News : Senior Night in Pink as VS swimmers help with breast cancer awareness

The Vinton-Shellsburg swim team wore bright pink swimming caps during their meet with Decorah Tuesday night to show their support for the VS girls' basketball team's efforts to raise money for breast cancer research. The girls have been selling T-shirts as a fund-raiser, and they were available for sale at the swim meet as well as the basketball game Tuesday.

Pictured with their pink caps are:

Front row – John Levis, Nick Gardner, Alvin Long, Matt Pettengill, Andy Newcomb, Drake Tilson Middle row – Tyler Naughton (shirt), Rico Carneiro Back row – Brandon Tharp, Ben Stainbrook, Wes Lyons, Josh Yerkes, Sean Dulin

It was also senior night for the swimmers. The team's seniors and their parents were honored for their commitment to the VS swimming program.

The senior swimmers received a brief introduction that included some of their thoughts and goals.

The VS senior swimmers include:

Rico Carniero. The foreign exchange student is living with host parents Bill and Diane Hepker. He was the kicker on the Vikings football team and has been in swimming for three years. His future plans: Cure cancer.

Sean Dulin. The son of Matt Dulin and melody Neuman has been swimming for three years. His favorite memory from the pool is swimming a 25-second 50 M free. He plans to study construction and computers at a tech school.

Alvin Long. The son of Polly Long and Chan Duong is also in his third year of swimming and is a team captain. He has also been involved in track, football, School Senate, NHS and the mentoring program. He plans to attend medical school with the goal of becoming a neurosurgeon.

Wes Lyons. The son of Pat Lyons and Sandy Lyons is in his first year as a VS swimmer. He has been involved in band, cross country, band, choir, golf and NHS. He plans to major in biology with a pre-med focus at Drake University.

Matt Pettengill. The son of the late Merle Pettengill and Kathy Pettengill has been swimming for three seasons, and is also a varsity captain. He has also been involved in track and cross country. Matt plans to attend Iowa State University in order to become a zoologist.

Ben Stainbrook. The son of Brad and Becky Stainbrook is in his second year as a swimmer. He has also been in cross country, basketball, choir, plays, musicals and NHS. He plans to study business and finance at Wartburg.