Table Tennis player preps for Senior Olympics

Polson resident Mickey Rosa will get an opportunity to experience her first-ever senior Olympics.

Rosa, who is the oldest female contestant in the Senior Olympics table tennis, began playing table tennis about 40 years ago.

“My friends and I would just have get-togethers and play ping pong,” Rosa said. “We would throw ping pong parties.”

Rosa stated that she is entering the competition with the purpose of winning it all.

“I thought it would be fun to do and it’s in Polson, where I happen to live,” Rosa said. “I realize that it is going to be a competition. I would love to win it but I have no idea who is going to be playing. I am playing with both singles and doubles and of course, it would be fun to win it.”

Rosa said this will be her first-ever competition in table tennis.

“I have actually never been involved in the tournament and I just to play my tennis game on the ping pong table,” Rosa said. “I have only played with friends (up to this point).”

Rosa, who will be playing with her doubles partner Linda Greenwood, said she plans on entering in the both the singles and doubles competition.

“I would love to win and if I can’t win it, I hope I win more than a match,” Rosa said. “I am really doing it for fun. It’s just a fun and introductory adventure.”

Rosa said she doesn’t intend on going to the national competition if she were to advance.

“No, they’ve got to come to me,” Rosa said. “I just thought it would be fun to do because it’s in Polson.”

Rosa also said she is doing this to try to encourage other seniors to stay active.

“I would just like to encourage anyone who considers themselves seniors to get out and do things, and that is why I am doing this,” Rosa said. “It is something that I do on a daily basis.”

In spite of not wanting to advance to the national Senior Olympics, Rosa said her main objective is to win.

“Everyone wants to win and if you can’t win, you can certainly have fun trying,” Rosa said.