Connecticut Senior Games Award Winners
- 2010 Athlete of the Year: Dan O'Donnell (Track & Field, Basketball, Softball, Swimming)
- 2010 Coordinator of the Year: Mel Siebold (Swimming)
- 2010 Official of the Year: Victor McKenzie (Basketball)
- Athlete of the Year Article:
Dan O'Donnell (Track &
Field, Basketball, Softball, Swimming)
“Back in 1995, I couldn’t wait to turn fifty. At that time, fifty was the earliest age for participation in the Senior Games, and for me personally, I had been chomping at the bit to reach.” 2010 Connecticut Senior Games Athlete of the Year – Dan O’Donnell
Dan O’Donnell’s passion for the Connecticut Senior Games and sports in general is obvious. Dan has been a part of the Senior Games for over 15 years. Dan competes, or has competed in six different sporting events at one time or another. While Dan has amassed a staggering number of medals over the past 15 years he is a very good example that the Connecticut Senior Games is about the event, the connections, and the lasting relationships just as much as they are about the competition and the results.
“The inspiration you receive from all the other athletes from all parts of the country; their performances, their stories, the hardships that many of them have had to overcome, and the friendships you make, makes it hard to wait until you meet them again at the next NSG.” 2010 Connecticut Senior Games Athlete of the Year – Dan O’Donnell
Mr. Dan O’Donnell’s recognition as the 2010 Connecticut Senior Games Athlete of the Year is a recognition of more than his ability to play a given sport, or sports. Dan worked tirelessly with the Connecticut Sports Management Group to boost participation through his involvement with the very active senior center in Wallingford, CT. Dan was at least partially responsible for the recruitment of over 50 athletes including two men’s slow pitch softball teams.
“The thing that makes me most happy about my 2010 CT Games and upcoming 2011 National Games, has nothing to do with my individual performance. Rather, I am most happy because of the qualification of 50 new CT athletes/friends who will be joining me in Houston for what I am sure will be as enjoyable and fulfilling a time for them as past National Senior Games have been for me.” 2010 Connecticut Senior Games Athlete of the Year – Dan O’Donnell
Dan obviously has a passion for athletics and the Connecticut Senior Games. You can be sure that as the ‘registration deadline’ approaches for the Senior Games, Dan will be in the office, or on the phone registering friends, family, and entire teams of athletes for the ‘Games’. It is his enthusiasm and passion for everything he does that lead Dan to be as accomplished in his former career as an industrial statistician for the Military Industrial Complex as he is in the senior sports world. All the while realizing that the accomplishments are not the goal of the event, but more the connections and lasting relationships that are built out of the spirit of teamwork and competition.
- Coordinator of the Year Article: Mel Siebold (Swimming)
The 2010 Connecticut Senior Games Swim Meet attracted the second largest number of swimmers in the last five years, and qualified over 20 athletes for the National Senior Games Swim Meet. The competitors who walked out of Manchester High School’s pool were uniformly pleased with the event. In large part the Connecticut Senior Games owe this to the continued efforts of Swimming Coordinator, Mel Siebold.
Swimming has been a life long passion for Mel Siebold. From starting to swim competitively as a seven year old in Southern California, to his induction into the Manchester Sports Hall Of Fame in 2002, Mel has always been involved in competitive swimming.
While growing up in Glendale, California Mel swam for the YMCA, starting as a seven year old. Mel spent the majority of his young life around swimming in the Glendale area. In April of 1953 Mel was appointed coach of the Glendale YMCA Swim Team and did so for six years. In 1960 Mel founded the Glendale Aquatic Club in Glendale, CA and coached the teams at the club for another eight years.
After growing up and living in Southern California, in 1969 Mel uprooted and moved east to Manchester, CT. Mel became the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department in Manchester. Late in 1969, Mel, now in Manchester decided it was again time to spread the swimming bug to his fellow athletes. He founded the Manchester Swim Club in September of 1969. Once again Mel would not only be the founder of the club, but also the coach. Mel served as coach of the Manchester Swim Club until 1983. Most recently he has coached the women’s swim team at Manchester High School for the last five years. Mel also still competes as a swimmer, participating in masters swimming events all over the United States.
Mel earned a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Education from California State College at Los Angeles. Mel worked for the Glendale Recreation Department for over eight years. He was the director of Aquatics, Playgrounds, Day Camps and weekly Teen Dances at the Glendale Recreation Department. Mel was also a member of the Southern California Public Pool Operators Association, and co-wrote a booklet on the Design and Operation of Public Pools. Mel has been a member of the Connecticut Swimming Officials Association for 12 years.
Mel was Director of Recreation for the Town of Manchester from June of 1969 through January of 1983. He was also a member of the Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association from 1969 through 1999 serving on the Board of Directors for seven years as well as President in 1976. Mel also received the “Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement” from the Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association in 1973.
Now Mel is a valued part of the Connecticut Senior Games Administration as the Coordinator of the Year in 2010. Mel became the coordinator of the Senior Games Swim Competition for the first time in 2010, and all of the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The Connecticut Senior Games staff and volunteers are incredibly grateful to have Mel as a part of the program. With Mel as the coordinator for the swimming portion of the “Games” we are confident that the competition can only grow in both numbers as well as stature among the Senior Games around the U.S.A.!
- 2010 Official of the Year: Victor McKenzie (Basketball)
Mr. Victor McKenzie has been officiating basketball for over 20 years. He has been involved with officiating all ages and abilities from eight year old children’s hoops to the Connecticut Senior Games 80+ year old division. Mr. McKenzie is truly a basketball nut. While being one of the premier high school basketball officials in Connecticut he also finds time to officiate for the older and younger amateur divisions in the Manchester area as well.
Victor is currently on the Board of Directors for the Manchester Basketball Association (M.B.A.), and has been for the last two years. He has also been part of the team of officials for the Greater Hartford Pro-Am for the past three years. Currently, Victor is a member of the IAABO Board #6 basketball officials association. While Mr. McKenzie was an official for the Connecticut Senior Games he also served as the “Officials Assignor” for the Connecticut Senior Games. He serves as the officials assignor for the M.B.A., Manchester Girls Summer League, and the Manchester Boys and Girls Travel Teams.
Victor is more than a basketball official and father of four. He is an ambassador for the game of basketball to all ages. The reach of a great and knowledgeable official goes beyond keeping games in line and safe. Top notch officials who take the time to referee young people do more than just blow the whistle. They are able to teach the proper way to play the game with great passion and sportsmanship. Amateur athletics benefit greatly from Mr. Victor McKenzie being actively involved. From age eight to 80.