ZELIENOPLE — The younger generation may underestimate the effect aging has on the human body and the limitations time imposes, but a handful of senior citizens disregard such lowered limits and reach for higher goals.

Joy Brewer, 68, of Zelienople qualified for the National Senior Games five times since joining the Senior Olympics of Western Pennsylvania at age 55.

The organization, based in Butler, allows seniors to stay active and reinvigorate themselves through competitive spirit. Brewer said it also gives people opportunities they never had.

In 2002, Brewer read a Butler Eagle article about the organization, which sparked her interest. She said she was nervous about her first experience with competition, so she took it slow.

“We just kinda practiced, and I got back into it,” Brewer said.

Brewer graduated from Hampton High School before Title IX, a law requiring equal athletic opportunities for girls and women. She said she mainly played intramural sports in school so the competition was light.

After high school, she earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Slippery Rock State College. She began her teaching career in the Derry Area School District.

She taught gym for three years, but she mainly taught reading until she retired from the Seneca Valley School District in 2009.

She said she never got to see real competition like she has in the past decade, where winning and losing truly matter.

“Because I didn't play high school sports, I didn't know how to win and lose,” Brewer said.

Brewer, who also balances many musical groups, tries to speak honestly about her abilities, many times downplaying her skill and flexibility as a role player.

Nancy Brown, 62, of Butler, Brewer's friend and the organization's president, said her friend's honesty is more like modesty.

She said Brewer constantly works to improve, using trainers for strength training and swimming instructors to improve her technique.

Brown, a two-time national qualifier and volleyball and pickle ball specialist, describes Brewer as an excellent freelancer, who can adjust to any role or sport necessary.

Brewer has competed in volleyball, basketball, swimming and softball. In 2009, she played on a national gold medalist softball team. She said she considers this her highest personal achievement.

“I did pitch the winning game,” she said with a grin.

Since then, Brewer has started to limit her number of events. She said a knee has been problematic.

She attended this year's games in early July, where she competed mainly in swimming at the University of Minnesota's pool, which left her in awe.

“It was massive compared to the little pool in the (YMCA,)” she said.

Brewer said her knee will be a constant concern, and she isn't sure how much longer she can compete, but the availability of competition still inspires and drives her to stay active.

“I want to go to Birmingham, Ala., but it depends on the knee, of course,” she said.

She said the 2017 national games are expected to be in Birmingham. She said she enjoys the travel, seeing new places with her husband, who accompanies to watch her play.

Brown said their organization is based on their members' competitive natures, but it also creates strong bonds and lasting friendships.

“Most of us are competitive and love to play,” she said. “It's social. We have fun.”

Brown said making the trips are not easy. She said one team could cost more than $800 to register, which does not include airfare.

Brown said some of the money is split and paid for by the athletes, but they try to raise some funds by hosting their own volleyball and basketball tournaments. However, their biggest fundraiser is a large golf tournament.

The group hosts the tournament each spring at the Lake Arthur Country Club. It takes months of planning, but it offers sponsorship opportunities and general donations while enjoying the same jovial competition the members want to continue pursuing.

The golf outing also serves as a good opportunity to recruit new athletes.

Brewer said she tends to let other members recruit, but she tells people her favorite aspects about the organization: the travel, the competition and the friendship.

“I've told them, 'come and try it,'” she said. “'See if it works for you,'”

Brewer said she has three children, who all take after their father's artistic talents, but they are all also involved in fitness. Again, Brewer's modesty shows.

“I do get down on myself quite a bit,” she said.

But that doesn't stop Brewer from continuing to put the work in to improve, and the result is attention. She said her friends are all impressed that she is able to stay active, but to her it's easy, when you think of the alternatives, where nothing seems to matter.

She said it's all about having a tangible goal, and to work hard with other like-minded friends to achieve it.

“I need something to work toward,” she said. “that's why I continue to participate in the senior games.”

Brewer said all she wants is to make it to nationals one more time. But if she ever did have to give up senior games, she could always fall back on her music and maybe be more active in her church.

But she said she couldn't imagine giving up fitness altogether. Brewer said it's just not possible, even if it might hurt.

“I don't foresee myself giving up,” she said.