Sports

      One of the state's leading rusher's and one of its leading tacklers -- both from area high school football teams -- have been invited to play in the 2012 Iowa Shrine Bowl.       Vinton-Shellsburg's Gunner Tranel, the leading tackler in Class 3A, as well as one of the leading VS rushers, has been invited to play in the game, which takes place July 21, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.

This Week's Results Coed Division Sunday, December 18th   Fareway / Tharp Design 25--2 PHHF 18--9 Ron-Da-Voo 18--9 Dominant Dingoes 15--12 Diggers 14--13 Hummel's / Iron Shed 13--8 Team Truax 11--13 Coots Materials 3--24 Meet The Robinsons 0--27   PHHF 24--19--26 vs Ron-Da-Voo 26--25--24 Meet The Robinsons 19--13--13 vs Diggers 25--25--25 Dominant Dingoes 25--25--25 vs Coots Materials 10--14--18 Team Truax 19--14--21 vs Fareway / Tharp Design 25--25--25   Bye Week: Hummel's / Iron Shed   Men's Division Monday, December 19th   Ron-Da-Voo 20--4 Neve's PFC 13--11 Blockheads 10--14 Terry's Gutter Service 5--19   Ron-Da-Voo 23--25--25 vs Terry's Gutter Service 25--14--10 Neve's P.

The six captains of the 2011 Union Knights 3A championship football team were honored today at the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors meeting in Waterloo, IA.   From left to right:  Dylan McLaughlin, Trev Hadachek, Wes Burnside, Shay Fehl, Cole Hinders, and Josh Clark.   The captains received a plaque form the board which will be displayed at Union High School.

       Yesterday, I went to my closet and did something I have been doing quite regularly for the past 10 years, and plan to do again in the future: I put on my St. Louis Cardinals shirt with the number 5 on the back. Albert Pujols' number.      While many St. Louis Cardinals fans have been hysterical since Albert agreed to play for the LA Angels next year, I can understand why Albert would leave his only "home" team.

  The first coach of the new Vinton-Shellsburg High School boys soccer program brings college experience along with high school success to his first coaching job. The VS School Board approved the hiring of Tim Kearney of Marion. Kearney was a four-year player and two-year starter for the Linn-Mar team which went to the State Tournament in 2008.

  Heading into the final weekend of 2011, the Vinton-Shellsburg boys basketball team -- with just one senior -- has compiled a 4-1 record. The Vikings defeated Benton Community 62-49 on Tuesday. They have also defeated Maquoketa, Center Point-Urbana and Marion. Their only loss was at Western Dubuque. Grant Sagan leads the team in scoring with 71 points, followed by Max Kearns, Max Griffith, Chris Merchant and Kelyn Rickels.

  The Vikings earned their first dual meet win of the season with a gutty performance Friday night in Waterloo.   Swimming with only 10 swimmers due to a number of injuries and illness, the young Viking squad managed to split a double Dual with Waterloo West and East.  The Vikings fell by a wide margin to a tough West team but managed a strong 80-44 win over East.

  The Viking swimmers continued their steady improvement as they competed Saturday as part of the annual Grinnell Invitational.  The Vikings finished fifth while facing Linn-Mar, Waterloo West, Indianola and Grinnell.  John Levis and Brandon Tharp each medalled for the Vikings with Levis winning the 100 Butterfly and Tharp finishing third in the 100 Breast.

     Vinton-Shellsburg senior volleyball player Ashley Strong was named to the Iowa Class 3A Southeast District All-District team. Strong recently signed with Southwest Community College, where she will play volleyball as well as softball. 

  Vinton Parks and Recreation Department 2011-12 Adult Volleyball Standings December 9, 2011   This Week's Results   Coed Division Sunday, December 4th   Fareway / Tharp Design 19--2 Ron-Da-Voo 15--6 PHHF 25--25--25 vs Diggers 16--17--16 PHHF 14--7 Meet The Robinsons 1