Local women bring home the silver

The Silver Medal winning twosome Mildred Gianfagna and Gloria Miller.

Local women bring home the silver

Millie Gianfagna, of Clarkson, and Gloria Miller, of Greece, won silver medals in the 75-79 women's tennis doubles bracket at the 2007 Empire State Senior Games at SUNY Cortland the week of June 5-10.

Known as the "Golden Girls" by fellow members at the Salmon Creek Country Club Women's Tennis League where they have been playing tennis several times a week for many years, Gianfagna and Miller had previously won gold medals four straight years from 2002 through 2005 at the ESG senior games. The pair did not play in the 2006 Games because no other women's doubles team in their age bracket had entered the competition. They are both in their 80s.

Gianfagna has won 20 medals, seven gold, six silver and seven bronze, in ESG women's doubles competition beginning in 1992 when she partnered with Kay Alexander of Churchville. The pair, who won one gold and two bronze medals over three years, qualified to play in the 1993 U.S. National Senior Games in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where they received a fourth-place gold ribbon.

She has played with both of her sons in the ESG 50-54 mixed doubles bracket. In 2001, she teamed with Dr. Alfred Gianfagna of Watertown and won a bronze medal and in 2005 she and Dr. Robert Gianfagna of Buffalo earned a silver medal. Gianfagna also won a bronze medal in 2002 when she teamed with her son-in-law, Ed Esrick of Long Island.

Miller began competing in the ESG games in 1994. Except for two years, she has partnered with Gianfagna. During that time, Miller has won 12 ESG medals, four gold, six silver and two bronze. She and Gianfagna qualified to participate in the 1997 National Senior Games in Texas where they lost their first-round match.

Another Salmon Creek Women's League player, Ginny Catalino of Spencerport, has been an ESG medal winner in past Senior games. She has won one gold, two silver and one bronze medal. Miller was her silver medal partner in the 70-74 bracket game in 2002.

Playing for the first time together in this year's Senior games, Catalino and Becky Elwell of Gates participated in the 65-69 women's bracket. Elwell has played previously in the ESG competition with Maryanne Braunbach of Albion in 2000 and 2001 and with Melba LoMonaco of Brockport in 2005.