Today we’d like to introduce you to Adriana and Louis Nieman.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Mid-Missouri Kickball league was created by myself and my husband Louie, in 2017. After moving back to Columbia, Adriana’s hometown, we realized this community is missing the kickball community that brought us together. We actually met while playing kickball in Big Balls Kickball league in Tower Grove Park back in 2009. Yep, we even played kickball on our wedding day!
When we created the league we set the goal of providing an outlet where adults can get out, have fun, and make new friends. The league has intentional networking events, and fun game day activities and they focus on having fun more than anything else.
As a Columbia native, being local is everything to me! We have league sponsors that are all local businesses and restaurants. Most importantly we use kickball as a fundraising event for local non for profits. We are happy to facilitate the games for anyone who is looking for a unique fundraising opportunity. Each year the league owners passionately host a large tournament benefiting Welcome Home, a local Veteran’s homeless and transition facility.
We team up with Fulton Missouri’s CARDV (Coalition against rape and domestic violence) organization. In the past, we have held tournaments for Central Missouri Humane Society as well as Boone County Animal Care.
Also, we employ Mizzou college students as our umpires.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When you are creating a business where there is no other competition it’s quite a learning curve for some to join and see the purpose. Kicking off our business in 2017 we had 4 teams join, which is about 55 people.
Fast forward to our fifth year of business and we have 16 teams, which is about 300 people. The organic growth has been fantastic as people are sharing their fun experiences with colleagues and friends and recruiting others to join in.
Like many others, COVID created an impossible break from team sports. But overall I think the bumpy road has made the most perfect path to where we are. So much room for continued growth and new relationships to be created.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Our names are Adriana and Louis Nieman and we are the owners of the Mid-Missouri Kickball League.
I (Adriana) grew up in Columbia and know what a great place it is to live. I went to college in St. Louis and made a lot of friends while playing the kid’s game of kickball. In fact, it was a life-changing experience for me because I met my husband while playing kickball. Heck, we love the sport so much we played a game with our wedding party on our wedding day… we have some fun pictures!
When our family came along we were thrilled to come home to Mid Missouri. Having enjoyed playing kickball for seven years we wanted to continue to enjoy our hobby. However, we learned there was no adult kickball league in Columbia; so we decided to form one to create opportunities for fun, laughter, and fitness. Our goal is to foster an outlet for adults to get out and meet new people.
This league is 21 and older, BYOB, and both kid and pet friendly. We welcome all walks of life, all ages, and abilities.
Our community is growing as we embark on the end of our fifth year of business. We have had over 2,000 folks play in our league so far. The smiles and laughs are the measurements of our success and with that, we are incredibly successful.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
We have had one kickball couple get engaged during a kickball game in 2021.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.
midmissourikickball.com - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ midmissourikickball/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ midmissourikickball - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=TQ2CtpN5WdI& feature=youtu.be
Image Credits
Adriana Nieman
