The City of La Porte clinched its third consecutive championship at the annual La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership (LEAP) Olympics, edging out more than a dozen local businesses and organizations in a week of friendly competition.
The contest tested teams in events such as kickball, dodgeball, pickleball, cornhole, Euchre, and trivia. Heading into the final day, the La Porte County Public Library trailed by just one point, but a clutch first-place finish in dodgeball secured the City’s title with 19 total points – four ahead of the library’s 15.
“When you win, there’s always expectations, so we just control what we can control,” La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody said. “It was fantastic to see all of the different teams and businesses from across the community participating. I think everybody had a great time, and it’s fun with that competitive edge to things.”
BOSS Industries rounded out the podium with nine points, while the inaugural champions at Horizon Bank finished fourth with eight points. Larson-Danielson Construction closed out the top five with six points.
The event is all about capturing the spirit of friendliness, with LEAP aiming to offer competitors a chance to bond with each other and their neighbors outside of the usual business hours.
“Our goal at LEAP is to advocate for business, and what we love about this event is that it gives businesses a chance to come together in a friendly and fun way,” Michael Riehle, president of business services for LEAP, said. “It also creates an opportunity for teams to build teamwork and camaraderie within their own companies. It takes them out of their comfort zone and gives them a chance to have a little fun.”
Teams consisted of employees, board members, and immediate family members aged 15 and up. LEAP hopes that the Olympics give members of the business community the chance to learn more about their neighbors and what they are like when they are not talking shop.
“It was a lot of fun, but I can’t say I’m not sore,” Gregory Pietsch, civic and events director for La Porte, said. “It’s a great experience getting to play sports and events with people that we typically don’t get the chance to interact with every day. We’ve got a great city of people.”
Dermody, for his part, was excited to see the enthusiasm from every team.
“I think it’s about the culture here in La Porte, everybody believes in the future of this community,” he said. “We see this city continuing to expand, and when you look at all the progress that’s happening, the infrastructure and new opportunities, you can’t help but get excited. I’ve said since day one that La Porte, my hometown, is the place to be. We’re just excited to have everyone working together to make it the best place it can be for its residents.”
The City of La Porte is already eyeing a fourth straight championship next year, but Riehle believes the other competitors are ready to put the pressure on.
“I think people are starting to gear up,” he said. “The library put in a good effort this year, and really tried to take the City off the pedestal. The City’s definitely up to the challenge, but there’s going to be a lot of people gunning for them next year.”
To learn more about LEAP, visit laportepartnership.com.
