ends at the Pentagon. I’ve taken teams, and I’ve coached and run on teams there.”
In 2021, he was elected Chairman of the Comanche Nation, serving a three-year term with honor. Today, he continues to serve his community as the President and CEO of United Way of Southwest Oklahoma.
Despite his long list of accomplishments, Mark’s athletic journey didn’t end with his military or political service. He’s now a proud competitor in the Oklahoma Senior Games, where he’s participated for the last four years in the 5K Road Race and the triathlon. He has even taken his talents to the national level, representing Oklahoma in the National Senior Games in both Florida and Pittsburgh.
But Mark isn’t just running for himself—he’s running for others, too. He authored a children’s book, “The Little Indian Runner,” as a tribute to his nephew Lucas Owen. The book’s proceeds go to AutismOklahoma, combining Mark’s passion for running with his heart for giving back.
When Mark first competed in the Senior Games, he noticed something striking.
“We have a lot of representation from Oklahoma City and Tulsa, but I was the only one from southwest Oklahoma,” Mark said.
That realization sparked a mission. He began actively promoting the Games, encouraging others in his community to join in and experience the camaraderie, competition, and joy that the Senior Games brings.
From a high school athlete in Cache to a national competitor, Army veteran, tribal leader, and nonprofit CEO, Mark Woommavovah continues to prove that passion, purpose, and perseverance can carry you far—and that the race never really ends.
Copies of “The Little Indian Runner” can be purchased on Amazon or from http://www.thelittleindianrunner.com.
- Published in 2025 Stories, Athlete Stories
Starr on the Rise: Oklahoma Athlete Reinvents Herself Through Hammer Throw
For Starr Falling, sports have always been a part of life in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma—a town she’s proudly called home for nearly her entire life. From the dusty softball field of her youth to the unexpected world of track and field, Starr’s journey is one of reinvention, resilience, and, above all, surprise.
Her love of athletics began with softball, a sport she began playing at the age of 8 and played in nearly every form over the years. Her talent and dedication led her to Northeastern State University, where she played at the collegiate level before walking on at Texas Tech. But despite the opportunity, Texas felt too far from home, and Starr returned to Oklahoma. She spent many years working in various capacities at Broken Arrow Public Schools. Years later, her athletic journey would take a remarkable turn.
Her son played football in high school, but when he was in college the track coach introduced him to throwing, saying that linebackers made great throwers.
“That was the first time I ever saw the hammer,” Starr said.
Eventually, she decided to give it a try herself shortly after having two reconstructive surgeries. She half expected her doctor to shut down the idea. But instead, he encouraged her.
Her doctor said it’s actually good therapy because it elongates the spine.
“I thought he was going to say I couldn’t do it, but he said, as long as you can do it, just keep doing it,” she said.
To her delight, the hammer throw became not only a fun new challenge, but a powerful tool for her physical health and overall well-being. What began as an experiment quickly turned into something much more.
With her son acting as her coach in the sport, Starr competed in the hammer throw at the Oklahoma Senior Games and soon found herself qualifying for the National Senior Games, competing on a national stage in both Florida and Pittsburgh.
Despite being relatively new to the sport, Starr didn’t just show up—she showed out. She earned a spot on the podium at nationals, proving that it’s never too late to chase greatness.
Today, Starr is more than an athlete—she’s an advocate for the Oklahoma Senior Games, sharing her story to inspire others to try something new, no matter their age or experience level.
“You don’t have to be competitive in the beginning,” Starr said. “You can just come move and have fun and work your way up to being competitive.”
And with the 2027 National Senior Games set to take place right in her backyard in Tulsa, she’s more fired up than ever.
“I talk to people every day,” she said. “I say, ‘hey, don’t you want to get with people our own age and hang out, have a good time?’ I’ve got people really thinking about it.”
Now that she’s found her stride in the hammer throw, there’s no turning back.
“Once you play, you just get passionate,” she said.
- Published in 2025 Stories, Athlete Stories
From Passion to Precision: Sterling Badminton Brings World-Class Courts to Oklahoma City
Eric and Ivy Chang moved from Hong Kong to Texas in 1989. Eric was one of the first people involved in promoting badminton in the Dallas area where they live.
“Eric has a lot of passion for the sport and has been playing the game most of his life,” said Ivy, who has played since her teens.
Today there are about 10 professional badminton clubs in Dallas alone. Eric has always had a dream to build a club of his own but wanted to locate it somewhere other than Dallas. After Eric and Ivy competed for several years in the Oklahoma Senior Games, they decided Oklahoma City would be a perfect place to open a new facility.
“Texas is so large,” Ivy said. “It was closer for us to travel to Oklahoma City and qualify for the National Senior Games than driving to San Antonio.”
Shortly after the 2024 games, the Changs opened Sterling Badminton in OKC. They began with three courts and have since added two more. Pickleball players can utilize the facility as well on an alternating schedule, but there are always at least two badminton courts available and three every evening after 6 p.m.
