SALISBURY — Not knowing how to do something didn’t stop Jackie Bancroft of Salisbury from trying.

From this hardworking, dedicated attitude to learn and try, she has earned many medals in the Senior Games and is actively encouraging others to join her in the fun.

The games, she said, provide her an opportunity to stay busy and serve as “an outlet to focus my energy and creativity.”

Her journey in the games began in 2019 when she was living in Lillington and saw a flyer about them at the Boone Trail Community Center and Library. Thinking it sounded interesting, she chose to start with the Fun Walk and the 5K Walk in her age group, which was then 65-69. Any senior age 50 and older can participate in the Senior Games.

While at the opening day of the Senior Games that year, she saw other activities and decided that there were other events she could participate in and talked her friend and neighbor Tina Kvidera into joining her.

The following year, COVID hit and while she could have participated virtually, Bancroft said she is not internet savvy. Therefore, she opted to enter the Silver Arts, another component of the Senior Games consisting of performing arts, literary arts, crafts and more.

She crocheted two blankets, earning a medal for one of them.

The year 2021 was also virtual for the games, and Bancroft once again decided to participate in the Silver Arts portion, crocheting a blanket and winning a first place award, qualifying her for the state competition. However, because of COVID, she didn’t attend.

The Senior Games returned to in-person competition in 2022, and Bancroft registered for a wide variety of events, bringing home medals in many of them.

Two of those events, the shot put and discus throw, Bancroft shared she didn’t know how to do them, but that didn’t stop her. She and Kvidera pulled up YouTube videos and learned by watching them and practicing in their backyards. 

Plus, not having the six-pound shot to practice didn’t deter her either. Bancroft’s son Isaac ordered an eight-pound shot put and practiced with that size instead. She has medaled each year that she had competed in these two events.

Her total medal count in 2022 included gold medals in basketball shooting, discus throw, mini golf and softball throw; silver medals in the 1500-meter power walking, cornhole, crocheting, football throw, shot put and standing long jump; and a bronze for the running long jump. She also received a ribbon for participating in the SilverStriders Fun Walk. 

Bancroft qualified and won at the state level; therefore qualifying for nationals. However, due to the death of her friend’s father, she didn’t attend the nationals, which are held every other year.

In 2023, she registered once again to compete, bringing home gold medals in discus throw, football throw and shot put; silver in running long jump, standing long jump and a silver in the Silver Arts for crocheting; and a bronze in the softball throw.

With the three local gold medals, she once again qualified for the state competition.

When the Senior Games came back around in 2024, Bancroft had come to Salisbury and decided to continue competing. Even with the move and her son facing surgery, she was still able to participate in several events winning gold in all, qualifying for the states and then qualified for the nationals in cornhole, football throw and softball throw.

She also submitted five entries in the Silver Arts competition including two stained-glass entries titled “My Bluebird of Happiness” and “Spring Iris,” a woodworking entry titled “Primary Colors Barn Quilt,” and two entries in the food category, a chocolate chip oatmeal cake and soft pumpkin cookies. She won a silver and two bronze medals in the Silver Arts competition.

Bancroft anticipates attending the nationals in 2025, which will be held in July in Des Moines, Iowa. Each participant attending nationals is responsible for their own expenses including hotel and travel.

Others from Rufty-Holmes Senior Center who participate in the games include Sue Correll, Cathy Yochim, Cynthia Hoffner and Nancy Hall.

While Bancroft has won a number of medals over the years, she said, “it’s not about the medals, it’s about doing something, and the people you meet. I’ve talked so many others into joining me.”

Bancroft, who has six children, five boys and one girl, and 12 grandchildren, said she guesses that the games are “really about doing something I didn’t think I could do and make my kids proud.”

She said that she had been telling her children that when they reach 50, they need to sign up. In fact, one of her sons, Adam, plans to take stained glass so he can enter, along with competing in pickleball, she added.

Bancroft said that her “friends back home couldn’t believe I was doing all of this.” 

Participating in these games, Bancroft said, have provided her a way to not only meet new people, but learn new things noting that she learned about the Indian reservation in North Carolina when she competed in cornhole.

“I’ve met so many kind people and learned so much about our state and the counties that make us up,” she said.

Bancroft, who is 72 and competes in the 70-74 age group, said that one thing that is amazing about the games is “the amount of 90-year-olds who compete. It’s phenomenal.”

When asked what her favorite part of the senior games is, she said, “all of it because for me at my age, six years competing, gave me a new lease on life. I could do something I’ve never done before.”

She added that the camaraderie and learning new things were also factors she enjoyed about the games as she said, “when you become a senior, you usually lose friends as you age, but I’m growing friends.”

Seniors, age 50 and older, can start planning for this year’s Senior Games and Silver Arts competitions.

The deadline to have forms turned in is April 1 for the Senior Games and May 1 for the Silver Arts.

Registration forms, listing all of the requirements, times, games and art activities, can be found at Rufty-Holmes as well as the YMCA for seniors to get, fill out and return.

To learn more information, seniors can contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 704-216-7780 or visit the website at www.rowanseniorgames.org.