Suffolk 'Over the Hill' racquetball club celebrates 45 years

In 1980, retired teacher Max Mikulak grew tired of feeling like he was being ostracized on the racquetball courts by younger players.

So Mikulak and some pals formed their own league with its own motto: “Age and trickery are better than youth and speed.”

Today, Max’s Over the Hill Racquetball Club is still going strong, with 37 members — retired teachers, police officers, postal workers, transportation employees and even a doctor. They gather twice a week at LA Fitness in Lake Grove to play doubles across multiple courts. There are no rankings, no trophies and no pressure.

Sal Centonze, 78, of Port Jefferson Station, said the club filled a void for him after his wife Marjorie died in 2016. He joined in 2017 at the recommendation of his sister-in-law.

Club president Jeff Sklar told him “that this is more than just a racquetball club, and he was right,” Centonze said. “It’s a good group. Plus, the guys all have a great sense of humor. We all have different skill sets and levels, and everyone really likes each other a lot.”

That sense of camaraderie has kept the club thriving for 45 years, with members ranging in age from 68 to 92.

Louis Rodriguez, 91, a retired Suffolk County police officer, has been sharing the courts with fellow members for the past 27 years. He said he called Mikulak after seeing a Pennysaver ad all those years ago.

“First, he asked how old I was and then he asked how important it was to me that I win,” said Rodriguez, of Blue Point.

Team members wanted to make sure he wasn’t under 60, and that he knew that competition came second to connection.

Initially, Rodriguez was looking for an activity with competition and exercise. He is now the special events director, organizing an annual picnic, dinners and monthly birthday celebrations with pizza, cakes and lottery tickets.

NOT KEEPING SCORES

Sklar, 78, of Brookhaven, has been the club’s president since 2007, after taking over from Mikulak, who died in 2008.

“I played handball and paddleball as a kid, and then I played racquetball,” he said. “When I retired from teaching in 2003, I joined the racquetball club. I bring the party. I book the courts, review new members and plan the parties.”

The club does not recruit members (membership is currently closed) and membership has grown through word-of-mouth. There are no tryouts to determine skill level, though players are paired depending on their level of play.

“It’s a round-robin to determine playing time and teams,” Rodriguez said. “We don’t keep any standards or scores as far as who won. We just keep the courts moving.”

The club is mostly men, with Terry Williams, 79, of Hauppauge, the only female member.

Williams said racquetball is “good exercise and great for being social,” and that everyone in the club was very welcoming when she first played.

“It’s nice to be the Queen of the Court, so to speak, as the only woman on the team,” she said. "But I can hold my own and I’m pretty competitive.”

To commemorate the club’s 45th anniversary, a luncheon was held on Sept. 26 at the New Village Recreation Center in Centereach, where 65 people gathered to celebrate the group.

PHYSICAL HEALTH BENEFITS

Tom Reyer, of Commack, is the youngest player at 68. He has been playing racquetball since 1984 and joined the club in 2023 after watching the group play at the gym.

“It is a fast-paced game, and your age comes into play if you need to play with speed, but playing doubles, it doesn’t matter,” Reyer said. “Still, you need to have endurance because it gives you a good workout.”

While Reyer said he is old enough to appreciate what his body can do, it’s the camaraderie that keeps him going.

“This group embraces everybody. Everyone is really nice; they’re competitive, but not over the top,” he said.

On the other end of the age spectrum, Sandor “Sandy” Bujtas is the oldest player in the club at 92. But you’d never know it based on his prowess on the court.

“I used to play handball, but I really enjoy racquetball. I feel it keeps me young,” said Bujtas, of Ridge, who joined in 1998. “I’m happy that I can still play. I hold my own and play a pretty good game.”

A 2022 National Institutes of Health study found that racquet sports led to a 27% decrease in cardiovascular-related deaths, compared with no activity.

While pickleball is the sport that has been gaining in popularity as of late, Rodriguez said the dynamics of the two sports are “very wide apart.”

“Racquetball offers more exercise,” he said. “Naturally, we have medical issues throughout our ranks — cancer survivors, heart, knee, prostate issues — and I can tell I’m slowing down, but I can still play a decent game.

“Plus, I’m not old enough for pickleball.” 

COMBATING LONELINESS

Many players agree that racquetball — and being part of a team specifically — is a solution for those looking for more socialization in their everyday lives.

Before she died last year, Rodriguez’s wife, Mary, also was active with the club, although she didn’t play. She made lunches and helped at events, as do several other club members who show support off the court.

“You’re better off trying to do something than sit around doing nothing,” Rodriguez said. “The members agree that emotionally and physically, we are very grateful that we have people we can bump into or play racquetball with. It’s very nice and comforting to have a group of people to see every week.”

ALL ABOUT CAMARADERIE

Speaking confidently on behalf of every member, Sklar said players “love the camaraderie that being a part of the racquetball club offers.”

“It’s not important if you win or lose. We play for fun and enjoyment,” Sklar said. “It’s a group of people who get along and support each other and enjoy each other’s company.”

For the past 15 years, Max’s Over the Hill Racquetball Club has met every Friday at Strathmore Bagels & Deli for coffee and bagels after racquetball. A table is always reserved for a large group, depending on who can join, and members catch up on life.

“It’s a tradition we all look forward to,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve been through it all together: surgeries, hospital stays, the weddings of our children, and, unfortunately, funerals. But to have this group is just very special.”