It’s been a good year for islander Sandy Meneley.
A 1968 graduate of Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, she recently was honored with an alumni award for “Outstanding Personal Achievement,” recognition given to one alumni a year. She was recognized for her athletic achievements that include winning world championship ironman events, duathlons and road races.
And she’s topped that with a notice from the USA Triathlon, the governing body of the sport, that again she was named an All-American in her age group and the No. 1 ranked athlete in the 75-79 age group.
In 2022, she won the Dolphin Dash on the AMI, setting a senior grand masters record with a time of 26:18, took first place in the Run for Turtles, Fort DeSoto duathlon and the Illinois half marathon. She followed that up in 2023 with first-place finishes in her age group in the Chilly Willy duathlon, the Gasparilla 15K and the Skyway Bridge run.
When asked why she continues to compete at age 76, Meneley said, “Good health and because I can.”
She ad-libbed off the ironman motto, “Anything is possible,” adding “with God’s help.” She said she hopes her story inspires younger athletes to never give up and to continue an active lifestyle.
For Meneley, her personal highlights are getting to run the Mississippi Gulf Coast half-marathon with her granddaughter Halli Briscoe and the awards presentation in Kenosha with her son’s family present. She also noted her enjoyment from the Skyway Bridge run March 12 with her sister Linda Bernier of Minnesota.
Most of all, she loves the adrenaline rush at the start and finish of her races and she cherishes the support she receives from husband Fuzz, who is always there to cheer her on.
Congratulations to Meneley from The Islander.
Center soccer news
The adult soccer league at the Center of Anna Maria Island kicked off its spring season March 23 with four games. The league consists of eight teams competing in a seven-game season. Playoffs will kick off May 11 with semifinal matches May 18 and championship May 25.
The action got started on the center pitch with Vintage Beach outlasting Duncan Real Estate 4-3 behind two goals and an assist from Joey Hutchinson and a goal each from Mandy Sky and JD Webb. Goalies Danny Free and Mark Rudacille combined to make 14 saves and contributed three assists in the Vintage victory.
Tyler Brewer scored two goals and Kevin Roman added a goal for Duncan, which also received 12 saves from Tuna McCracken in the loss.
The second game of the evening saw Pool America cruise to a 10-3 victory over shorthanded Moss Builders behind a hat trick from Chris Klotz and two goals each from Nate Welch and Lucas Wilson. Jamie Hutchison had a goal and an assist, while Eduardo Schlueter and William Romberger each notched one goal. Dean Hinterstoisser chipped in with a pair of assists and Rob Marshall made three saves in the victory.
Gerardo Urbiola Bolanos paced Moss Builders with two goals in the loss.
Solid Rock Construction outscored Sato Real Estate 5-3 in the third match of the night on the strength of three goals from Amy Ivin and two goals from Yuri Pereira. Goalie Steve Oelfke helped preserve the victory with six saves.
Joseph DiClemente, Tim Hurst and Rex Kesten each scored for Sato, which also received five saves from Benjamin Sato in the loss.
The final match of the night saw Sandbar Restaurant roll past Gulfview Windows & Doors by a 12-3 score. Matt Staggs led the way with five goals and Danny Hampton scored three. Mike Parsons and Daniel Anders both chipped in two goals and an assist, while goalie Jessica Ruekberg posted four saves in the victory.
Raul Loera scored two goals for Gulf View, which also received a goal from Keith Mahoney in the loss.
Horseshoe news
Horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits saw four teams advance to the knockout stage during March 22 action. The team of Ron Hooper and Gary Howcroft advanced to the finals with a 22-12 victory over Rod Bussey and Bob Mason, while Tim Sofran and Tom Farrington advanced with a 22-8 victory over Bob Hawks and Bob Brown. It was all Sofran-Farrington in the finals on a 22-4 victory.
The March 25 games saw another four-team showdown to determine a champion. The first semifinal saw Bob Baker and Bob Lee eliminate Sofran and Dave Long with a 23-14 victory, while Farrington and Adin Shank advanced with a 23-8 victory over Tom Skoloda and Brown. The finals saw Farrington and Shank jump out to a 19-9 lead, but Baker and Lee scored the final 13 points to earn a 22-19 come-from-behind victory and the day’s championship.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Anna Maria pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.
Key Royale golf news
There was a full slate of golf action at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach, starting with the men’s modified-Stableford match March 20.
The competition was fierce as Jim Hichen, Larry Solberg, Joe Tynan and Ron Vandeman carded plus-4s to finish in a four-way tie for first place.
There also was a tie for second place with Larry Bratain, Gary Risner and Harvey Shovers finishing at plus-3, while Mike Cusato, Mike Gilie and Peter Lund tied for third place at plus-2.
The women played a nine-hole individual-low-net match in two flights March 21. Roxanne Koche carded a 1-under-par 31 to earn a one-stroke victory in Flight A over Phyllis Roe, Debbie DuVernay and Mary Wilkie. Pam Lowry was another stroke back in third place.
Judy Todd fired a 1-under-par 31 to grab first place in Flight B. Jan Turner was alone in second place with an even-par 31 while Annette Hall was one stroke back in third place.
Fifty-four men played in the men’s member-member tourney March 22. Teams were divided into three divisions based on total team handicap. Playing a two-man handicap better-ball format, Eric Lawson and Gary Risner won Division 1 with a score of 4-under-par 59. The team of Marty Hicks and Terry Tarras won Division 2 with a 6-under-par 57 and, with a 5-under-par 58, Bruce Christenson and Mike Morris topped Division 3.
All three division winners then squared off in a sudden-death playoff for the overall championship. Lawson and Risner took first place on the first playoff hole to earn bragging rights for the day.
The week culminated with a member’s scramble March 23. The team of Dave and Deb DuVernay, Bob Rowley and Al Waal combined on a 4-under-par 28 to win the day’s proceedings.