Lifting, running close out Games

June 20, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

BOARDMAN

The 38th annual Ohio Police and Fire Games concluded Friday with participation numbers up and nearly $3,000 raised for designated charities.

The six-day event, hosted locally for the fourth time, drew more than 500 participants for its 30 events despite challenging weather for any outdoor competition.

“There were a ton of heartfelt stories from our police, fire and military group with plenty of good-natured barbs exchanged by everyone,” said Carl Frost, Beaver Township Police chief and this year’s overall coordinator. “Everyone came to compete, even those who knew that they might not win. They still tried their best and when finished, high-fived, back-slapped and fist-bumped their opponents as a way of demonstrating respect for a job well done.”

The day’s final session included rifle (small and large bore), bowling, darts (doubles and mixed doubles), weightlifting and a 10K competition.

When 9-11 changed the world, retired New York City firefighter Joe Tracy was in the Financial Center performing his job as an operating engineer.

He’s participated in the World Games when they were held in Ireland and New York, and will do so again starting June 26 — 24 days shy of his 75th birthday — in Fairfax, Va.

Retired since 1987 after 24 years of service, Tracy captured the gold medal for his age group in Friday’s bench press competition at YSU’s Beeghly Center, noting that he used the week to make new friends and show support by competing.

“I’ve had to cut back quite a bit since being operated on my face about six months ago. I then came down with the shingles, but today I felt absolutely great,” Tracy said. “It has been a fun, competitive week.”

Jonathan Dorsey, a school resource officer with the Bucyrus Police Department and an assistant football coach for the Redmen, took gold in the Senior Master (40-45 years) competition but fell just short of a establishing a new state record at 455 pounds.

He played football at the University of Akron and lettered under former Zips coach Gerry Faust.

“I remember, all too well, playing at [Youngstown State’s] Stambaugh Stadium back in the mid-1980’s. We had some excellent games with the Penguins,” Dorsey said. “Staying fit is a necessity for a police officer so my brother and I started lifting weights about 10 years ago in order to keep fit. We’ve been doing the competition ever since and I must say that this week has gone quite smoothly. It was a well-organized competition and that’s really important for all of the participants.”

Taya Workum, a Painesville Police Department community service officer, captured gold medals in both the 5K and 10K runs while Deb McMasters, a Summit County deputy sheriff, won the 10K for her age group.

Both agreed that the Mill Creek Metroparks course was beautiful, yet very challenging because of the many hills they encountered.

“The course is not typical of the races that I pick to run, but today I didn’t mind at all. I’ll enter 25 competitions during the year ranging from 5K’s to marathons and this course, because of its many hills, was my biggest challenge,” McMasters said. “Today wasn’t one of my better times.”

Added Workum with a smile: “This is a very beautiful park, but I’d like to know who thought it was a good idea to make the second half of the race all uphill. On a good day I don’t run that many hills, but today was a nice challenge for me.”

Nearly 100 pounds of aluminum pull tabs were collected and earmarked for Ronald McDonald House with approximately $1,500 designated for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital from their silent auction.

A like amount was also to be donated to the local Hospice of the Valley; the charity chosen by the Mahoning Valley Chiefs of Police Association.

The 2016 competition will be held in Lancaster and hosted by the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Department.