They call themselves the Dragonflies, but don’t let the whimsical name fool you—this squad from Heritage Pointe Senior Living’s Spark Performance League is every bit as fierce as its name is graceful. Mornings often find them crowding the hallway, proudly sporting team shirts, pepped up for practice. Nicknames like Dan “The Man,” Ray “Sunshine,” and Marion “Timmy” reflect the team’s fun side, but beneath the laughter and camaraderie, they train with a razor-sharp focus. Their strategy has led them to multiple titles in competitions like the TRYathlon and Forklift Challenge. Yet their real claim to fame might just be the hush-hush advantage they bring to the Grip Games—an edge built around a carefully timed metronome.
“We practice five days a week for about an hour each day,” explains Dragonflies Coach, Laurie Ourada. “We mark distances on the hallway floor and walk or run in intervals. Then a couple of times a week, we’ll switch over to the leg crank or the arm crank. That’s usually when Bernie Dulas (Team Captain) cranks up the tension to push everyone harder.” The daily routines might sound straightforward, but the Dragonflies have plenty of surprises up their sleeve—especially when it’s time for the Grip Games, where squeezing a rubber bulb for maximum capacity can make or break your final score.
Bernie is quick to chime in about how the team perfected their grip technique. “At first, we all thought it was kind of silly,” he admits with a grin. “I’d watch everyone squeeze that bulb, and it was just chaos. Then I realized if you’ve ever milked a cow, you know it’s all about finding the right rhythm in your fingers and thumb. That’s what set us apart.” Once the Dragonflies discovered a method to stay synchronized, they took it a step further by enlisting a metronome to keep the perfect tempo during the competition. “It’s top secret,” Bernie insists, leaning in as if revealing classified info. “We only pull out that metronome for the Grip Games. Trust me, it makes all the difference. But if other teams ask, we’re keeping quiet.”
The Dragonflies have rallied around that same sense of resourcefulness and camaraderie in every event they tackle. “When I first got here, I didn’t know a soul,” recalls Marian Stickler, more commonly called Timmy by her teammates. “Then I joined the team, and it was the best thing that could have happened. I’m someone who loves staying active, and now, it’s just in my routine to show up, practice, and try to help us win.” Even residents who aren’t competing come out to cheer during practices, offering tips or encouragement. “Rose is always yelling for us to go faster,” Bernie says with an affectionate eye roll. “We love her, but sometimes we have to tell her to tone it down,” he adds, chuckling.
According to Laurie, no conversation about the Dragonflies would be complete without mentioning Kate Thooft, the “one-armed bandit.” “Kate had cancer, but she still joined practices whenever she could,” Laurie explains. “She passed away in January, but her memory fuels us. She reminded us that everyone can contribute something.” Another inspiration is Doris Petracek, who’s 97 and still runs when she can—oxygen tank in tow. “Doris actually told us once that she plans on being ‘the healthiest person in the cemetery,’” Laurie says, bursting into laughter. “That’s Doris in a nutshell.”
While they’ve developed a secret edge in the Grip Games, the Dragonflies also captured National Championships in Forklift racing and the TRYathlon. “Marian never laid eyes on a forklift before moving here,” Bernie says. “But she practiced two or three times a day until she got it down. Now she’s one of our best drivers.” And just like in the Grip Games, technique is everything. They share adjustments, encourage one another, and rotate practice times so everyone can hone new skills.
Of course, no sports tale is complete without rivalries. The Dragonflies have a friendly one with the Cedar Creek Cheetahs. “They gave us a scare last week,” Laurie recalls. “Their gear malfunctioned mid-competition, but they still ended strong. They told us not to celebrate too soon because they’d catch us in the Final Four. Honestly, that just fires us up more.” Marian grins when asked about their chances: “We’re the Dragonflies. We plan to keep winning.”
Yet, championships and rivalries aren’t the only motivators. “The residents here who don’t compete still track our progress,” Bernie notes. “It becomes the talk of the dining room—who logged the most miles walking, who nailed the Forklift run, and of course, who’s got that secret grip strategy.” Family members get involved too, often tuning in via Heritage Pointe’s Facebook Page to watch highlights. “It helps everyone feel connected,” Laurie says. “I was out of work for eight months last year due to major surgeries, and whenever I’d come in to see a match, I was greeted like a hero returning to the fold. That’s how strong the sense of community is.”
Each team member has battled personal obstacles but finds renewed purpose in wearing the Dragonflies shirt. “We get our strength from each other,” Bernie says. “That gives us a sense of purpose, which leads to a sense of belonging. When someone’s out, we step up, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Laurie sums it up with a quote she came across: “Grit is your passion to persevere. Grit keeps you off the sidelines and back in the game of life,” she says, smiling as she looks around at her teammates. “We see it every day. It’s about pushing our limits, finding joy together.”
Marian nods. “Never say never,” she declares. “I found my place here, and if you ask around, everyone else would say the same. There’s something about the Dragonflies that just makes you want to get up, move, and keep going, no matter what.”
From Forklift triumphs to metronome-paced Grip Games, the Dragonflies are rewriting the script on the Spark Performance League. Their secret weapon isn’t just a steady beat—it’s the collective heartbeat of a team that refuses to let age define their limits. And if you happen to see a group of determined seniors huddled conspiratorially over a rubber bulb, listening for that barely audible click of a metronome, know you’re witnessing something special: the Dragonflies, in their element, poised to soar again.