She is no longer the woman in charge. She doesn't even have a team to play for.

Yet Carol McCollough, 75, of Chicora remains an active member of the Senior Olympics of Western Pa., an organization she started 20 years ago.

The group consists of senior citizen women who participate in various sporting activities — volleyball, basketball, bowling, pickle ball and track and field — in their respective age divisions.

They convene each Saturday morning at the Butler Cubs Hall to practice whatever sport is in season. McCollough relinquished her duties as president of the group in 2015.

Nancy Brown, 64, is now the woman in charge.

“It got to be a little much for her,” Brown said of McCollough. “There's a lot of organizing involved and that takes time.

“But Carol is as active as ever in terms of participation in pretty much everything we do.”

The women compete on teams in five-year increments — age 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, etc.

“We don't have a team that fits my age anymore,” McCollough said. “The women I used to play on teams with here have either dropped out for health reasons, fanily responsibilities, or they just can't physically do it anymore.”

McCollough still finds teams to play with. It's just not Western Pennsylvania.

“We go to the National Senior Games (held every two years) and I'll probably be playing for Minnesota at this next one,” she said. “They need a player in my age group. You can always find some team to play on, someone to partner up with, on the Internet these days.”

The next National Senior Games will be in Albuquerque, N.M., in June of next year. The Senior Olympics of Western Pa. have gone to the National Senior Games in Houston, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Cleveland and Kentucky in recent years.

The organization does one fund-raiser each year: A golf tournament at Lake Arthur Golf Club.

“We usually raise enough money there to pay for our air fare,” said organization vice president Patty Swartzlander, 60, of Saxonburg. “The hotel and the rest of the cost comes out of our own pockets.

“The people you meet, the networking you can do ... It's so well worth it.”

So is the physical activity.

“Life changes as we grow older,” Swartzlander said. “The kids are all gone and you need things to do. This fills a tremendous void.

“Stay active and keep moving — and it's fun.”

That's why McCollough is still going strong. It's also why she formed the organization in the first place.

“I hate to exercise. I love to play,” she said, smiling.

Twenty years ago, McCollough heard that a seniors sporting group was going on at Slippery Rock University. She immediately checked it out and joined in.

“Shortly thereafter, tyat group disbanded and the whole thing shut down,” McCollough said. “Only I didn't want to quit.

“The only way to continue was for me to form a new group. With the help of some friends, and friends of friends, we got the Senior Olympics of Western Pa. started.”

Approximately 35 women ages 50 to 75 are involved in the volleyball portion of the organization. Many of them participate in other sports through the group as well.

“I played competitive volleyball 40 years ago, before I had kids,” Brown said. “Once I had kids, I quit playing for 20 years.

“A friend invited me to come play with this group seven years ago. I haven't stopped since. They brought mne back to the game.”

The volleyball team plays in six to eight tournaments a year. Some of the tournaments have as many as 20 teams.

“I consider this creative exercise,” Brown said. “You meet people your own age. You can talk about old-age things and they understand.”

Swartzlander relishes the Saturday morning practices as much as the tournaments themselves.

“Serious bonding goes on here ... It's a type of bond you can't find everywhere,” she said. “It's special.”

Any woman interested in joining the Senior Olympics of Western Pa. may drop in on a practice at the Butler Cubs Hall. The group practices from 8 to 10 a.m. every Saturday.

Women come from as far as Oakmont and North Hills to participate.

“We always welcome newcomers,” McCollough said. “And once they come, they discover what they've been missing.”