There aren't too many better ways of staying active than becoming involved in the community. And for a group of Moravian Manor residents, there aren't too many better ways of getting involved in the community than by supporting local athletics.

That's the simple premise. But the backstory of how the Moravian Manor Warriors acquired their nickname is far more engaging.

"One of Moravian Manor's mottos is, 'We're a community within a community,'" said Donald Lund, one of the unofficial founding members of the Moravian Manor Warriors. "(Moravian Manor officials) like us residents to get involved with the community as much as possible. We feel like it's a great thing to support (Warwick High School athletic teams) in what they are doing."

"Sports are important, no matter where you go," added Lund. "It's just a big part of our present day and age. It's a big part of life. For high school kids, (athletics) is where it all starts."

The Moravian Manor Warriors are a group of 10 to 18 residents of the local retirement community located at 300 W. Lemon St., Lititz, within walking distance of Warwick High School and the downtown business district. The group of local sports enthusiasts - some of whom are originally from Lititz and Lancaster County and some of whom aren't - attend Warrior sporting events in football, volleyball, field hockey and soccer, but they especially seem to have taken a liking to the Warwick boys' basketball program.

"You have to keep active or you're going to end your life earlier than you want to," said Lund, an 84-year-old native of Haddonfield, N.J., who moved to Moravian Manor in 2019. "We don't want to age and get old. That's how you keep yourself young. Anything Warwick offers, we're a part of it. That's the key when you come to a retirement home."

The Moravian Manor Warriors are more than a collection of casual local sports fans. They are staunch Warwick supporters.

The Moravian Manor Warriors even attend select Warwick away games, courtesy of transportation provided by the retirement community.

"We have our own little section behind the team (bench)," said Lund. "We're very boisterous, and we're cheering them on. We don't just sit there. We're (the teams') good luck charm."

"We have a good old time," Lund continued. "The team actually looks for us in the stands. I think (the players) really appreciate the support we give them. It's fun to get to know the kids, and we've gotten to know their parents and grandparents. It's like one big family."

This winter, the Warwick boys' basketball team certainly gave the Moravian Manor Warriors something to cheer about. Warwick captured the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section Two championship with a 9-1 league mark and finished its season 20-4 overall.

"We knew they were going to be good because they had some returning players," said Lund. "They had a terrific season. The kids have a lot of chemistry. What impresses us is that one of the players leads the team in prayer before the games start. It's just been wonderful following the team."

With basketball season now in the rearview mirror, the Moravian Manor Warriors are looking forward to spring sports, including boys' volleyball.

Not long after Lund moved to Moravian Manor Communities in 2019, he and a small group of fellow residents started attending Warwick home football games. When word got out about what they were doing, more residents joined in.

"It's fun. It makes for a good winter with games twice a week," said Lund. "It breaks up the routine. Before we go, we all have dinner together. We like watching the team, and it's like a little activity for us."

"We are part of the community," Lund continued. "The rapport we get from going to these games means the world to all of us. But we're appreciated too. It just feels good being part of that. We don't plan to stop. I think community involvement is very, very important."