Hundreds of people ages 60 and older flock to the Lehighton Recreational Center during the Carbon County Senior Games.

Most will tell you they love the games because they enjoy the competition and they look forward to meeting new friends and catching up with old ones.But for Victor Pituch, the man behind the games, the Senior Games is more than a good time.It is yet another accomplishment in his distinguished athletic career.The first quarterThe story of Pituch's love of competitive athletics began over a half century ago.The 85-year-old Nesquehoning native was one of 11 children born to Thomas and Anna Pituch."I was the seventh boy in a row," Pituch said proudly, noting that he had eight brothers and two sisters.Growing up, he and his siblings didn't have much time for sports, as they worked to help support their family.But once Pituch entered Nesquehoning High School in the 1940s, his world changed.He found a new love in the sport of gymnastics and the parallel bars.Following graduation in 1947, he enrolled in the U.S. Navy and served as a submarine tender on the USS Orion in Norfolk, Va."When I was in the service, I never went any place," Pituch recalled. "I was always in the gym."During that time, he played basketball and began officiating various sporting events.The second quarterAfter being discharged from the Navy in 1952, Pituch married Mary Turcmanovich, settled down in Lansford and started a family.He began taking accounting courses at Penn State University's Hazleton campus, but something just didn't feel right. One of his mentors told him that he thought he was on the wrong career path and suggested that he focus on athletics and teaching.Pituch listened.He transferred to East Stroudsburg University in January 1953, where he majored in physical education. He was a member of the gymnastics team, excelling in the parallel bars. He continued his career as an official at sporting events on the PIAA level while coaching junior varsity college basketball.He graduated in 1956 and began his career as a teacher and coach at Blue Mountain High School.HalftimeDuring his 10-year stint at Blue Mountain, Pituch served as a varsity football and girls basketball coach, organized the first Amateur Athletic Union competitive swimming league in Schuylkill County and officiated basketball, baseball, football, wrestling and volleyball for the PIAA.He smiled about accomplishments such as having two football players being named Schuylkill County scholar athletes Bill Kunzman and Jeff Zimmerman; coaching the Cressona Swimming Club, which won 47 consecutive meets before losing to Ivyside from Pottsville in 1966; and organizing the Blue and White Sports Night, which showcased gymnastics at Blue Mountain High School.In 1966, Pituch was hired by Jim Thorpe Area High School as a teacher."I knew I didn't want to go any further in the coaching field because I wanted to be an athletic director," he said.Four years later, Pituch's dream became a reality as the school named him the athletic director, a position he held until retiring in 1987.The third quarterDuring his tenure as the school's athletic director, his office walls were covered in calendar pages showing the whole school year. Anytime a question on athletic scheduling was asked, Pituch simply had to look up from his desk to find the answer.His techniques were chronicled in the Times News in February 1978, when former writer Joseph Boyle highlighted Pituch and his talents.Because of this organization, Pituch was elected to serve as a representative for the District 11 Executive Council for the States Athletic Director's Association. The athletic handbook he wrote for Jim Thorpe was chosen as the model for athletic handbooks statewide."This brought pride and honor to the Jim Thorpe School District, the school board, administrators and coaches," he said as he paged through a copy of the handbook.In addition to his role as athletic director, Pituch wore many hats over the 22-year career in Jim Thorpe School District.From 1969 to 1987, he was the federal programs coordinator for remedial reading and math, which was considered "one of the very best programs" in the state by the Department of Education; organized the Blue and White Sports Night at Jim Thorpe High School, an annual gymnastics event that took place until 1980; and was nominated as the teacher of the year on the national level in 1973.In June 1987, Pituchwas experiencing some health issues and decided to hang up his whistle and retire.The fourth quarterEven after retiring, Pituch still felt the call of the game.His health had improved and in June 1988, Pituch stepped into a new role as the director of the Carbon County Senior Games, one that he continues to hold today."Schuylkill Haven had senior games in 1983 and 1984 and I thought why can't we have one in Carbon," Pituch recalled, noting that through his experience as an athletic director, he learned that competition works. "I always liked competitive things."The games have changed drastically over the years, moving from a few days at Jim Thorpe to the eight-day event that spans two counties today.There was a lot of trial and error to see which competitions worked, and which flopped. Some games that didn't work included golf; stationary bike riding and the 100-yard dash."It's not where it all started," he said. "It's how far we have come. When I sit there as the games happen and watch everything come together, it always amazes me."Pituch said that participants will notice some tweaks this year and added that he has some "top secret" plans for next year's competition.OvertimePituch's life has changed drastically since beginning the senior games 26 years ago.He received numerous awards for his service to the elder community of the county, including the prestigious Public Service Award from the Social Security Administration from Philadelphia.And on May 17, 2002, he lost his wife of 49 years.But, eight years later, he found love again in a friend whom he's known since childhood.On April 10, 2010, Pituch married Mary Zeleniak and the couple now lives in the Lake Hauto section of Nesquehoning.The pair recently reminisced about their wedding, which included having 10 flower girls, a stretch limo and two priests officiate at their ceremony.When asked about their time together, they smile and say they count the months instead of years for their anniversary.Today, Mary can be found at the games competing on the Panther Valley team; and silently rooting on her husband as he oversees the action.Does Pituch have any plans to hang up his whistle again?Maybe one of these years, he said, adding that he wouldn't mind just competing in the events instead of organizing and overseeing them.But until that day comes, you can find Pituch smiling as he watches over the games, knowing that he has made a difference in the lives of many.