Competing for fun

The competition was fierce at SchoolPower’s first Dodgeball Tournament, held Oct. 14 at Laguna Beach High School, where three divisions made up of 42 teams from the community battled it out for their division title.

City personnel, business leaders, teachers and parents and siblings were all in attendance to cheer on the fourth and fifth grade, sixth through eighth grades, and high school and adult competitions.

No one could defeat the ball handling skills of the Laguna Beach Lifeguards in the high school and adult division, who took home the championship prize of $500 (to be designated to the school program of their choice) along with a much-coveted golden skull trophy, made by Bill Jarrard.

Team captain Kai Bond said his team chose to put their winnings toward the Special Ed programs, which will be matched by the Laguna Beach Lifeguard Assn. with an additional $500 for a one-time scholarship to water sport athletes.

The Rastafarians won the fourth and fifth grade group title, taking home medals and $100, which will be gifted to the fourth grade teaching team at El Morro.

Team Shwayze 4 stole the title in the sixth-to-eighth grade division, designating their $100 to the Thurston Physical Education program.

Top of the World Elementary Principal Ron LaMotte thanked participants for their support in building Laguna’s schools and community spirit.

“It was the most fun I’ve had in years,” he said. “And it created such positive school spirit with my staff and students alike.”

Event chair Kristin Winter was also thrilled by the passionate response to the tournament, but said she wasn’t surprised that the event went as smoothly as it did.

“With Rob Capobianco’s and Mike Sadler’s help, we were golden. SchoolPower is always looking for ways to bring the community together,” she said, “And it looks like Laguna Beach just wanted to play dodgeball.”

For more information about next year’s tournament or SchoolPower’s ongoing Community Campaign, call (949) 494-6811 or https://www.lbschoolpower.org.