The college is hosting 30 teams this year. The players and coaches stay in the dorms, and can eat three meals a day in the Triton Cafe.

“Traditionally, that has been our big contribution to the state tournament,” college President Jesse Ulrich said.

He said Iowa Central has been providing housing and meals during the tournament for at least 30 years. Coaches and athletic directors know that and make advance reservations for their teams.

“Once they make the state tournament, our phone starts to ring,” Ulrich said.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
The North Linn softball team enjoys dinner in the Triton Cafe on Wednesday evening.

Typically, 25 to 30 teams stay on campus during the annual tournament.

Staying on campus is not free, but it is less expensive than housing a team in a hotel and getting all meals from restaurants, Ulrich said.

“We provide a very reasonable rate for the student athletes and coaches to stay on campus,” he said.

The teams are housed in the newer apartment-style dorms on campus. The Woodruff Towers are not used to house teams.

Ulrich said the college tries to be as accommodating as possible to the teams. About the only major service the college does not offer is transportation to and from Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex. Teams come to Fort Dodge in their school district’s vans and buses, many of which are now in campus parking lots, so they have their own transportation.