The incredible growth of the central region reaches its peak as we head into the Central Dodgeball Cup tournament this Saturday, March 7th, 2026 at the University of Iowa. These teams last saw each other two weeks prior at the Zanderthon Throw-Down X where Nebraska (UNL) came out on top. This time, the stakes are higher as each team fights for their place as champions.
UNL
Nebraska holds first place in the central region and haven’t lost a single game across the four tournaments they’ve participated in this season. They are bringing a full roster to this event (full 18), so they have the best chance of continuing their winning streak. It’s been highlighted in previous articles that UNL underwent a period of rebuilding over last season and into this season, but their ability to whip their rookies into shape and be the type of players their coach, Tre Sumrall, expects them to be is one to be admired. Even though they haven’t had the opportunity to branch out from the central region yet this season, each game they play is intense, purposeful, and an opportunity to get better. If my memory serves me, this season has allowed them to compete in more events outside those at home and in Platteville. While it’s hard to improve past being number one, the growth of the central league has given more secluded teams like UNL more chances to travel and play a wider range of teams they haven’t been able to in previous seasons. It will be exciting to watch them compete at this event and to see what type of energy they’ll be taking to Athens.
UIUC
Illinois has really made a name for themselves over the past few seasons, and their determination to earn their place in the league hasn’t gone unnoticed. They are still a relatively young team compared to Nebraska or Platteville, but they’ve grown into their own style with the help of extremely talented players and invaluable connections across the league. They’ll be bringing a squad of thirteen to this event, and their women will be participating in an official women’s match against Platteville. In fact, they’ll also have a team for women’s nationals in Akron this year! It is an amazing experience to not only watch the region grow like it has but to also watch the women’s league expand into the central region as well. This year’s national season will surely be an exciting one. In the end, all of their players have shown great improvement over the course of the season, and it’s wonderful to see the confidence the players have developed and the pride they exhibit when playing.
UWP
Platteville hasn’t had the season they expected with the loss of their B team and all the close-call games. They’ve fought hard in every game they’ve played, and their efforts haven’t gone unseen, so let’s hope this tournament goes better for them. They’re bringing a team of seventeen this time, and their women will be participating in a women’s match against UIUC. It’s true this season has been a hard one for UWP, and there’s a lot of pressure to close it out on a high note, but they just need to stick to their strategy and play as a unit because their gameplay works. They’ve got a team that knows the game in and out, and they have strong players on both offense and defense; they just have to get out of their own way. Let’s hope they get a few more wins under their belt before nationals.
Iowa
Iowa has made an impressive debut to the world of dodgeball. They have several strong and confident players that hold down their team and keep points alive. It was said in a previous article that Iowa only has one direction to go–up, and that’s exactly what they’ve done. They’ve played every team in the central region so far and have made comments on how impressive their opponents are, but that recognition is delivered right back. It’s hard to start from nothing, but with the exceptional support from the league, they’ve put in the work to learn the game and compete at a higher level. They’re even planning to attend Nationals this year with a little help from their community as they raise the funds to travel. Ten players will make up the Iowa roster, and we know that their captains will lead them into each game with a positive attitude and determination to score points.
Check out the live streaming at the UW-Platteville Dodgeball Club’s YouTube Channel and check out the various social medias for updates after the tournament.