Sports

Even before the ball arrived in Vinton from Western Dubuque High School in Epworth, VS cross country parents heard about the impressive way that WDHS personnel handled the VS tradition of carrying the Homecoming game ball from the opposing team's school to Vinton for the game. The parents heard the VS seniors describe the classy, sportsmanlike way that the WD community welcomed them.

Vinton-Shellsburg took an 18-13 lead into the final quarter of its Homecoming football game vs. Western Dubuque on Friday. But the Vikings, playing without running back Nick Hyland, gave up 22 points in the final quarter. The Bobcats won, 35-18. "I feel like this is a game we could have won," said coach Jim Womochil.  Yet, he said, the Vikings are a young team, and when a player like Hyland sits out with an injury (Hyland injured his knee in the third quarter), the Vikings feel the impact of the loss.

The Red Cedar Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, in conjunction with the Prairie Creek Chapter of Pheasants Forever, will be hosting it's 2nd Annual "Intro to Trap Shooting" event for interested trap shooters ages 12 and up on Saturday, October 12th from 1-5 p.m. at the Ikes Club on Hwy 150. "We've had a lot of people drive by the Ikes Club when the Vinton-Shellsburg Red Cedar Shooters have been practicing or hosting home meets in the spring, or seeing the activities taking place on Thursday evenings during the Ikes weekly open trap shoots, and have shown interest in learning how to trap shoot.

The Vinton Parks and Recreation announces some upcoming deadlines:   Adult Volleyball League - Final Call! Registrations are currently being accepted for the 2013-14 Adult Volleyball League with four divisions available: Mens, Coed, Women's Upper, Women's Lower.  The deposit required is $20 and must be included with a registration form no later than Thursday, September 19th.

Vinton-Shellsburg sophomore Lily Horst continued her cross country winning streak finishing first at the South Tama meet on Monday evening. The VS girls finished second in team scoring while the Vikings, again led by Derek Dinderman, came in fourth.  This event also included JV and Middle School events.Eighth-grader Cole Tharp led VSMS runners, finishing second.

Sophomore Lily Horst won again, leading a trio of Vinton-Shellsburg girls in the top 10 finishers of the Benton Invitational on Saturday. Horst finished first with a time of 15:20; Bristi Gerber was fifth and freshman Cassie Kenney was ninth. The VS girls finished third, behind Mount Vernon-Lisbon and Williamsburg. Boys 4th in team scoring The VS boys, led by junior Derek Dinderman, finished fourth.

The Mercy Rule was in effect throughout the second half as the Vinton-Shellsburg freshman football team built a big lead early at Oelwein. The Vikings led by 36 at the half, 44-8. Under the Mercy Rule, the clock runs without stopping if one team leads by 35 or more in the second half.  Rookie Coach Tony Stenberg and the ninth graders are now 3-0, having outscored their opponents by a total margin of 100-30.

The Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings enter Homecoming Week "at the top of the district," Coach Jim Womochil told his football players after their 58-26 win at Oelwein Friday night.  The Vikings gained 440 yards on the ground and another 34 through their passing game, scoring all seven touchdowns on running plays. Sophomore Nick Hyland led the Vikes with 220 yards and scored two touchdowns.

A strong defense that recorded two interceptions helped the Vinton-Shellsburg freshman football team to its second straight win under first-year coach Tony Stenberg.  Vikings Tyler Bartz and Lane Rowe each intercepted a pass and the Edwards twins (Wesand Will) combined for 185 yards rushing and four touchdowns (along with several tackles on defense).

The Vinton-Shellburg football team started too slowly, said coach Jim Womochil, as he described the Vikings 26-21 loss at South Tama on Friday. The Trojans scored on their first two possessions and kept the Vikings deep in their own territory until the middle of the second quarter, building a 13-0 lead.  "It took us a quarter and a half to get going," said Womochil.