With so many events in the Iowa Games come many directors for the Games’ events. Some directors love it so much that they stay in those positions for decades. Take Paul Lewis, the outgoing Iowa Summer Games and Winter Table Tennis Director, for example.

Since 1996, Lewis has been the Table Tennis Commissioner and Director for Iowa Winter Games and Summer Games. He will be handing over the reins to Dylan Garland for the 2019 Games.

Having the responsibility of running a huge event, can be stressful. Hosting an event comes with lots of preparation beforehand, so the event runs smoothly.

“It takes lots of prep time. Answering phone calls and emails from people who have not competed in a table tennis tournament before, and are unsure what to expect,” Lewis said.

Hosting the Iowa Games can cause a lot of stress, but Lewis always tries to keep everybody happy at the event.

“I try and reassure them that they will have a good time, and win or lose, they will get to play a lot of games,” Lewis said.”

Participation in events at the Iowa Games can be fascinating. The Iowa Games offers events for athletes of all ages and abilities, so with that one might not know what the demographics of an Iowa Games event could be.

“It is a lifetime sport for people of all ages. Gender doesn’t matter, either,” Lewis said.

Throughout the years, participation at the Iowa Games has gone up. However, in Table Tennis at the Iowa Games, the number of participants has been pretty steady.

“It has remained pretty much the same, with the exception that we have added a few events. Attendance ranges from around 50 (to) over 100 athletes,” Lewis said.

Lewis was a student at Iowa State and played table tennis while he was attending. During his time at Iowa State, he met another table tennis player that he would go on to know for quite a long time. Lewis said that he recently inducted Ames native Dhiren Narotam into the USA Table Tennis Hall of Fame. Lewis said he has known Narotam since he was 8-years-old.

“Dhiren has helped me with the Iowa Games for many years, also as a volunteer,” Lewis said.

The Iowa Games is often an event where people with similar interests connect or reconnect with other athletes. Many friendships can be made an event at the Iowa Games.

Lewis said that his favorite part of directing the Table Tennis event was meeting people with similar interest.

“They don’t forget that they are working with volunteers,” Lewis said.

This year is the last year that Lewis will be the director of Table Tennis at the Iowa Games. Lewis is unsure of what is next for him.

Dylan Garland will take over as director. Garland has been playing table tennis since he was a teenager, and has been participating in the Iowa Games every year since he was in the junior events.

“The Iowa Games means everything to me. It is the one tournament out of the year where most of the top players in the state come to compete for the title of ‘State Champion,’” Garland said. “I was fortunate enough to make it to the finals this year, and have two championship points. I failed to execute when it mattered the most, so next year’s Games, I will be looking for redemption.”

For Garland, running a table tennis tournament is nothing new for him.

“I have been running tournaments across the US for the past three years, so I am used to directing tournaments. I’m not worried about it at all. I know the tournament will move smoothly, so it feels great to have this opportunity,” Garland said.

As director of table tennis, Garland has some changes he would like to make for the benefit of the competitors, including the structure of the event and the equipment used. He is excited about the event’s future.