Sports : Meet the Vikettes of the Class of \'22: 6th grade girls play many sports together

Not long after finishing their league basketball season, the athletes in the Vinton AAU 6th grade volleyball league are preparing for their first tournament this weekend, with the goal of returning to the State AAU contest. For volleyball, Shelly Patterson and Shawna Kurth have been coaching the girls since the third grade. "Shelly is the head coach and I am her assistant," says Kurth. "This year we have Marla Sutton and Anna Sagan helping coach since we have so many girls interested in playing." The volleyball team includes VS Middle School students Abby Bartz, Abigail Elwick, Aly Smith, Addy Maynard, Ashlee Thomas, Brynn Patterson, Bailey Weeks, Carly Bendull, Grace Sutton, Kate Hyland, Kinzley Kurth, Leah Hendrickson, Megan Hendrickson, Lexi Goodell, Isabel Mullinex, Morgan Lang, and Samantha Walton. "The majority of these girls have played since the beginning although each year we add one or two each season," says Kurth. "Most of these girls also play AYSO soccer together too, so I see a lot of them during the year. There is definitely some athletic talent in this group." The players have continued to grow in talent, says their assistant coach. "It's really interesting coaching her team and seeing how far our 6th graders have come. In 4th grade, we literally had to teach them how to hold their hands to pass the ball and now our 6th graders and slamming their overhand serves. The growth has been crazy to witness. Our first tournament is Saturday. After months of practice it's so fun to see this fun group of girls work together in games. I can't wait." VB schedule: The 6th grade plays in Tama tomorrow at 2. Then again next Saturday morning, Feb 13th, in Belle Plaine, Feb 20, in Traer, and March 5, in La Porte. "In state qualifying tournaments if we take 1st (or 2nd depending on how big the tourney is) we will qualify for State which at the end of March. Last year we qualified and played in Cedar Falls," says Kurth. Basketball roster Andy and Christine Smith coached the members of the Class of 2022 in basketball. Basketball players included: Abby Bartz, Kinzy Miracle, Kate Hyland, Carly Bendull, Brynn Patterson, Aly Smith, Samantha Walton, Grace Sutton, Addy Maynard, Bailey Weeks, Anna Becker.