Catholic Central’s Vice President of Advancement and JV Tennis Coach Charlie Siracusa is adding another title to his name: triple gold medalist. Siracusa recently competed in the Michigan Senior Olympics, held Monday through Wednesday, August 11-13, 2025, at Oakland University’s outdoor courts, and came home with three first-place finishes in tennis.

The three-day tournament featured singles, doubles, and mixed doubles competition. Day 1 (Aug. 11) hosted men’s singles and ladies’ doubles, Day 2 (Aug. 12) saw ladies’ singles and men’s doubles, and Day 3 (Aug. 13) wrapped up with mixed doubles as well as serving as a rain makeup day. Matches began each morning at 8 a.m.

While the Michigan Senior Olympics typically features competition within specific age brackets, Siracusa found himself playing “down” against athletes in the 50–54 division on day three when there were no opponents in his own 70–74 category. That didn’t slow him down. One particularly grueling singles match stretched more than two and a half hours, with Siracusa winning a tight first set 7–5, dropping the second in a tiebreaker, and then rallying to win the deciding set.

The Michigan Senior Olympics (MSO) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1979 with a mission to enhance the quality of life for athletes over 50 through programs in physical fitness, nutrition, mental strength, and sports skills. It is the only qualifying site in Michigan for the National Senior Games, attracting athletes from across the country thanks to its “open state” format. The 2024 games drew more than 1,500 participants, with Oakland University serving as the home base for the competition.

Siracusa, who balances his administrative duties at Catholic Central with coaching the Shamrocks’ JV tennis team, is already looking ahead to next year. The 2026 National Senior Games will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he plans to compete alongside Catholic Central President Ed Turek ‘85.

“It’s an incredible experience — the competition, the community, the camaraderie, and the opportunity to keep pushing yourself,” Siracusa said. “I’m looking forward to representing Catholic Central and Michigan on the national stage.”