“We wanted Sterling Badminton to feature what most facilities don’t have, a 45% Shock Absorption Sub Floor, and BWF court mats on every court,” Eric said. “Badminton is a sport that requires quick reaction. A shuttlecock can travel at speeds up to 300 mph which can require a great deal of stop and go movement resulting in possible injury. Our special professional flooring helps protect a player’s knees.”
Sterling Badminton also includes badminton-specific lighting, in addition to dark wall and ceiling coverings for better visibility. Most of these features are not currently found at any other courts in Oklahoma. They also have a pro shop and offer stringing services and training.
“When learning to play badminton, it’s important to have a good coach to teach and guide you down the correct path where you will eventually form the right habits,” Eric said.
Eric also said it’s important to develop solid fundamentals and believes without those, a player will be hindered in the next level of advanced training.
“Learning to play badminton is no different from learning other life skills,” Eric said. “One needs to develop the right skills in the early stage of development. Once a bad habit is formed, it will take even greater effort to unlearn any incorrect habits.”
Eric plays badminton in Dallas four times each week. Eric and Ivy travel to Oklahoma City on weekends to help run Sterling Badminton.
The Changs agree, “Everyone can play badminton at any age. The oldest player to compete at the National Senior Games was in his 90’s. We’ve competed at Nationals three times and this year we’ll travel to Iowa for our fourth National Senior Games competition.”
Eric believes to become a champion in badminton requires more than energy, proper training, and enthusiasm.
“Any individual who wants to reach the top must not be afraid of heights,” Eric said. “To climb to the peak involves a willful sacrifice, determination, and extreme dedication.”
Eric believes that mastering the sport is not for the faint of heart; it is a grueling and lonesome journey reserved for only the bravest of athletes.
“To make it to the summit, one must have the courage to dream and tenacity to turn that dream into reality through love, sweat, and tears,” Eric said. “There is no easy path to the top.”
For more information about Sterling Badminton, visit sterlingbad
- Published in 2025 Stories, Athlete Stories
Ballroom Dancing Lights a Spark in Oklahoma’s Senior Athletes
In 2024, Oklahoma Senior Games added ballroom dance to its extensive list of competitions.
“Even though our first year was small, the competition brought many skill levels together for an exciting event,” Event Director Gina Bramlett said. “We had new people who took lessons through the TSET program all the way up through advanced level Gold Dancers who have been competing for many years.”
Gina says that the beauty of ballroom dance is anyone can do it.
“If you have two feet, you can dance!” she said.
She explained that ballroom dance is basically walking to music.
“It doesn’t matter how tall or short you are or how much you weigh,” she said. “Can everyone be a champion dancer? No, but everyone can enjoy basic ballroom dance.”
Gina said she can’t promote ballroom dance enough because it exercises the entire body.
“Your mind is working; you’re holding your arms up and improving upper body strength. Your legs are working, and you’re building stamina,” she said. “Everyone who takes ballroom dance lessons develops better posture.”
Ballroom is not just a single dance. The Samba, Cha Cha, Rumba, Foxtrot, Waltz, and West Coast Swing are just a few of the many types of ballroom dances. They are all as unique and individual as the people who dance them. Who are some of the dancers that competed in this year’s competition and when did they begin dancing? Let’s find out.
Betty Norman
A retired Air Force veteran and former Amazon dock worker, Betty began her dance journey as a child studying ballet at her mother’s insistence. But everything changed the day she glimpsed a couple performing the Viennese Waltz.
“They were like a Princess and Prince Charming,” she said. “After I saw that, it was ‘Bye-Bye Ballet!’”
After retiring and relocating to Oklahoma, Betty rekindled her dance passion and now competes two to three times a year. Her favorites? The Rhumba and the Foxtrot.
“It’s happy and flirty,” she said. “Ballroom dance is the perfect excuse to put on something fancy and dress like a princess.”
Len Cason
A 77-year-old practicing attorney, Len first took dance lessons with his wife for a cruise. After that, they were hooked. Now, it’s a permanent fixture of his life.
“My wife asked me, ‘Haven’t you learned everything there is to learn?’ I told her, ‘I just want to get even better,’” he said.
A competitor at heart, Len trains rigorously—lifting weights, boxing, and dancing multiple times a week. He’s drawn to the intensity of Latin dances and West Coast Swing. He thinks dancing helps with his balance and mental focus and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.
“I’m going to work and dance until I can’t,” he said. “I have no intentions of ever retiring.”
Janet Crawford
Retired from a health insurance company, Janet came to ballroom dance from a different dancing background: Square Dancing, Two-Stepping, and Line Dance. Ballroom dance had always looked interesting to her, and she decided to try it through the TSET program. She was surprised to discover how out of shape she felt at first but found joy in the challenge.
“I love the art of expression in dance,” she said. “I love to learn new dances and ballroom was perfect for that.”
Even better, she discovered new friendships, one with a neighbor who lived just a few houses away, which she said they likely wouldn’t have met otherwise.
Janet practices her dance steps by herself at home.
“That makes it much easier later on when I’m with a partner,” Janet said. “I find it so rewarding when I accomplish a new dance.”
