University of Iowa Dodgeball

The following is article put together by Jack Birmingham (Iowa’s content writer) of the Hawkeye Dodgeball Club. Find out how Iowa Dodgeball got started and what their team is all about!

The University of Iowa boasts 22 varsity sports teams and over 600 student organizations, with the latter set to add another thanks to the efforts of a small group of university students.

Stemming from an idea initially proposed by second-year Lucas Hesson, a resident of Mesa, Arizona, National Collegiate Dodgeball Association [NCDA] dodgeball is set to roll out on campus this year.

Hesson noted that many people may have a knack for games like dodgeball, viewed more as a physical education game than a professional or varsity sport.

“Anybody can play it,” Hesson, who played baseball and basketball throughout high school, said. “[In] basketball you need to be a great shooter, baseball a good hitter. [With] dodgeball you can just have fun.”

Hesson, who served as a baseball captain during his senior year of high school, also praised the game’s versatility.

“Anybody, regardless of age, race, gender, can make that into something competitive, win a championship,” Hesson said.

For first-year Benie Toko, a Davenport, Iowa native who has been running for 10 years, dodgeball represents a way to stay active beyond high school athletics.

“Dodgeball might not be a part of the traditional path, but a lot of the mechanics are very similar,” Toko said. “Several skills transfer across sports.”

Toko also spoke positively of the experience of serving as the vice president of Iowa’s new organization.

“It’s been fun,” Toko said. “I love the people who are part of this club currently and I’m super excited to see where we go with it and the different skills that people bring in.”

In addition to its existing NCAA teams, Iowa showcases multiple other club sports that, while unable to field a varsity program, have served as a community for many Hawkeyes. These include a bass fishing team, Esports, powerlifting, and even skydiving.

With everything from club sports to interest groups like a laser tag club present on campus, Hesson, Toko, and others have found early success in establishing dodgeball as an organization.

However, Hesson noted that there is still plenty of work to be done.

“One thing I’ve noticed is how much needs to be done,” Hesson said. “You need to do CPR training, you need to do concussion training, you can’t just say, ‘we want a dodgeball club.’ Starting something from scratch is a lot harder and a lot more time-consuming than I expected.”

For fourth-year Andrew Heim, a native of Muscatine, Iowa, serving as the club’s secretary has multiple benefits.

“I’m doing this to support friends that want to try to start something new,” Heim said. “Along with that, I just want to play dodgeball again like we used to in gym classes.”

While dodgeball may be a new concept in Iowa City, the university is far from the first team in the Big Ten to establish a squad.

Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Illinois, and Nebraska already field NCDA programs, as do contenders from other conferences, including Akron, Central Michigan, and Grand Valley State.

Toko encourages students to join dodgeball at Iowa, regardless of skill level or experience.

“I would definitely tell people that people have all sorts of skills, and there are many talented athletes who don’t go through the process to get recruited,” Toko said. “There’s always space for everyone of all skill levels. At the end of the day, we’re really just here to play dodgeball, have fun, have a great time, and really just be a place for people to form a community and come together for something that they value.”

To follow the Hawkeye Dodgeball Club’s progress make sure to follow their Instagram page at Iowadodgeball. If you are interested in playing or joining the club, fill out the interest form at the following link: Dodgeball Club Sign up. Not sure if the Iowa dodgeball club is for you, stop by the Iowa Student Engagement Fair on September 3rd from 5-7p.m. It is at Hubbard Park and come discuss the dodgeball team and what to expect!