Adult Nationals 2006 - New Orleans, Louisiana
May 27-June 3rd

Rustys 70

Oregon Rustys 70s finished fourth out of five teams at Nationals after placing third of five in pool play.  We had three original Rustys on the team and had expected to be joined by several other very good players for Nationals.  Injuries and other problems prevented them from playing with us, so late in the season we added five players, four of whom we had never met before.  They did fine, but our team wasn’t up to the caliber of the top two or three teams.  However, we were approached by several very good players at Nationals and they have agreed to play with us next year.  These additions to our core Rustys group should result in a finish in the top two teams next year.  

          Rustys have entered teams at Nationals since Hawaii (1982) and  Seattle (1984).  We were then called Oregon Mallards owing to the fact that Multnomah Athletic Club let us use their “M” uniforms and let us practice at their facility.  That came to an end in the middle ‘80’s when we were informed we would all have to be MAC members.  Sitting down over a few beers after a tournament at MAC, we mulled over possible names.  As everyone knows, people in the northwest don’t tan, they rust.  And as you get older you get rusty.  Sounded good to us, so we’ve been Rustys ever since.  The team has entered one to four teams  (50s, 55s, 60s, 65s, or 70s) in 22 total Nationals, although when we first went to Nationals in Hawaii and Seattle the oldest age group was 45!    Hopefully we will continue to add young players (in their 50’s) to the Rustys group of 15 to 20 players so that as some of us get a bit long of tooth and retire, we’ll have new players to fill our spot!