2012 may have been a short one for LaPorteCountyLife Sports, with us launching in mid-August and all, but that doesn't mean it wasn't packed with good stories! From football to basketball to running to fundraisers and everything in between, it was a busy year for sports in La Porte County and Northwest Indiana.
We picked 10 of our top stories from the Sports Section on LaPorteCountyLife that we felt best represented the year we had telling positive stories in this arena. Take a look below and let us know your favorite of the bunch in the comments!
More than $10,000 Raised for United Way of La Porte County in Dodgeball Challenge
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Michigan City High School played host to the “Play 4 Life” Dodgeball Challenge to benefit the United Way of La Porte County on Saturday, with dozens of teams competing for the title.
The event, in its third year of existence, is expected raise over $10,000 for the United Way of La Porte County.
Colts Fan Fest Hits La Porte High School
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The Indianapolis Colts made their annual visit to LaPorte High School on Wednesday afternoon as part of the Colts summer Fan Fest. Punter Pat McAfee and starting left guard Joe Reitz were part of the festivities, signing autographs and interacting with local fans. LaPorte is one of seven stops on the Colts’ tour of their home state.
There was a buzz at LHS as fans anticipated a revival of Colts football under first overall draft pick and new starting quarterback Andrew Luck. LaPorte, which is the only Fan Fest session held in Northwest Indiana, has hosted the event for five consecutive years. It is a perfect fit because of football’s popularity in LaPorte and all around the region.
Participants Compete in La Porte Triathlon
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While some people tend to use their Saturday mornings to sleep in, a group of tireless swimmers, bikers and runners made their way at to Soldier’s Park for the 33rd annual La Porte YMCA Triathlon for the 7am start of the race!
As the gunshot sounded, the first wave of swimmers jumped into Pine Lake to begin the quarter-mile swim around the buoys. After the dip, there was still a 12.4 mile bike ride and a 3.4 mile run ahead of each participant. Some of the triathletes like Sam Hojnacki, a La Porte resident, decided to participate on their own for the whole race. Being his first triathlon, he stated that he felt that he still should have prepared more but loved how much support was being given to everyone.
City by the Lake Triathlon Has Great Turnout
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It was a cool and blustery Saturday morning by Lake Michigan, but that didn’t stop participants and spectators alike from coming out to take part in the 4th Annual City by the Lake Triathlon at Washington Park in Michigan City. This year there were 142 sprinters and 19 relay participants who took part in the race.
“It nearly doubled numbers from last year because we reached out to the Chicago market,” Crystal Sands, Owner of Lighthouse Events and Marketing, said. “It’s a very fast course. Olympic and Ironman participants use this course as training. Part of the proceeds goes toward the sports programs of Marquette and Michigan City high schools.”
Teachers Run Chicago Marathon
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Two teachers from Boston Middle School (BMS) in La Porte, Indiana completed the Chicago Marathon on Sunday October 7. Renee Howes, a 6th grade reading teacher and Rebekah Schmidt, a 6th grade special education teacher both participated in and finished all 26.2 miles of the race.
Howes trained with her husband for eighteen weeks by running on the country roads throughout La Porte. All in all she ran 450 miles (not including the actual race). This was her second time running the Chicago Marathon, and she finished with a time of 04:04:00.
PNC Athletics Receives Biggest Single Gift From IU Health LaPorte
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The Purdue University North Central athletics program has received a $25,000 corporate sponsorship from IU Health LaPorte Hospital, the largest single gift in the program's history.
"On behalf of Purdue North Central, I thank IU Health LaPorte Hospital for this generous sponsorship," said PNC Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin. "This sponsorship will help provide scholarship funding for our student-athletes and will support the program overall. Our athletic program is an essential part of Purdue North Central. It not only provides our student-athletes with the opportunity to participate in a first-class intercollegiate sports program, but it also gives our students a chance to enjoy the essential collegiate experience of attending games and supporting the PNC Panther teams."
Share Your Sports Stories with LaPorteCountyLife Sports
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LaPorteCountyLife.com is a new community-focused website, dedicated to sharing an exclusively-positive view on the people, places, organizations, and businesses serving La Porte County, Indiana. We look to be a central hub for all of the great information out there and tell all of the great stories for sports and athletics in La Porte County.
We are a small staff, and while we will be out at several games, events, and gatherings, we can’t be everywhere. We are always looking for folks to submit their content to us, no matter what the event. If you are involved with something that positively affects the community, we want to know about it.
The Ladies of La Porte County Beautify the Girls on the Run 5K
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Multi-color knee high socks, neon-colored hair, face-paint, tu-tus and running shoes....the latest fashion trend? Well, maybe, however that was what filled the Crichfield Elementary School in La Porte this weekend as hundreds of participants geared up for the first Girls On The Run 5k in La Porte County.
Girls On The Run (GOTR) is a national organization who's mission to "inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running." Each spring and fall girls in 3rd through 8th join teams according to their grade level to be inspired, build friendships and confidence, and train for a 5k during a 12-week program.
Fans Pack the Hilton Chicago for 27th Annual Cubs Convention
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The 2012 Chicago Cubs Convention proved once again that Cubs fans are truly unbelievable. Regardless of the fact that the Cubs finished 25 games out of first and 20 games under .500 in 2011, the fans still showed up in bunches, resulting in yet another sellout at the annual fan fest. The event has been sold out 26 of its 27 years in existence.
The Cubs Convention allows fans an opportunity to brush shoulders with current Cubs players and stars of yesteryear. Harry Caray labeled the weekend “The Unofficial Opening Day.” While the temperature outside hovered under 20 degrees, it was nice and warm in the Hilton Chicago as the Convention provided the first hint that spring is around the corner.
24-Hour Run Makes Debut in Northwest Indiana
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The ultimate test of durability, dedication and stamina for runners took place in Northwest Indiana this past weekend. Groups of runners competed in a 24-Hour Run, the first ever Party at the Park at Sunset Hill Farm County Park in Chesterton.
The run featured a party atmosphere throughout the two days, with bands and vendors providing entertainment in the park. The Party in the Park kicked off at 4pm Saturday and concluded 24 hours later on Sunday afternoon. Teams were comprised of up to ten members with teammates swapping out relay style. However, several individuals attempted to run the entire race by themselves.