If you’re headed to the Iowa State Fair over the next few weeks, you might see a local man that’s become of the best horseshoe pitchers in the state. Steve Miller of Wayland is a competitive horseshoe pitcher who has qualified for this men’s state championships as sanctioned by the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association.
Miller qualified by posting top totals at multiple events run by the Iowa Hawkeye Horseshoe Pitchers Association. He really made a splash by competing at the NHPA World Tournament in Lansing, Michigan last month. Miller finished top of his group by putting up a 14-1 record and leading the group with 461 points and 190 ringers, getting a ringer on just under 32 percent of his tosses. Miller tells KCII Sports that most of what it takes to play horseshoes competitively is mental.
“The biggest thing is to relax,” Miller says. “You have to take a deep breath, clear your mind [and] relax your body. It helps when you stretch out and kind of limber up a bit, but for the most part you just got to relax.”
And Miller says he’s enjoyed the community of pitchers that he’s met since he first started entering competitions in 2017.
“The best part about it is the people I throw against,” Miller says, “because it’s just like family. They’re very familiar. Even when you throw in out-of-state tournaments, like [when] my wife and I threw in Missouri this year and Wisconsin, they just accept you, no matter who you are. They root you on and give you pointers and help you out any way they can. It’s just kind of a really family-oriented atmosphere.”
Miller will be taking part in the region team state championships that will happen this Friday morning just east of Pioneer Hall on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, hoping to help the Southeast team defend their title from last year. He’ll be back next Sunday to compete individually at the men’s state tournament after he finished third in Class A in 2022 and was the winner two years ago.
Miller also took second at the two player pro-am in 2022 alongside his wife Suzanne. If you’re an amateur, there are horseshoe pitching tournaments open to the public being held every afternoon at the Iowa State Fair this year through August 18th. You can hear a full interview with Steve Miller on this week’s edition of the PM Sports Page tonight at 6 and 10 o’clock. and tomorrow afternoon at 1 on KCII.