FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 27, 2002

WOOSTER, Ohio - College of Wooster President R. Stanton Hales took a swing at some of the nation's top senior badminton players over the weekend - and won.

Hales, who has been president at The College of Wooster since 1996, captured the men's national singles championship in the Grand Masters Bracket (60 and over) at the United States Senior Badminton Championships March 21-24, at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

A national badminton champion in 1970 and 1971, Hales played more like an athlete at his peak than a man who had just celebrated his 60th birthday.

"I was interested to see where I stood among the top players in my age bracket," said Hales, who was an IBF umpire and referee for 11 years and a referee at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta as well as a member of the board of directors of USA Badminton for 20 years, including three years as president. "I've been playing for fun and to keep fit. Turning 60 provided a natural opportunity to get back to national competition."

Hales, who trains by working out against junior players who take lessons from his wife, Diane, (also an accomplished badminton player), dominated his three opponents at the championship. In fact, the three players combined for only 11 points, and none of them scored more than four points in any of the six games.

In the opening quarter-final match, Hales posted a decisive 15-4, 15-0 triumph over Pete Johnson, a professional football player with the Chicago Bears in the mid-1960s. In the semi-final match, Hales knocked off top-seeded Wayne Main 15-1, 15-3, and carried that momentum into the championship match, where he overpowered Pravit Choonit 15-0, 15-3.

"For me it was great fun to compete and be at the championships with dozens and dozens of old friends," said Hales, who was a member of the council of the International Badminton Federation for 10 years and is one of only four Americans to win a Distinguished Service Award from the International Badminton Federation. "It was also gratifying to see the largest entry ever in the senior championships (172 players), spread from the lowest age bracket of 35 and over to the highest of 85 and over."

Hales is a graduate of Pomona College and holds advanced degrees in mathematics from Harvard University. In addition to his wife, Hales' children, Karen and Chris, are also badminton players. Chris recently won the men's singles title at the Middle Atlantic Championship in Philadelphia.