Mark Friedenberg

Mark is a Pickleball National Champion, and a world-renowned Pickleball player. Pickleball was first played as a demonstration sport at the 2003 Huntsman Games. The following year Pickleball was one of the sports offered to athletes.

Mark was instrumental in building participation in the sport, offering free clinics to the players that provided instruction and encouragement. Pickleball players have taken to calling him “Yoda” due to his instructional talents. Participation in Pickleball has more than doubled since it was first offered, largely in part because of Mark’s participation as an ambassador and his enthusiasm for the sport.

Mark has played in the Huntsman World Senior Games for the past 15 years and has received medals each year he has competed. When asked about his feelings about being inducted into the Huntsman World Senior Games Hall of Fame, Marks states “Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors I could ever achieve!”

John Garner

John has participated in the Games for the past 17 years and has won medals in golf competitions as well as in the skills competitions of putting, chipping, and long drive. Overall, he has won 52 gold medals over the years. John can also boast that he has seven hole-in-ones!

John is an ambassador for the Games and has a passion for golf which helps him to encourage other players. He loves to meet new people and says that participation in the Games has created the opportunity to understand persistence through World Class competition as this attribute is inherent to the Games.

When asked about how he felt about being inducted into the Hall of Fame, John said “I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for this opportunity. It is a great honor. I am very humbled and elated to be placed in this group of the best of the best athletes. Bestowing this honor on me is a great experience”.

David and Nancy Jordan

David has participated in the Games as an athlete and volunteer for the past 16 years and has been the Huntsman World Senior Games Pickleball Tournament Director for the past four years. He has worked with the staff to find ways to accommodate the players and has expanded the tournament from five days to six days. He competes in Pickleball, Tennis, Track and Field, Swimming, and the Mini Triathlon. He has volunteered as a referee coordinator, setup, and tournament Director for Pickleball.

Nancy has played and volunteered in the Games for the past 16 years. She has been a referee, line judge, hospitality director, volunteer coordinator, helped with set-up and tear down, and has been active in fund-raising for Pickleball. She is an Ambassador and has promoted the Games throughout the United States and Canada for the past 15 years.

When asked to share their feeling on being inducted into the Hall of Fame, David said “It is a great honor for me and my wife Nancy. It has been our pleasure for the past 16 years to be a part of this great event. We are proud to be a small part of this great organization, and we promote the Games wherever we go”. 

Nancy adds “This is a great honor. I look forward to October each year so I can reunite with friends I’ve met through Pickleball at the Games. I have met people from all over the world. It has been a privilege to volunteer and help this sport grow. The Huntsman World Senior Games is such an outstanding event, and I am proud to be an inductee into the Hall of Fame”.

George Masters

George has been attending and competing in the Huntsman World Senior Games for the past 25 years. He has played with several teams and has won medals in every age category in Softball since he started attending the Games. He was proud to receive his 15-year ring, 20-year watch, and will be recognized for his 25^th year when the Games resume.

George has had over 200 players play for his teams over the years. He has introduced many players to the Huntsman Games and they now attend to compete in Softball and other sports. One of the benefits of playing in the Games is that George has met players from all over the world. George has also invited friends to participate in other sports as well, including Shooting, Archery, Swimming, Track and Field, and Pickleball.

When asked about his feelings about being inducted, George said “Getting Inducted into the Huntsman World Senior Games Hall of Fame is a big surprise. It is such an honor to be recognized by your peers”.

Clark and Carol Poulton

Clark has participated in the Games for the past 17 years. He helped to establish the Cowboy Action Shooting competition as one of the sports offerings at the Games. He has served as the Director or committee advisors since the shooting sports were offered.

As an athlete, Clark has won gold medals each year he has competed. He and Carol both serve as Ambassadors, sharing the message of the Games wherever they go. Carol is also a fierce competitor. She has participated in the Cowboy Action Shooting competition and served as a volunteer. She shares her volunteer spirit through service to other organizations. She is the Board President for Hope Pregnancy Care Center and has served on the board there for 14 years.

When asked to share their feelings on their induction, Clark states” I am much honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I love being part of the team that puts on the Games, and my goal every year is to make it a well-organized, fun, and friendly event for participants”. Carol adds “This was a big surprise and a great honor! I love serving in a supportive role. Physical sports have always been an important part of my life and has given me the energy to keep up with the kids and grandkids. The Senior Games have helped me to maintain my active lifestyle”.

Ernest Reyes

Ernest has participated in the Huntsman Games for the past 16 years. He is an all-around athlete who has won world titles in weightlifting and has played Softball for over 50 years. Ernest has assisted in recruiting players and sponsoring Softball teams. He supports other athletes through his attendance and spirited cheering for the athletes in all the sports.

Ernest has played on Softball teams at the Games that have won Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals. He has made hundreds of friends from around the globe and loves to see so many wonderful people gather together. He is grateful to the volunteers and administrators for their time and effort in hosting the Games.

On learning of his induction into the Hall of Fame, he said “I feel so honored and appreciative of being selected for induction. This is a life-changing event for me, and I enjoy playing with all of these wonderful athletes. Thank you form the bottom of my heart. I also want to thank my wonderful wife Diana and my friend Josh for nominating me”.

Roy and Nancy Ulrich

Roy and Nancy have been competing in the Square Dancing venue for the past 11 years. They had such a wonderful time at their first competition, they went back home and convinced 20 of their closest friends to join them at the Games!

Their enthusiasm is not limited to their friends, they had badges made that said “Ask me about the Huntsman World Senior Games” and wore them to every event that they attended. They began as participants, and have since become enthusiastic Ambassadors for the Games, encouraging others to come and experience their enjoyment for the Games. They feel that the Games are so much more than just a competition, they are friendship and a real sense of inclusion from the community.

When asked to share how they felt on their induction, they said “Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is such an honor for us. We are so happy to be part of this great event and hope to continue to be part of the Games for many years to come!”

Paul Wilson

Paul has been a participant in the Games as an athlete and volunteer for the past 25 years. He has played in the Golf and Tennis events, winning several medals. He has also worked as a volunteer for the Tennis and Golf events. Paul says that over the years, he has met many excellent athletes and management organizers through his association with the Games.

For several years in addition to his volunteer service, he provided prizes for the mountain biking events. He also enjoys watching his friends compete in volleyball, biking, and track and field. Paul says that he has learned that it takes many volunteers to assist to assure that each event is carried out perfectly.

When asked about his induction, he said “I am greatly honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame! I am pleased to have been in the Games for 25 years. I always look forward to the games with great anticipation. I have been a member of many professional organizations in my life, but no other organization has given me more pleasure than the Huntsman World Senior Games. I attribute my longevity to the good health habits and pleasure of competition at the Games. I sincerely thank the founders, donors, volunteers, and management of the Games for this honor”.