Tom Vartabedian’s Rio: A Silver Medal

Harry Derderian

While many of us were watching the likes of mega-medal winners Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt in Rio 2016, everyone’s favorite journalist Tom Vartabedian was in a battle for a medal in the New Hampshire State senior singles tourney.

Tom (L) congratulating winner and also national champion Mitch Milewski

Despite being inactive since February due to treatment for cancer, Tom won his first two singles matches and then lost in the finals to national champion Mitch Milewsksi of Nashua, earning a silver medal.

In so doing, as a finalist, he earned a berth in the national finals in Alabama.

“I think I’ll pass on that [Alabama]…”, the longtime New Hampshire senior racquetball standout stated with a tired smile.

“Finishing second to the national champ is satisfying …Mitch is an outstanding competitor…”, Tom added.

Later, as part of the overall competition, he and a longtime friend won two doubles matches to round out a weekend of spirited competition among New Hampshire’s top racquetball players.

All of the matches were played in the same day.

“…My legs were like spaghetti…”, Tom added with a dose of pride.

In a decade of tourney participation in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Tom has won 16 gold, four silver, and a bronze in senior singles and doubles racquetball competition.

He has played the sport for some 40 years and constantly seeks out younger players to test his skills and competitive fire.

Tom attributes his success to an exercise regimen of playing against younger men and a good dose of mountain climbing.