Cedar Grove Resident Takes Gold in NJ Senior Olympics

John Yurko, a Cedar Grove resident, and Caldwell College Communication Arts Professor, took home the Gold medal in tennis at the New Jersey Senior Olympics.

The New Jersey Senior Olympics was held on September 7, 8 and 9 in Woodbridge Township. The games hosted 58 events and saw more than 875 participants.

"I was invited to play doubles by my friend, and he suggested that since I already paid the entrance fee I might as well sign up for singles as well,” said Yurko.

Yurko ended up winning the silver medal in the doubles tennis category with partner Tom Buchbinder.

“I ended up having to play three singles matches in three days,” he said. “Friday night, Saturday afternoon, after teaching my film course in NYC earlier that morning, and then a two-hour and 45 minute gold-medal match at 8:30 Sunday morning,” he said.

“My knees hurt just thinking about it,” he added.

Yurko will now have the opportunity to compete again and represent New Jersey at the National Senior Olympics to be held in Cleveland, Ohio in July of 2013.