Sports

The track where Corey Dripps started his racing career nearly 30 years ago is the same track he’ll promote in 2020.Dripps and his father Rick, partners in Specialty Racing Promotions Inc., will be in charge for their first full season at Benton County Speedway. They’d promoted a single event, the season-ending Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour show, at Vinton, the traditional home track of the IMCA Modified division, last September.

This Saturday night, February 22, the Cedar Rapids High School RoughRiders hockey team will hold its annual Senior Night celebration. The ceremony recognizing the seniors of the graduating high school class of 2020 will begin immediately following the conclusion of the junior varsity game, which begins at 5:00pm. The varsity game will begin at 7pm.

Coach Joe Johnson's Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings held off a late rally to post a 60-56 WaMaC road victory Friday night at West Delaware.Paced by double figure scoring from Sam Griffith, Jose Wilson and David Lapan-Islas, the Vikings (8-11 on the year) pulled out to a 38-29 lead at the half, only to have the Hawks cut the margin to two at 48-46 going into the fourth quarter.

Back at the beginning of this amazing 2019-20 girls' basketball campaign, the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes lost a 51-47 road game to Solon. It was Coach Rich Haisman's first loss as head coach and came on a night when the Vikettes converted on just 11 of 31 free-throw attempts. Saturday night the Vikettes went back to Solon and came back with a far different outcome.

On Friday night Varsity bowling competed in our conference tournament and I could not be more proud of these kids.  First let start with the girls,  these girls shot over 300 pins above average earning us a 3rd place overall.  These girls are working really hard and the score are definitely showing.  Our team was led by sophomore, Anna Becker, with a great series of 428 earning her a 3rd place individual overall score.

"Any year that ends at State is a good year..."-- Coach Don Holmes, 19-something-or-otherA season of injury and illness, of ups and downs, and emotions that went off the scale on both ends will continue one more week for the Vinton-Shellsburg wrestling team.Sophomore 126-pouner Brady Ortner used a first round pin and three big takedowns in the finals to win the Class 2A District wrestling tournament Saturday at Center Point-Urbana High School.

See Tuesday's pictures HERE!The Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes closed out the regular season out in style as they celebrated Senior Night with a 62-48 win over Williamsburg at Garrison Fieldhouse.Before the game, seniors Davia Herger, Kaitlin Meyer, Breanna Bean and Taryn Sutton (who was gone with an illness) were honored for their Vikette careers.Coming of a tough 49-31 loss to Center Point-Urbana Friday night Coach Rich Haisman's Vikettes (11-10 on the season, 7-5 in the WaMaC West) blew open a tight game with huge fourth quarter push.

The Storming Vikings season will continue as Sophomore Carter Kirtz led the team with a second place finish in the 100 Breaststroke and qualification for the single-class state meet next Saturday. Kirtz registered the 9th best time in the state with a 1:00.48.On the day the team registered five new team records and turned in new personal best times in 30 of the 34 swims.

Coach Brian Sheston's Vinton-Shellsburg Viking wrestlers have a pair moving on to Districts after Saturday's Sectional tournament at Williamsburg. Sophomore Brady Ortner (39-6 on the season) became just the 12th Viking sophomore to win a Sectional title as he took the 126-pound crown. He'll be joined next Saturday at the District meet at Center Point-Urbana by teammate Damon Swenson (25-11), who captured the runner-up spot at 120.

Vinton-Shellsburg senior track standout Lauren Upmeyer has been name to the Iowa Association of Track Coaches 2020 Academic All-State team.Upmeyer already an All-Stater in both the shot put and discus, was one of only two throwers named in Class 3A and she will be attending Indian Hill Community College this fall.Upmeyer is the daughter of Eric and Patti Upmeyer of Vinton.