Meet the Athletes

The Competition Team

Eleven central Ohio seniors, ages 64 to 76, drafted to represent the United States at the 2026 Global Esports Games in Los Angeles — the first American team of senior citizens ever to compete on this stage. They face Senior Team Belgium in a Rocket League exhibition match this December.

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01 Senior Team USA

The Road to Gold roster

Team USA Roxie Goodlett, Senior Esports USA competition team

Roxie Goodlett

FoxyRoxy14 Age 76 Rocket League & Solitaire

Roxie grew up in Wellsville, Ohio, before attending Kent State University, where she earned a B.S. in Education. She also received her Master's degree in Education at The Ohio State University, and she later moved to Columbus and spent 35 years teaching Business Education with Columbus City Schools. She has recently become certified in the CompTIA AI Essentials course. Her greatest achievement is her family, including her four children, all of whom graduated from college, and her 12 grandchildren, with another on the way. Today, she is embracing the challenge of learning Rocket League while enjoying the opportunity to connect and socialize with fellow seniors through gaming.

Team USA Karla Thornton, Senior Esports USA competition team

Karla Thornton

Red30 Age 71 Farm Heroes Saga

Karla grew up on the Northside of Columbus, Ohio, as the oldest of four sisters. A talented softball athlete, she developed a strong sense of determination and teamwork through sports. Karla spent 40 years working with the U.S. Postal Service, where she learned the value of patience and embracing life one day at a time.

Team USA Vicky Jo Walters, Senior Esports USA competition team

Vicky Jo Walters

VJ53 Age 73 Sudoku

Vicky was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, and moved to Columbus, Ohio, with her family when she was just three months old. She built her career working for the State of Ohio and Columbus City Schools before retiring. A lifelong lover of games and puzzles, Vicky enjoys gaming, Sudoku, Spades, Crazy Eights, and working puzzles. A woman of faith, Vicky enjoys sharing her positive spirit with others, always reminding those around her to keep smiling and enjoy the day!

Team USA Rendia Crews, Senior Esports USA competition team

Rendia Crews

GoldenBalletBOSS Age 64 Rocket League

Rendia is a Columbus, Ohio native, proud mother of two sons, grandparent, and the 2nd generation serving in the military. A lifelong advocate for movement and wellness, she spent 24 years as a ballet dancer and another decade as a personal trainer before earning her Master's degree in Healthcare Administration from Franklin University. Her love of gaming began with arcade classics like Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Centipede, later growing into playing Tekken with her sons. Today, she is a member of UARC, which led her to LevelUpLand and has reconnected her with that passion, where she sees gaming as a powerful tool for mental sharpness, coordination, stress relief, and connection.

Team USA Carla Cornelious, Senior Esports USA competition team

Carla Cornelious

CreativeCee Age 71 Rocket League & Word Search

Carla is a retiree who wanted to stay active, connected, and engaged rather than simply sitting at home. After being introduced to LevelUpLand through UARC, the Urban Aging Residents Coalition, she quickly found a community she enjoys being part of. Today, she's embracing both groups and encourages others to come join her! “Peace to all!”

Team USA Tona Moore, Senior Esports USA competition team

Tona Moore

GamingGrandma Age 75 Rocket League

Tona, born in Whitby, WV, is known for her gracious spirit and her ability to make everyone feel like a friend. She is an entrepreneur and owner of Tona's Hair Creations for over 50 years. A devoted mother, sister, grandmother, and aunt, she takes great pride in her family and is especially honored to be the mother of Dr. Melita N. Moore and Ebon Moore. Her warmth, kindness, and love for her family are at the heart of who she is.

Team USA Pamela (Ladee) Shields, Senior Esports USA competition team

Pamela (Ladee) Shields

MzDu-Wickle Age 72 Rocket League, Spades & Puzzles

Pamela grew up in Toledo, Ohio, as the only girl and youngest of four siblings. Raised alongside three older brothers, she learned from her parents the importance of working hard and never giving up. Although opportunities for girls in sports were limited during her childhood, Ladee now proudly considers herself an athlete through esports. Today, she embraces gaming as a new athletic frontier for seniors and is excited to prove that her dream of becoming an athlete is finally here in the New Gaming Universe!

Team USA Natacha Otey, Senior Esports USA competition team

Natacha Otey

Fayola Age 71 Rocket League

A Columbus, Ohio native, Natacha is an educator, labor leader, former chess coach, and now a Rocket League striker, bringing a strong background in strategic thinking and lifelong learning to the team. A graduate of both The Ohio State University and Ohio Dominican University, she is drawn to the game's blend of driving mechanics and spatial strategy, using her experience in digital media and coaching to master the game. At 71, she is driven to keep her mind sharp, build meaningful connections, and show her grandchildren what's possible after being introduced to LevelUpLand. Outside of gaming, she enjoys being a mother to her daughter, spin cycling, swimming, and harvesting hot peppers from her garden.

Team USA Rahd Kellum, Senior Esports USA competition team

Rahd Kellum

Grampa2time Age 68 Backgammon

Rahd was born in Welch, West Virginia, in Turnhole #11 before growing up in Columbus, Ohio. A retired art teacher with Columbus City Schools, he dedicated his career to educating and inspiring young people through creativity. Rahd and his wife, Cathy, are proud parents of three kind, intelligent, and caring children and grandparents to two beautiful grandchildren.

Team USA Esther Owens, Senior Esports USA competition team

Esther Owens

LittleMis.terri Age 67 Rocket League

Esther Owens is a proud Columbus, Ohio native, mother of one, and grandmother of six. The next-to-youngest of eight brothers and one sister, family and community have always been central to her life. She retired after working in the Ohio prison system and with the Westerville City School District and now provides care for three grandchildren with special needs and her daughter. A lover of singing, dancing, and modeling, Esther is also a liturgical dance team instructor whose team performs throughout the city. She and her late husband of 25 years shared a passion for RV travel, fishing, and attending church with fellow RV club members.

Team USA Rev. Belinda Woods, Senior Esports USA competition team

Rev. Belinda Woods

BlinkBiz Age 65 Ms. Pac-Man

Belinda is a proud Columbus, Ohio native and retired State of Ohio employee. After stepping away from gaming for years, she was reintroduced to video games through the senior gaming community at Game Arena and LevelUpLand. Now, she's embracing this new chapter with excitement and enthusiasm.

The Competition Team is drawn from the Health-e-Gamer Foundation's LevelUpLand® Ohio program, where seniors train weekly at Game Arena in Columbus. Every athlete receives coaching in physical fitness, cognitive health, nutrition, and emotional wellness alongside competitive Rocket League training.

Stand with Team USA

Help send these eleven athletes to Los Angeles. Your support funds coaching, custom gear, travel, and the health programming behind every player.

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