• Article Photo. Ugly Sweater Contest winners Nolan Edwards, Wyatt Meyer & Emma Lippmann wore them to the VSHS game.
    Ugly Sweater Contest winners Nolan Edwards, Wyatt Meyer & Emma Lippmann wore them to the VSHS game.
  • Article Photo. Santa (Logan Merchant) attempts a free throw at halftime.
    Santa (Logan Merchant) attempts a free throw at halftime.
  • Article Photo. Troy Hallberg and Logan Merchant dressed as Santa at VS-S. Tama basketball game.
    Troy Hallberg and Logan Merchant dressed as Santa at VS-S. Tama basketball game.
  • Article Photo. Paige Kreutner participated in the half-time shooting contest.
    Paige Kreutner participated in the half-time shooting contest.
  • Article Photo. Liz Moen sings the National Anthem before the varsity basketball game Tuesday.
    Liz Moen sings the National Anthem before the varsity basketball game Tuesday.
  • Article Photo. Logan Merchant won this t-shirt during the halftime shooting contest.
    Logan Merchant won this t-shirt during the halftime shooting contest.
  • Article Photo. Troy Hallberg tosses candy to VSHS students during halftime of the basketball game Tuesday night.
    Troy Hallberg tosses candy to VSHS students during halftime of the basketball game Tuesday night.

     Like most other Vinton-Shellsburg High School athletic events, Tuesday's boys basketball game against South Tama was more than an athletic contest -- it was a community event. 

     The big event on Tuesday at VSHS was the Ugly Sweater Contest -- or as people old enough to be parents or grandparents of VSHS students might call it, the "Ugly? You're calling this ugly?" contest. Students went to Goodwill and other thrift shops (and quite possibly, the closets of adults they know) in search of potential winners.

     Students had the option to pay $1 (plus the cost of the sweater) to wear the ugliest sweater they could find to school. Students voted on the ugliest sweaters, and winners were announced at the basketball game. Three of the winners, Nolan Edwards, Wyatt Meyer and Emma Lippmann wore their sweaters to the game.

     In addition to the laughs, the event also raised $50 for the Harvest House ministry.

     Santa was also there for the game. Two Santas, actually. This possibly caused confusion among freshmen who had a hard time understanding how there could be two Santas. Someone explained, however, that Troy Hallberg (whose beard is real) and Logan Merchant were merely Santa's helpers,  attending the game to pass out candy at halftime.   

     Logan, who is a wrestler when he's not helping Santa, tried a little basketball at halftime. He participated in the shooting contest. in this VSHS half-time event, two audience members try to make a layup, free throw, three point shot and half-court shot. Santa only managed to make a layup. The other contestant, Paige Kreutner made the layup and free throw, but her three point shots barely missed as the contest clock ran out.