Sports

Can you believe that summer already is right around the corner? Neither can we but we are currently preparing to bring you and your family a number of programs and special events to keep you busy throughout the months ahead.    Vinton Parks and Recreation Department's summer registration is officially underway for sport programs, playground, swim lessons and pre-season discounted pool passes.

It's Pickleball season again! What in the world is Pickleball, you ask? Pickleball, while easy for beginners, can also develop into an intense competition for high-level players. With a low net, a court smaller than a tennis court, and a no-volley zone, the pace of the game can escalate with four experienced players. Many pickleball leagues around the country feature experienced players with high-levels of competitiveness.

The Vinton-Shellsburg girls golf team continued its winning ways, taking first place in a triangular vs. Don Bosco and Waterloo Columbus Tuesday at the Jesup Golf Course on Tuesday, April 16. Coach's report: Jesup Golf Course Par 36 Overcast, cool and breezy conditions   Team Scores: V-S 202 Columbus Catholic 238 Don Bosco 267   Medalist: Erin Randall, 47 V-S Runner-up: Tessa Swacker 49 Columbus   Varsity Scores: Erin Randall 47 Lauren Tandy 50 Natalie Ketchen 51 Mara Jessen 54 Not counting: Cara Hach, Kaiti Kilpatrick Erin Randall was medalist over Tessa Swacker who bested her the previous night at Amana.

The VS/Benton Community golf meet Tuesday at the Vinton Country Club ended in a tie with both teams shooting a 171. Benton won the meet based on criteria. Tyler Stueck led all scores and was the medalist shooting a 39. Bryce Shaw turned in a 43 on his scorecard. Daniel Ervin finished with a 44 and Daniel Janssen shot 45. The Vikings also had their JV playing and were led by Austin Carolus.

Vinton-Shellsburg finished in second place at Gates Park Golf Course in Waterloo on Monday.  Daniel Jannssen led the way for the Vikings being the runner-up medalist shooting a 39.  Daniel Ervin shot a 40 and Tyler Stueck shot 41 to help the Vikings shoot a 165, their best outing of the year so far. Waterloo Columbus was first shooting a 158, Vinton-Shellsburg second shooting 165, Marion third shooting 173, and Clear Creek-Amana was fourth shooting a 190.

  Despite tough conditions that led to scores in the 50s, the Vinton-Shellsburg girls golf team continued its winning streak in a quadrangular meet at Clear Creek - Amana on Monday evening.    Coach's Summary:   Amana Golf Course Par 36 Weather:  wet, cold and blustery   Medalist: Tessa Swacher, Columbus     46 Runner-up: Cassidy Boe, Columbus      51   Team Scores: Vinton-Shellsburg            217 Waterloo Columbus         234 Clear Creek-Amana         236 Marion                           not enough scores for a team score   V-S scores: Natalie Ketchen           52 Cara Hach                   54 Erin Randall                 55 Mara Jessen                56 non counters: Kaiti Kilpatrick and Lauren Tandy   Considering the conditions and the difficulty of the course, our team did well.

  The Vinton-Shellsburg Red Cedar Shooters trap shooting team took 2nd place honors at the Cedar Rapids Xavier Trap Shooting Invitational held at Otter Creek Sportsman’s Club in Cedar Rapids today.   The Red Cedar Shooters Black Squad had a final score of 217/250, securing the 2nd Place trophy.  Red Cedar Shooters Gold Squad finished the day tied for 3rd Place with Cedar Rapids Xavier’s #1 squad, and after a shoot-off, ended the day with 4th Place honors overall.

Cooper Sanders, the son of Jason and Angie Sanders, finished second in the USA Wrestling National Championships last weekend at UNI.  Cooper was the national runner-up in the Bantam division (7 & 8 year olds), at 50 pounds. He was in a 32-man bracket; the only Iowan in the bracket with wrestlers from across the country. He had four wins over the weekend, bringing him to the Championship match where his only loss came.

Dual with Independence at the Wildcat Golf Course, Shellsburg Par 35 Weather conditions: warm, no breeze  (Perfect!)   Team Scores:      V-S                  171      Independence    202     Medalist: Mackenzie Black, Indee     34 Runner-up medalist:  Erin Randall, V-S   39   Individual scores: Erin Randall       39 Natalie Ketchen  43 Cara Hach          44 Mara Jessen       45 Lauren Tandy      47 Kaiti Kilpatrick     51 (count the low four for team score)   What a night the Vinton-Shellsburg girls had! They really came ready to play.

Richie Gustin doesn’t start many of his races at Benton County Speedway at the front, but he has a knack for finishing them there. Gustin raced from 13th to win Sunday’s Frostbuster feature for IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds at Vinton. He passed pole starter Scott Hogan at the flagstand on the 20th of 30 laps, holding off Hogan and then “B” feature winner J.