Sports

Three Union High School student-athletes who made commitments to play college athletics on Wednesday.   Kylie Powell, senior, signed a national letter of intent to play soccer at UNI.   Trev Hadachek, senior, committed to Iowa as a preferred walk-on. He turned down four earlier FCS offers from Eastern  Illinois (sophomore offer), South Dakota State, North Dakota, and UNI.

The Vinton-Shellsburg Post-Prom Committee is raffling baskets as part of its fund-raising campaign. The winning names will be drawn on Feb. 12, after the last of the regular season basketball games. There is a basket for V-S fans, as well as one each for UNI, Iowa and Iowa State. There is also a basket for those who love baking and those who love coffee.

There is only one undefeated boys basketball team in Class 3A in Iowa: Vinton-Shellsburg. The WaMaC West champion Vikings jumped to a quick 15-5 lead over Williamsburg on their home court Tuesday en route to a 55-43 win. Grant Sagan scored 11 of those first 15 for V-S, and led his team with 20 points. The Vikings held the Raiders to 15 first-half points and went to the locker room leading 30-15.

Independence (INDE) 54.0 Vinton-Shellsburg (VISH) 14.0 126: Caleb Studebaker, INDE, dec. Nick Hyland, VISH, 9-2. 132: Nathan Merchant, VISH, maj. dec. Elliott Ryan, INDE, 16-3. 138: John Morkel, INDE, tech. fall Hunter Vogt, VISH, 6:00 18-0. 145: Chase Straw, INDE, pinned Parker Oltrogge, VISH, 1:32. 152: Riley Hopkins, VISH, dec. Jake Juhl, INDE, 3-2.

The sectional wrestling tournament took place in Vinton on Saturday, and Max Wehage (106 pounds) scored the most team points for the Vikings while placing second. Complete VS results are below. IHSAA 2A Sect. 11 Results for Vinton-Shellsburg 106 - Max Wehage (37-10) placed 2nd and scored 20.00 team points.     Quarterfinal - Max Wehage (Vinton-Shellsburg) 37-10 received a bye () (Bye)     Semifinal - Max Wehage (Vinton-Shellsburg) 37-10 won by pin over Andrew Busch (Denver-Tripoli) 27-9 (Pin 5:43)     1st Place Match - Brock Rathbun (Center Point-Urbana) 36-2 won by pin over Max Wehage (Vinton-Shellsburg) 37-10 (Pin 1:32)     2nd Place Match - Max Wehage (Vinton-Shellsburg) 37-10 won by pin over Ryan Errthum (Mid-Prairie, Wellman) 33-19 (Pin 2:57) 113 - Brayden Laton (1-2) placed 6th and scored 4.

With the exception of two close losses to Center Point-Urbana, the Benton Community girls basketball team has dominated its competition throughout the 2012-13 season. The Bobcats did that Friday in Vinton, defeating Vinton-Shellsburg 73-27. See complete stats HERE.

Ray Lewis fans, along with those who support the Baltimore Ravens, are celebrating the Ravens' win in this year's Super Bowl. VSHS student Jordan Womochil made it clear which team and athlete he supports with this black and white image of Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis, who has announced his plans to retire after this game. Jordan's project from art class was on display in the VSHS cafeteria Friday evening.

Down by five at half-time on Friday night, the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings had to rely on their third quarter scoring tradition and Max Griffifth's and Chris Merchant's 3-point shooting to keep their record perfect. The Benton Community Bobcats had played the Vikings very close for three quarters when the teams met in Vinton earlier this season, but the Vikings eventually won by 15.

The Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings made are now 17-0 on the 2012-13 basketball season. The Vikings traveled to Waterloo, where they defeated Columbus Catholic, 77-52. The Vikings led 19-9 after the first quarter, and 44-16 at halftime. Max Griffith made five of six 3-point attempts and led the Vikings with 20 points. Kelyn Rickels added 13; Grant Sagan, 12; and Max Kearns, 11.

The top-ranked, unbeaten Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings kept their perfect season intact on Friday, defeating Center Point-Urbana, 68-62. The Vikings again trailed early in the first quarter, as the Stormin' Pointers hit two quick 3-point shots and took a 6-1 lead. The CPU lead was 11-5 until Max Griffith hit to straight 3-pointers to tie it. Another 3-pointer gave the Stormin' Pointers their final lead, 14-11.