Doris Armstrong
A 20-year ballroom dance veteran, Doris sought to stay mentally and physically sharp. She quickly discovered that dance did both.
“Learning choreography improved my coordination, focus, and memory recall,” she said.
Doris now competes at the highest level—Gold—and keeps a full schedule with weekly lessons, practice parties, Cardio Dance, Jazzercise, and gym sessions. Her favorites include the Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, and West Coast Swing.
“I pursue dance like there’s no end in sight,” she said. “To me, ballroom dance is as individual as two people are.”
All of these people are excellent and committed ballroom dancers. Do you see yourself in any of these folks? There’s one more person we want to highlight. Many of you will probably be able to relate to our final dancer. If you’re having health issues such as knee or hip problems, maybe this guy’s story can show you all is not lost if you’re interested in learning to ballroom dance.
Jim Smith
A retired human resource professional, Jim has always considered himself a physical conditioning and nutrition freak. Now 81, he is a lifelong athlete with a background in football, basketball, and weightlifting. Through all of this, he developed serious knee problems that eventually led to dual knee replacements. But it was ballroom dance that reignited his spirit.
Jim lost his wife about 13 years back, and 8 years ago he met a woman who was a dancer. She convinced him to give ballroom dance a try.
“I immediately fell completely in love with it,” he said. “Sadly, my relationship with this woman who introduced me to dance didn’t last but my love of ballroom dance is still very much with me today.”
Before long he was dancing six days per week and competing all over the country several times a year. In May of 2021, the pain in his knees was too much, so he elected to have the knee surgeries. He was back to dancing within 90 days.
Jim said his favorite ballroom dance changes as he becomes more proficient at a dance. Then that one becomes his current favorite. He’s always looking for ways to improve.
“To me, ballroom dance is so exhilarating, and I’ve got great knees,” he said. “Why would I even think about stopping!”
There have been studies that show dancing, particularly ballroom dancing, slows dementia and helps with coordination and balance. Hopefully you can now see the many benefits of learning to ballroom dance.
Maybe you should give it a try!
- Published in 2025 Stories, Athlete Stories
Never Too Late to Lift: How Kaizen Gym Empowers Senior Athletes in Oklahoma
Garrison Niemiec and his wife, Alli, own Kaizen Performance Gym in Norman, Oklahoma. Over the last five years, they’ve coached more than 50 senior adults, and they believe it’s never too late to improve your athletic ability.
Garrison describes improving the ability for senior adults in the sense of getting up off the ground, if needed, or preventing yourself from falling as the start to having a much more functional and pain-free life.
“Your ability doesn’t have to be at high school, college, or professional athletic level, but at least an improved ability to perform day to day tasks,” Garrison said.
Garrison says no matter where you currently are, the path to improvement should include weightlifting, strength conditioning, and better nutrition.
“Research has proven that being active and moving weight or putting a load on your body will improve bone density and the muscular system and ultimately improve your health,” Garrison said. “Everyone has a ceiling, but there is no reason you can’t push toward yours and have a better quality of life.”
Kaizen is a Japanese word for continuous improvement and growth. Garrison has hosted the Oklahoma Senior Games Weightlifting and Fitness Challenge at their facility for the last five years and like the name of the gym, has helped continuously improve and grow the games.
Garrison’s goal has always been to make Oklahoma Senior Games Weightlifting, Fitness, and this year Powerlifting, both fun and competitive. In addition to Oklahoma athletes, lifters traveled from Arkansas and Texas to compete in the 2024 games.
Many senior adults are skeptical about how much they can improve their health and physical condition. Even if you’re on a walker and can come into the gym, Kaizen’s trainers can help you achieve improvement. If you’re home-bound, there are ways to challenge your body to make yourself more functional.
Concerning nutrition, Garrison points out that it all boils down to choices and choosing to eat healthier is an important step. It’s vital that everyone find a good source of protein every day.
“The way athletes are trained is the best way for everyone to train,” Garrison said. “There are obviously modifications you need to make to achieve your specific goals. A bodybuilder, athlete, or a senior adult are not going to train the same way, but at the end of the day, they are all going to use a lot of the same equipment.”
When the Niemiecs selected equipment to place in their new facility, it was a balancing act. They needed to make sure they had enough free weights in addition to machines typically used by people new to weight conditioning. Of course, seniors and anyone new to weight training can and do eventually progress to free weights that better simulate what’s needed in real life. Nearly everyone feels safer though beginning on a machine, but free weights and dumbbells help improve skills needed to function.
Another type of training you’ll find at Kaizen is the use of boxes that help with walking up and down stairs and stepping on and off curbs. All of the above will help with what is referred to as Functional Training.
Kaizen Performance Gym is known as a welcoming place to work out. Garrison and Alli strive to make it less intimidating to people who have never visited a weight training facility before. They make sure every trainer has the ability to train people of all ages. Kaizen works to help everyone reach where they want and ultimately need to be.
To learn more about Kaizen Performance Gym, visit kaizenperformancegym.com.
- Published in 2025 Stories, Athlete Stories