Sports

For most of her middle school cross country career, Lily Horst has come in first when competing with runners in her grade level.  She won the WaMaC meets in both seventh and eighth grade, and also set some track records. She also won a recent 5K race in Vinton, competing against women of all ages. Now, the VSHS freshman has won her first high school cross country race.

Tonight the Vinton-Shellsburg boys and girls cross country teams will travel to Mount Vernon to compete in the first cross country meet of the season. Last night, the team held its traditional gathering in the back yard of Pat and Nancy Jorgensen. The runners joined coach Frazier for a barbecue followed by a team photo. 

Two Vinton-Shellsburg High School  students made an unusual presentation during the VS School Board meeting Monday: A soccer ball. The members of the first VSHS boys soccer team signed the ball, which includes a team photo, and presented it to the ball to thank the board and school administrators for supporting the program which began last year.

In just four days, the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings get their first test of the Coach Jim Womochil era when they travel to Van Horne for the traditional V-S/Benton Community season opener.  The Vikings prepared for this contest during a scrimmage during the Friday night Blowout. In addition to seeing all of the high school players scrimmage on the field, the audience also met the members of the other fall VSHS sports teams, including cross country, volleyball and swimming.

Although car counts traditionally drop at many tracks toward the end of the season, the highest count since opening night filled the pits Saturday at Independence Motor Speedway. It was the last Saturday of action prior to next week’s Budweiser Season Championships.   Greg Kastli appeared to be on his way to his first win of the season in the IMCA Late Model division until a late caution bunched the field and changed the complexion of that 25-lapper.

The four day "We Build Champions" football camp took place this past week.    Here is a team photograph of all the campers who participated.     The camp focused on fundamentals and schemes on defense, offense, and special teams. For more information on Union football go to www.followtheknights.

Click to view 2012 Softball Standings

  Darrell Lanigan continued his hot streak in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, but it wasn’t without a fight. Lanigan, who held off Clint Smith throughout the second half of the Dirt Late Model Magazine 50, took his fifth straight series win at Independence Motor Speedway.   The second heat winner, Lanigan redrew the pole position for the 50-lap feature and quickly took charge at the drop of the green.

Vinton's legendary chainsaw artist Brian Parr has put his talents to work once again, this time donating one of his latest creations for Alzheimer's Awareness Night at the Benton County Speedway. The five-foot-plus tall masterpiece will be up for bids starting at 4:30pm on Sunday, August 12. Other items up for bid include a car care package provided by Koop's Automotive and G&G Auto, Newton Club tickets to the Iowa Speedway courtesy of IMCA Racing, a 'Music Box' with an iPod Shuffle and iTunes gift card and several other great packages.

  Winners Sunday at the Benton County Speedway included: Stock Car: Damon Murty Modifieds: Mike Burbridge Sports Mod: Curt Hilmer (third win in a row) Hobby Stock: Scott Pippert Sports Compact: Nate Chandler See complete results HERE.