Sports

IMCA’s first junior national champion will be crowned in 2020.      Drivers between the ages of 13 and 18 in all eight IMCA divisions will compete for the title, with point standings to be based on the best 20 finishes in their first 40 starts.      The junior national champion will be given the same accolades as national champions in each of those divisions during the IMCA awards banquet in November and receive a trophy, ring and jacket.

GRINNELL — Coach Rob Levis’ Vinton-Shellsburg/CPU swimmers had a big day Saturday as they brought home a fifth-place finish from the rugged Grinnell Invitational. VS/CPU finished with 187 points for the day, and were led by some solid top 8 finishes. Carter Kirtz finished second in the 100 breaststroke in time of 1:04.05, and he was also part of the third place 200 medley relay team with Bradyn Schlief, Issac Allsup and Cyrus Elwick.

VINTON — Nearly 50 runners and walkers braved the chilly temperatures Sunday night for the annual Tour De Lights 5K fund raiser for Vinton-Shellsburg’s track and cross-country programs.    Jason Yessak — a member of the Wartburg College cross-country and track programs — was the overall winner in a time of 17:29.

MOUNT VERNON — A stunning second quarter blitz sent Coach Joe Johnson’s Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings to a 72-44 loss Friday night in WaMaC Conference play. The Vikes (2-3 overall, 1-3 in the conference) trailed 15-9 after one period, but the Mustangs hit them with a 30-point deluge in the second period and that six-point margin became a 45-14 halftime bulge.

    TAMA — The short-handed Vinton-Shellsburg wrestlers went 1-4 for the day at the rugged South Tama dual meet tournament. But with only eight of 14 weights filled, Coach Brian Sheston Vikings still made some strong showings.    The Vikings rolled past Iowa City Regina, 42-12, but dropped duals to Des Moines East 54-27, Solon 59-12, South Tama 59-21 and Dubuque Wahlert 35-33.

    VINTON — Balanced scoring a big run to start the second propelled Coach Rich Haisman's Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes to their third win of the season with a 48-35 win over Mount Vernon Friday night at Garrison Fieldhouse.     After week of heartbreaking losses on the court to Solon and Beckman and heartbreaking losses of the court with knee injuries to junior Aza Swayzer and sophomore Ali Smith, the Vikettes (3-3, 2-3 in conference play) had a breakout performance against the a Mustang team that had just come off a 43-33 win over Williamsburg     It was 21-all at the end of one, but the Vikettes went on a 12-1 run to open the second half and led 35-25 going into the final eight minutes.

On our first home meet of the season, our teams came out with a great attitude and gave our fans definitely something to watch, the boys varsity team led by senior Ryan Schoettmer really showcased his hard work with a great 483 series.  The team shot as a whole averaged almost 202. Great job gentlemen.Payton Haefner 204 153 357Riley Richart         227 156 383Cyrus Elwick         148 221 369Ayden Bearbower 178 204 382Cameron Karr 198 178 376Ryan Schoettmer 237 246 483The Varsity girls team led by junior Jenna Pattee, came out with such a positive attitude but a loss to the Go-Hawks.

VINTON — Coach Brian Sheston’s Vinton-Shellsburg wrestlers recorded 16 pins Thursday night during the action in a four-team quadrangular meet at Garrison Fieldhouse. Surrendering three forfeits in each meet, the Vikings fell to Alburnett 40-36, South Tama 69-6 and Clear Creek-Amana, 45-30, but there were still strong showings for the Black and Gold.

        WATERLOO — Coach Rob Levis’s Vinton-Shellsburg/CPU swimmers split a double dual meet Thursday at the Central Pool in Waterloo. VS/CPU defeated Waterloo 86-70, and fell to Linn-Mar 95-72. The VS/CPU won six of the meet’s 11 events, paced by Cyrus Elwick and Carter Kirtz, who each one two. Elwick took the freestyle sprints, winning the 50 in 23.

        VINTON — A close game near the end of the first half turned into anything but by the end Tuesday night, as Coach Joe Johnson’s Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings fell to the Dyersville Beckman Blazers, 64-46 in WaMaC action at the Fieldhouse. The game was close through out the first half. Beckman did have a 17-12 lead after one period, but the Vikings took the lead 18-17 with six minutes left in the half and were only down 25-24 with two minutes left.