“There is only one way to succeed in anything, and that’s to give it everything.” –Vince Lombardi
The men of Meadowood took that quote to heart and gave it their all on Wednesday, April 9 in an event that pitted two dozen motivated athletes against each other in the all-out, mano-a-mano battle of wills and skills known as the Meadowood Bro Olympics.
The three-hour extravaganza began at noon, with a brunch of champions (soft pretzels, fruit, and cookies) before the guys headed off to their first events. The entire Fitness and Wellness area was filled to the brim with venues, and Bro Olympic jocks. Even the weather cooperated, allowing for several events to be held outside on the Fitness Patio.
Now in its second year, the Bro Olympics drew a competitive bunch who competed head-to-head in eight events: Beer pong, darts, basketball and hockey shootouts, stationary bike racing, cornhole, football toss, and golf putting.
“Determining the matchups was the most difficult part of designing this event,” said Mike Wagner of the Fitness and Wellness Department, who co-created the event in 2024. “Making sure nobody played each other twice was a challenge.”
His efforts along those lines didn’t go unnoticed, or unappreciated. Said Nick Wanck, the silver medal winner, “The day was a testament to Mike’s planning skills, and the dedication and creativity of the Fitness and Wellness staff.”
The top three finishers were determined by most points accumulated. In an exciting finish, ties for first and third place forced a tie-breaker: an egg-on-spoon race. When the dust of competition finally settled, the gold medal was awarded to Jim Kotz, silver to Nick Wanck, and bronze to Joe Gerdelmann.
“It was a tough competition, but I think everybody had a great time,” said winner Jim Kotz.
In all seriousness, though, the Bro Olympics began as a way for men on the Meadowood campus to connect through fun and competition because, while women often make social connections more easily when they move into a new community, men can sometimes struggle to develop friendships in a new environment.
“I was happy how several dimensions of wellness were in play when staging this special event,” said Mike Wagner. “Very proud of how the residents came together and worked so well to make it a success.”
The games were a way to bring together Meadowood’s male contingency to make it easier to connect with each other. Indeed, friendships have formed (along with some healthy rivalries).
Nick Wanck confirmed, “The thing I took away was the socialization part. Taking time to get together and laugh, that speaks to the Meadowood culture and community.”
Fitness trainer Joe Logano, who began his tenure at Meadowood a little over two months ago, summed it up. “It was a memorable day for both participants and officials. It made for an enjoyable experience for all of us.”