Sports

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.

Faced with their third game in four days, without their leading scorer, taking on the number 10 team in the state Class 4A, the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes had a tall order to fill Thursday night in the Garrison Fieldhouse.But by the time the game ended, Coach Rich Haisman's scrappy band threw a true scare into Central DeWitt before falling, 53-46.The Vikettes (10-9 overall, 6-4 in the WaMaC West), were down 15-6 after one period and were down 22-8 midway through the second, a margin the Sabers (16-1) maintained at the half, 31-17.

By Rob Levis VS/CPU Men's swimming coachSaturday the Stormin' Vikings hosted the North Central Swim Conference meet at Coe College and delivered their best performance of the year and bet single-meet performance in a decade.  Overall the team captured 5th out of 8 teams, while generating several Conference Championship performances, two new team records, 50 new personal bests and the Conference Athlete of the Year.

As I start to write this I'm keeping my eye on a victory parade happening in Kansas City. One of our locals, Jay White the Assistant Equipment Manager for the Kansas City Chiefs was riding a bus in the celebration.The team is made up of 60 players, 30 coaches, 20 support staff members and 6 tons of equipment, you read that right 6 TONS. When they head out to play a game, somewhere there are 6 tons of equipment following them.