Thursday was the perfect end to the 2014 Carbon County Senior Games.

Over 130 participants from Weatherly, Panther Valley, Lehighton, Jim Thorpe and Palmerton attended a banquet at Whispering Pines, Penn Forest Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Jim Thorpe, to recognize the winner of the games, as well as reminisce with friends about memories that were made during the eight-day event. Northern Carbon County, comprising Jim Thorpe, Panther Valley and Weatherly seniors, came from behind to beat out Southern Carbon County by just 14 points. The final score was Northern Carbon County, 694, and Southern Carbon County, 680.As the banquet began, Anne Horrigan, coordinator of the games, welcomed and thanked everyone for making the games successful for another year."I think we all enjoyed ourselves during the games," she said before reading off statistics about this year's games.A total of 200 people registered for the games.To break it down further, Jim Thorpe had 72 competitors, 33 of them were men and 39 were women; Panther Valley had 29 people, 11 men and 18 women; Weatherly had 13, two men and 11 women; Lehighton had 69, 34 men and 35 women; and Palmerton had 17, nine men and eight women.She urged the participants to bring their friends next year.She also thanked the managers of the senior centers, as well as the Concern boys who helped during the games.Following her welcome, Horrigan turned over the presentation to Carbon County Commissioners Wayne Nothstein, Thomas J. Gerhard and William O'Gurek, who addressed the participants and thanked them for making the games such a success."Congratulations to each and every one of you for having competed," O'Gurek said. "It's an honor for us as commissioners to sponsor these games."He noted that he was glad the North won because he is a Panther Valley resident.Gerhard also congratulated everyone."This is one of the events I am proud to be a small part of," he said, noting that the games are more than just winning, they are about building friendships.Gerhard noted that he will be eligible to compete in a few years and hopes he and his fellow commissioners will do so in the future.Nothstein thanked everyone for another fantastic year and said that the commissioners will do everything they can to keep the program around for years to come.He also congratulated the North, but said that next year, if he decides to compete, "The South will rise again!"Following the guest speakers, Victor Pituch, director of the games, awarded representatives from the Palmerton Senior Center with the Victor Pituch Good Sportsmanship Award and the Northern Carbon County Team with the Commissioners Cup trophy.Pituch then spoke briefly to everyone, saying he is glad he has had such amazing people there to help him organize this growing event.He then provided the invocation before the meal was served and entertainment by J.D.'s Roadshow began.The teams also were in agreement that the Senior Games were fun and everyone had a great time and looks forward to next year.