The 2024 Girls State Softball Tournament did not end exactly the way both the Fort Dodge Dodgers and St. Edmond Gaels and their fans had hoped it would, but it still showcased our community and its outstanding sports complex.

The fact that Fort Dodge has hosted the tournament for more than 50 years is a tribute to the work and the partnerships created by essentially a generation’s worth of local leaders. These are leaders who have seen the value in both having a world class facility in Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex, and maintaining a close relationship with the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union.

Attendance for the week was about 20,000.

Credit for the success of the 2024 tournament must start with the city’s Recreation Services and Public Areas departments. The workers of those departments, many of them seasonal or part-time employees, worked hard over the past week to keep the softball diamonds in top condition. Other employees fed hungry softball fans at the concession stand or collected admission fees. Lori Branderhorst, the director of recreation services, and Chad Graaf, the city’s grounds superintendent, played key roles before the tournament and while it was underway.

Mayor Matt Bemrich and the City Council continued the work of previous mayors and councils by making the tournament and the sports complex a high priority. City Manager David Fierke led the local government’s staff in getting all the necessary work done.

The staff of Visit Fort Dodge made sure the fans in town had access to information on the community. It also gave visitors a chance to have some fun with a selfie station.

Pulling off a successful softball tournament requires a partnership that extends beyond the ranks of city government.

The business community which catered to the players, coaches and fans has collectively been a supporter of the tournament since it came to Fort Dodge.

One of the key partners is Iowa Central Community College, which provided housing and meals for about 32 softball teams. That’s more than 350 people. The college has been providing housing and meals for softball players since the 1980s.

The dedicated sports staff of The Messenger played a key role in keeping everyone up-to-date on the tournament action. Sports Editor Eric Pratt, Assistant Sports Editor Chris Johnson Sports Writer Dana Becker, Sports Writer John McBride and Photographer Britt Kudla did an outstanding job throughout the week.

We thank everyone who made the 2024 tournament a success.