News : Donkey basketball brings laughs, scholarship funds to Vinton-Shellsburg

VSHS FFA teacher Louise Fleming takes a shot....

.. but first she had to get on.

CJ Cordell hands the ball to Barb Salger.

Ryan Davis learns donkey riding skills.

Alex Springer and other students helped children with donkey rides.

VSHS girls basketball coach Deb Hanneman's motivation skills were tested....

The Steamin Road Apple team tries to score...

Alex Guenther was one of many children to ride a donkey.

Barb Salger tries to guide her donkey.

CJ Cordell jokes with Rob Levis of the Assassins.

Pat Lyons makes a shot for the Vinton Unlimited team.

so CJ tried to get the animal back in the game.

Aaron Zuspann's donkey called a time-out as the clock kept running.

Mr. Mohlis shoots for the VS faculty team.

Tiebreaker: Sarah Barron and Clare Cooling play rock, scissors, paper.

Clare Cooling hangs on...

A few more photos of action.. and attempted actions....

Matt Betterton shoots for the Backmassters.

Rich and Clare during Nation Anthem.

Teachers, all wearing No. 2, listen to safety lesson.

The legal warning for players, fans

A third generation of donkey owners brought a unique form of basketball to a second generation of Vinton-Shellsburg residents Saturday evening.

Thirty or so years ago, the FFA brought donkey basketball to Vinton for a couple of events, recalled Duane Fisher, who in his first year of retirement is still active in many organizations, including Dollars for Scholars.

A couple of years ago, the V-S Dollars for Scholars leaders were looking for fund-raising ideas when they heard about donkey basketball at Center Point-Urbana. They contacted CPU parents to get the contact information necessary to bring the game to Vinton.

That led them to C.J. and Jessica Cordell of Wisconsin.

C.J. brought a group of donkeys to Vinton for the second donkey basketball fund-raiser for the V-S Dollars for Scholars. The profits from the admission fee and concession stand will go toward scholarships for the VS Dollars for Scholars program.

"We made $1,523.40 on the gate for the Donkey Basketball game," said Wendy Riggle. "In addition, we took in $520 in the concession stand and in donations for a net profit of $2043.40. The only outstanding bill I believe we have is for the water we sold in the concession stand. The attendance was at about 400 people plus the donkey riders, pooper scoopers and coaches."

Six teams played in three 12-minute games. During an intermission, dozens of children had the chance to enjoy a free donkey ride.

In game 1, the Vinton Unlimited Assassins, with maroon shirts with "V-Town" on the front, played the Back Massters from Betterton Chiropractic and Clickstop.

Assassins included: Kathy Tranel, Dave Wessling, Tom Lindauer, Andy Lent, Pat Lyons, Rich Hainstock, Rob Levis, Nathan Hesson and Clare Cooling.

The Backmassters included Matt Betterton, Scott Barron, Rich Miracle, Marla Sutton, Brandon Wiley, Sarah Barron, Nicole Guenther and JJ Floss.

The game ended in a tie; the Assassins won in a tie-breaker of rock, scissors paper.

In game 2, the Steamin' Road Apples made their return, as the Vinton-Shellsburg faculty took on the VSHS junior class.

Faculty members who played included: Deb Hanneman, Barb Salger, Ryan Davis, Larry Gardemann, Jim Mochal, Eric Mohlis, Aaron Zuspann, Louise Fleming, Duane Fisher, Myra Kearns and Sandy Hamilton.

The VSHS junior team included Cheyenne Barnes, Charlie Betterton, Brinkley Gerber, Kristin Henderson, Johnathan Levis, Jake Milroy, Tyler Naughton, Erin Spangler, Alex Springer and Claire Riffey.

The juniors won 6-4; a last second shot by the teachers just missed.

After an intermission which included free donkey rides for children, the VSHS seniors took on the Court Patrol, with players from several area law enforcement agencies. The students won.

Senior riders were Jake Dyson, Allison Emrich, Erika Hammar, Megan Jorgensen, Travis Libbert, Wesley Lyons, Andy Roster, Ben Stainbrook, Shelby Beyer and Logan Merchant.

The Court Patrol included Whitney Stout, LaDonna Fairbanks, Jon Geiger, Scott Bahmann, Alex Reinert, Josh West, Ben Parmeter and James Livingston.

The north half of the bleachers was full of audience members who cheered, laughed and groaned as players scored, tried to get their donkeys to move, and at times, fell.

Safety lessons

Riders attended an hour-long safety session with CJ before the games began. He warned them that falling off was part of the game, and gave them some specific stories of injuries suffered by previous participants. He gave them advice on how to fall as safely as possible.

The session also included some humorous advice on how to apologize to your donkey if the basketball hits it.

Third generation

Jessica's parents and grandparents had been donkeyball donkey owners for many years. A few years after her parents retired, C.J. and Jessica resumed the business. Now, it's a full-time job, with approximately 180 events each year. The couple owns 70 donkeys; C.J. brought 10 to Vinton for Saturday's event.

Before the game began, C.J. put special shoes on the animals' hooves, and discussed each donkey's name and personality. The donkeys range in age from 7 to more than 20.

C.J. said that he tries to choose donkeys that are willing to go up and down the court. But, he adds, how well that happens is up to the donkey.

Farm leadership

Occasionally, animal rights groups such as PETA have protested the use of donkeys for this purpose. But CJ responds by speaking about how he takes care of the donkeys, and how much they seem to enjoy going to such events. See one story about his leadership in agriculture HERE.