The 2022 State Games of America offered a “ Field of Dreams ” in Ames , Iowa .
A PICKLEBALL
FIELD OF DREAMS
IN IOWA
By Alice Tym
The State Games of America held its 50-sport national championships in August in Ames , Iowa . Nearly 18,000 athletes of all ages competed in this year ’ s games . These games require qualification , so look up the qualifying tournament in your state . One of the best things about the State Games of America is that the national championships move around the country .
This year , Midwest players represented themselves well . Seventeen Ambassadors participated indoors at the All Iowa Attack Fieldhouse on the beautiful Iowa State University campus . One Iowa State engineering employee boasted , “ Iowa leads the United States in the production of corn , soybeans , hogs , and eggs .” The weather was warm , the humidity was low , and the surrounding cornfields produced a field of dreams for the players .
Tournament Director ( Shoeless Joe ) Jim Berger and Missouri Ambassador Tony Hoang ran the desk like a pickleball tournament should be run — fun , friendly ,