• Article Photo. Dennis Bramow was nozzleman on the Vinton team that finished third.
    Dennis Bramow was nozzleman on the Vinton team that finished third.
  • Article Photo. A local firefighter watched other teams compete in Vinton waterball tournament Sunday.
    A local firefighter watched other teams compete in Vinton waterball tournament Sunday.
  • Article Photo. Rusty Finley's team from Brandon eventually won first place.
    Rusty Finley's team from Brandon eventually won first place.
  • Article Photo. Brandon defeats Parkersburg in the championship waterball contest Sunday afternoon.
    Brandon defeats Parkersburg in the championship waterball contest Sunday afternoon.
  • Article Photo. Firemen, their families and a few local residents gathered on 4th Street to watch waterball fights.
    Firemen, their families and a few local residents gathered on 4th Street to watch waterball fights.
  • Article Photo. The wind from the west made it tough for the teams on east side to see, as the spray blew their way
    The wind from the west made it tough for the teams on east side to see, as the spray blew their way
  • Article Photo. Two Garrison teams competed in waterball fights in Vinton.
    Two Garrison teams competed in waterball fights in Vinton.
  • Article Photo. Waterball is a long-time tradition for Iowa firefighters, but not as common as it once was.
    Waterball is a long-time tradition for Iowa firefighters, but not as common as it once was.
  • Article Photo. These four men led the top four teams in Vinton's waterball tournament Sunday.
    These four men led the top four teams in Vinton's waterball tournament Sunday.
  • Article Photo. Women's team leaders hold their 1st-4th place trophies after event in Vinton.
    Women's team leaders hold their 1st-4th place trophies after event in Vinton.

The Vinton Fire Department welcomed 12 other Iowa fire departments to Vinton for a waterball tournament on Sunday afternoon. 

A total of 32 men's teams from 13 departments competed. Vinton fireman Dennis Bramow was the organizer of the event. His team finished third. Brandon's team led by long-time firemen Rusty Finley won first place, defeating 5-time state champion Jeremiah Hook's Parkersburg team. 

Women also competed in a separate tournament bracket. Some VFD wives competed for the very first time in a waterball event and want to practice more for the next opportunity. 

A few women from the AmeriCorps NCCC Oak 2 team watched waterball for the very first time in their lives. 

"What exactly are they doing?" asked one of them.

Below are the winners of the women's trophies (first through fourth place), and the team leaders:

1. Hawkeye 1, Stephanie Streeter

2. Nashua 1, Heather Sinnwell

3. Hills, Kathy Septer

4 Mount Auburn, Jessi Tharp

Men's winners were: 

1. Brandon, Rusty Finley

2. Parkersburg, Jeremiah Hook

3. Vinton, Dennis Bramow

4. Toledo, Curt Raue