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Aiken has long been known for its equestrian culture and, as more retirees escape the cold weather of the Northeast and Midwest, it's becoming more known for its pickleball and golf. However, for one group of women, Aiken has become a haven of the hardwood. The Aiken Fillies senior women's basketball team began playing in tournaments around two years ago, founder Ruth Siegfried said recently.
Meet Ambria Abney: The new face of Aiken's Center for African American History, Art and Culture "We did our first tournament in 2022," Siegfried continued as the team began warming up for an evening practice. Siegfried, who is in her 70s, said she played in senior games in Pennsylvania. But, when she moved to Aiken (she is also an eventer), there was no team.
"I just loved it and kept thinking that surely there are enough women here that would want to put some teams together and so I just started getting the word out," she said. Kim Coleman began playing with the Fillies after the team started. Aiken schools superintendent sees progress, need for improvement following state report cards "Ruth is persistent so she kept recruiting people," Coleman continued.
"So, I decided well, I'll go to one practice. I don't know if I'm going to really like it but after one practice I fell in love with it again." Kye Sun Rose joined the team after moving from Massachusetts.
"This was like instant friends," Rose said. "I played on a group when I was in my 30s and 40s but the women were way too intense and aggressive. I was like I hope it's not like that.
" Early voting begins in Aiken County with long lines at the Aiken County Government Center The Fillies were much better, she continued. "They were all nice and fun and really congenial," Rose said. "It's really a fun atmosphere.
" Raquel Tucker also joined the team near the beginning. "I have always wanted to get back into basketball," Tucker said. "As soon as I knew about them, I contacted them.
" Most of the women played basketball in high school or college but many stopped playing after college. Siegfried said she played at a small college in Iowa but stopped playing until she turned 48 and joined the Pennsylvania team. She said she also stopped to compete in dressage but returned to the game when she moved to Aiken.
Coleman said she played at Wardlaw Academy and some pickup games but hadn't played on a formal team for several years. "After I came out one time, I knew that it was going to be fun," Coleman continued. "I was playing a little bit of pickleball but I gave up pickleball because I knew basketball a whole lot better.
.. It's become a lot more than basketball.
" Darcy Armstrong said she played high school basketball in Rome, Ga., and at a junior college. The Fillies represented an "opportunity for an aging athlete" and an "opportunity to be younger longer," Armstrong said.
"It's been fun," she said. "It means living healthier longer and making new relationships." Rose said she played at Bates College.
Bates College is in Lewiston, Maine. Famous alumni include sportscaster Bryant Gumbel, civil rights leader and South Carolina native Benjamin Mays and 1968 Democratic vice presidential nominee Edmund Muskie. "I hadn't probably played in 30 years so I was out of shape," Rose said.
"It took like a whole year to just get in shape, get stronger and lose some weight which was a good way to do that." Tropical Storm Helene response: Aiken County administrator discusses debris removal and complaints Columbia-based company acquires Aiken's Dumpster Depot North Augusta woman dies in Friday single-vehicle wreck Early voting begins in Aiken County with long lines at the Aiken County Government Center Aiken woman accused of holding man at gunpoint, ordering him to lie on firestarter-covered mattress FOTAS: A man pulls up with two good boys in a pickup Elevate Aiken offers downtown shoppers mega teas, protein shakes and protein iced coffee CPST helps keep property taxes lower locally, speaker tells Rotary Club of Aiken Aiken Regional employees get in the Halloween spirit with annual pumpkin contest 'But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit:' Pauper burial held for Aiken County residents Being away from basketball means that some of the women are learning some new rules and how much the game, particularly the women's game, has evolved since their last competitive games. "We were at a tournament, and the ref told me that I couldn't do that and Ruth and I are going that's how I learned," Rose continued.
"It was some defensive move and I was like I'm sorry that's how I learned like 40 years ago." Tucker said she played two years at a Division II school in Missouri but other than an adult league in Washington, D.C, she hadn't played in 30 years.
She said it was humbling to get back into basketball. "The body is not the same," Tucker said. "It feels really good.
I'm kind of jazzed up after practice just from having a competitive spark go again." Lara Anderson said she joined the team around two years ago a few months after the team started. "I've always loved basketball," Anderson continued.
Anderson said she played at Tempe High School in Arizona and at a community college in Arizona. The team also has several women who aren't seniors but practice with the team. "We have our young'uns, too," Rose said.
"They're really good because they elevate the game." Warrant Officer 1 Mahyla Davis said she joined the team to get back into condition after an injury but came to enjoy practicing with the Fillies. "It's like a family now," she said.
The basketball played by the Fillies will look familiar to fans of the Big3, a three-on-three half court league founded by Ice Cube that features several former NBA stars. "When I first joined the Pennsylvania team and they said we play halfcourt, I was so disappointed," Siegfried continued. "When I played, I loved running the court.
I'm a sprinter and sprinting to the other end and catching that layup was my specialty. I loved it." But, after she played a couple of games, Siegfried came to appreciate the intensity of the halfcourt game.
Rose said she felt three-on-three halfcourt worked really well. "I wouldn't want to play fullcourt, five-on-five," Rose said. "That's more than what I want.
" The Fillies have a lot comradery, Anderson said. "Everybody helps one another," she continued. "We've all become close friends.
" "It's not just the basketball," Coleman said. "Our team is very unique. We all get along.
There's people from all different walks of life and we all just get along fantastically." They've been kayaking and attended a few basketball games together, Coleman said. The group also cheered on the South Carolina Lady Gamecocks to another national championship earlier this year.
"It started out as me trying to look out after my health," Armstrong said. "And that's a part of it but what it's become is a lot of really strong relationships..
." The Fillies normally play in a few tournaments each year and are looking at entering more tournaments each year, Siegfried continued. The team's next games will be Nov.
9-10 at Aiken's Smith-Hazel Recreation Center at the Turkey Tourney. For more information, contact the group on Facebook at the Aiken Fillies Adult Women's Basketball group or on Facebook at AikenWomensBasketball ..
