Three local athletes who competed in the 2023 Outer Banks Senior Games, which were held from April 17-28, 2023, went on to compete in the 2023 National Senior Games, a biennial competition that is held in different locations across the United States. The 2023 National Senior Games were held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from July 7-18, 2023.
This year’s Outer Banks Senior Games qualifiers for the National Senior Games were Rita Ayres, David Henzler and Robert Trivette. This delegation of Outer Banks participants competed against athletes from 49 other states, as well as the District of Columbia and Canada.
The Outer Banks Senior Games are presented by Dare County Older Adult Services in cooperation with the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department. “We are honored to have this special group of winners compete against over 11,000 other participants and win at the national level,” said Jenna Wienert, who serves as director of the Thomas A. Baum Senior Center in Kill Devil Hills.
The incredible accomplishments of Dare County’s three athletes who competed in the 2023 National Senior Games are as follows.
| Robert Trivette, from Kitty Hawk, swam in several events at the 2023 National Senior Games, winning a silver medal in the 200-meter individual medley (IM) and also brought home two bronze medals in the 65-69 age group. |  |
 |
Rita Seelig Ayres, from Manteo, competed in the 70-74 age group in swimming and cycling. Additionally, Ayers was selected as a Humana Game Changer, a national recognition for exemplifying healthy aging and for providing encouragement, motivation and inspiration for all seniors to live healthy lifestyles. |
| Dave Henzler, from Nags Head, competed in the 2023 National Senior Games this year in numerous swimming events in the 60-64 age group. |  |
The North Carolina Senior Games is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing year-round health promotion and education for adults who are 50 years of age and old. The event is sponsored statewide by the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services.
For more information about how to be a participant, sponsor or volunteer at the Outer Banks Senior Games, please contact your local coordinator, Jenna Wienert, at Jenna.Wienert@DareNC.gov or click here.