SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Every Thursday, Nick Delvecchio, a 34-year-old employee at National Grid, unwinds with a game of dodgeball at the CNY Family Centre in Liverpool. His drive to play sports was fueled by being surrounded by nine male cousins in a household filled with constant competition. Despite getting older, age has not stopped him.
“You got grown adults here acting like they’re playing in the NBA championship type thing so you know it gets feisty,” said Delvecchio. “You adapt to sports like this. It makes you feel like a kid again.”
The CNY Family Centre in Liverpool is just one of many locations provided by the Syracuse Sports Association (SSA). The SSA offers recreational leagues for both children and adults, featuring a variety of sports such as pickleball, dodgeball, esports, basketball and many more.
“You get to meet a lot of people throughout the games and the recreations and that branches out to other sports,” he said.
Delvecchio recently joined Tune Squad Remix to play dodgeball, but he is no stranger to the Syracuse Sports Association. Seven years ago, his co-workers formed a kickball team. During his time playing kickball, Tune Squad Remix was his biggest rival.
Little did he know, Delvecchio would be trading a kickball for a dodgeball. Tune Squad Remix would pull him out of retirement to join their dodgeball team.
“They welcomed me with open arms and they keep me coming back,” he said. “They’re just good people all around.”
For Delvecchio, Tune Squad is more than just a dodgeball team.
“The tune squad in one word? Family…or champions,” said Delvecchio.
Currently, Tune Squad Remix is third overall in the dodgeball standings but there is still a lot of dodgeball left to play.
“I had a lot of fun. Feeling it in the shoulders a little bit, feeling all the baseball injuries but you know, go home, ice up, and repeat,” he said.
There are many more Thursdays to come with the dodgeball playoffs set for March 14.