Sports

Cheyenne Barnes was the 55m indoor WAMAC champ on Monday, at Cornell College in Mount Vernon.  She was also runner up in the 200.  Peyton Leonard was the 400 WAMAC indoor champ. See complete girls results HERE and WAMAC boys results HERE.

Several area youngsters are learning the basics of basketball, soccer and baseball each Monday through the Vinton Parks and Recreation Department Pee Wee Mini-Sports program. Brad Barker coaches the children in how to catch, throw and hit a baseball, as well as how to dribble with their hands (basketball) and feet (soccer). The sessions also include lessons on passing a basketball and fielding ground balls, as well as other fundamentals of the games many of these boys and girls will play later in life, in VPRD or school programs.

Shown are the winners of the Pickleball tournament at VS. (Pickleball is a fun game that is played on a badminton court with the net lowered to 34 inches at the center. It is played with a perforated plastic baseball (similar to a whiffle ball) and wood or composite paddles. It is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players.

Spring fever is in the air and to the delight of many, that means that softball season is right around the corner! The Vinton Parks and Recreation Department made major renovations to Lions Field last fall, including the installation of a new infield and drain tiles, a restructured batters box and pitching area, and other diamond amenities.

  The Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings began the 2011-12 basketball season with no returning starters, only one senior (who had struggled through several injuries during his junior year) and six healthy juniors. Yet, they won their division, and came within one game of going to the State Tournament. Several Vikings were among conference leaders, and even among the leaders in all of Class 3A in Iowa, in several categories.

Vinton-Shellsburg senior basketball players Ashley Strong and Jake Milroy will compete in the WaMaC Senior Shootout this Saturday, March 17. The girls play at 5 p.m.; the boys at 6:30, at the Benton Community High School gym in Van Horne.  The WaMaC West team will play the WaMaC west seniors. 

  Vinton Parks and Recreation Department 2011-12 Adult Volleyball Standings   March 9, 2012       This Week's Results Sunday, March 4th    Coed Division   ***Fareway / Tharp Design*** League Champ 42--6 Hummel's / Iron Shed 38--10 Ron-Da-Voo 33--15 PHHF 32--16 Dominant Dingoes 26--22 Diggers 20--28 Team Truax 19--29 Coots Materials 3--45 Meet The Robinsons 0--48                       Dominant Dingoes 25--25--25 vs Diggers 12--11--17 PHHF 25--25--25 vs Coots Materials 15--13--16 Meet The Robinson's 17--7--5 vs Fareway / Tharp Design 25--25--25 Hummel's / Iron Shed 25--22--25 vs Ron-Da-Voo 14--25--11           Bye Week: Team Truax                   ***Fareway / Tharp Design***    League Champion         Monday, March 5th     Men's Division   Ron-Da-Voo 43--5 Neve's PFC 23--25 Blockheads 19--29 Terry's Gutter Service 11--37   Blockheads 25--19--26 vs Terry's Gutter Service 15--26--20 Neve's P.

The Vinton Parks & Recreation Department will soon begin offering a Zumba class at the Vinton Skate & Activity Center! This cardio-sculpt, calorie-burning, Latin-inspired dance-fitness party is the perfect solution for those of you looking to spice up your fitness routine or elevate it to a completely new level! Instructor Katrina Reed will teach participants these easy-to-follow dance moves that will then be incorporated into a full-body, aerobic dance workout! This Zumba class will take place from 6:15 PM to 7:15 PM at the Vinton Skate & Activity Center on the following dates: March 19, 22, 26, 29 and April 2, 5, 9 12.

  The Vikings Youth Wrestling season is coming to an end.  Here is how things finished out for some of the local boys.   Kindergarten Carter Lamont 50lbs 3rd place, out of a 32 man bracket. Cael Smithhart 50lbs  was one win away from placing, out of a 32 man bracket.   1st graders Austin Kemp 50lbs 2 wins away from placing, out of a 64 man bracket.

  The Vinton-Shellsburg Viking wrestling team and coach Steve Johnson held their season wrap-up Tuesday at the high school. Junior Nathan Merchant was named the Most Valuable Wrestler. Several other Vikings earned special recognition, including: Team Hustler Award: Parker Oldtrogge Dick Shaw Most Improved Wrestler: Parker Oltrogge Blood and Guts Award: Austin G-Heims Outstanding Freshman: Michael Neal Most Team Points: Ryan Webster Fastest Fall: Ryan Webster (0.