But for hundreds of athletes and coaches, their home away from home during the tournament is at Iowa Central Community College.

The student apartment buildings on the Fort Dodge campus are filled with the players and coaches of about 30 softball teams, according to Tom Beneke, the college’s vice president for enrollment management and student services. He said there are probably 350 people in those apartments during the week of the tournament.

“It’s a wonderful, wonderful experience for those young ladies to play in the state softball tournament,” Beneke said. “We’re glad to be a part of that by providing housing and meals.”

“We really value the partnership that we’ve created with both the community of Fort Dodge and the Girls Union,” he said, referring to the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union. “Anytime we can partner to support them we are happy to do it.”

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Members of the Martensdale-St. Marys Softball team relax for a bit in their dorm suite at Iowa Central on Wednesday afternoon. The Blue Devils are one of 30 teams staying on Iowa Central's campus for the Iowa Girls State Softball tournament.

Iowa Central has been providing a place for state softball players to stay since sometime in the 1980s.

Every year, 25 to 30 teams stay on campus, according to Beneke.

He said all 15 student apartment buildings are used to house the teams. Teams are not housed in the Woodruff Towers because those are starting to fill up with Iowa Central student athletes coming to campus for fall sports, he said.

The softball teams eat in theTriton Cafe and can get breakfast, lunch and supper every day, depending on what meal option their school picks.

Teams can also use the gym, fitness center and practice fields.

“We try really hard to accommodate any of their needs,” Beneke said.

The one thing the college does not provide is transportation between the campus and the sports complex. That’s the responsibility of the schools.

“Our parking lot is full of school buses, school vans and Suburbans,” Beneke said.

He said he hears lots of good comments about the campus from state softball players and coaches.

“We get a really positive response from the teams that come out and stay with us,” he said.