With sneakers laced and team colors ready, La Porte’s business community took to the field Monday afternoon for the 2025 LEAP Olympics kickball tournament. This was the opening event in a weeklong slate of corporate competitions aimed at promoting teamwork, wellness, and a little friendly rivalry.
The kickball tournament began at 4:30 p.m. at the Little League fields in Kesling Park. The game marks the official start of the fourth annual LEAP Olympics, a series of athletic and recreational events organized by the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership (LEAP).
From Monday, May 12, through Thursday, May 15, teams from local businesses will compete in six co-ed events ranging from dodgeball to trivia. Each night, a winner is crowned in that day’s event. On Friday, May 16, the overall champion, based on cumulative performance, will take home the traveling trophy and yearlong bragging rights.
“It’s a great event to help bring companies together outside of the office,” said Bert Cook, Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership.
The LEAP Olympics were designed to provide a space where local organizations can come together outside of boardrooms and shop floors. Participants include employees, board members, and their families (ages 15 and up), with each team required to maintain a balanced gender ratio. Most companies field one or two teams per event, and while the competitions are structured and rules are enforced, the tone is far from cutthroat.
“It’s for a good cause, but it's also great to get outside of the office and get together as a team. We never get to act like this or do this kind of stuff. Coming from the legal department, we don't have fun like that,” said Deanna Chase, Corporate Paralegal for Horizon Bank.
After kickball wrapped up on Monday, the action will continue Tuesday with pickleball at Kesling Park and euchre at the La Porte County Public Library. On Wednesday, the Civic Auditorium will host cornhole and a trivia night, both of which have drawn high participation numbers in past years. The final competition, dodgeball, takes place Thursday evening at the La Porte YMCA.
Each event starts at 4:30 p.m., giving working participants time to clock out before heading to the venue. LEAP provides staff and volunteers to coordinate logistics, keep score, and ensure rules are followed.
While trophies and medals are awarded at each event, the real prize comes at the end of the week, when the best-performing organization takes home the overall championship. In 2024, the City of La Porte clinched its second straight title with a consistent showing across all categories, including a narrow second-place finish in the cornhole tournament.
“Every year we get new people interested; we now have two teams. It's great to see our team enjoy having fun in the community. We’re so thankful to the other businesses that have found time to participate as well. This is what makes La Porte special. We see a lot of good teams here to challenge us, but we’re confident we can defend our two-year running champion place,” said Tom Dermody, Mayor of the city of La Porte
For newer teams, the LEAP Olympics offer more than a chance to compete, they also serve as a gateway into La Porte’s connected business culture. Many organizations use the event to introduce new hires, boost internal morale, or simply enjoy the outdoors after a long winter.
What started as a modest idea to promote employee wellness has grown into a community fixture. And though the players may come from vastly different industries — manufacturing, fitness, banking, and local government — the goal remains the same: bringing people together through movement, laughter, and the shared pursuit of a championship banner.
The public is welcome to attend and cheer on teams throughout the week. For more information, including event rules and participating organizations, visit https://laportepartnership.com/
