As the Michigan Senior Olympics rolled through Oakland County last week, they made a stop at Waterford Hill Courts in Independence Township. The courts played host to the racquetball portion of the competition.
Father and son duo Barry and William Dennis of Waterford and Clarkston, respectively, took the court and took home gold in the doubles competition Thursday morning. William won gold in the singles racquetball one day earlier and Barry finished second individually.
William, 76, had played in the Olympics before, but in the golf category. He began playing racquetball in his 40s and plays regularly at Waterford Hills.
‘We’ve played a good number of years,? he said. ‘It runs in the family.?
Barry Dennis, 53, the reigning 50 B state champion in the sport, has been playing since age 12. He heard of the competition on a local cable station.
‘We were watching public access and I saw it and I called my dad. I said, ‘Let’s get in this,?? Barry said.
In order to do so, William had to step down a few age brackets to take part in the games.
Barry, who plays in as many as 10 racquetball tournaments each year, enjoyed the change of pace in the Senior Olympics.
‘It’s nice to play people you’ve never played before,? he said.