Sports : VS adds several athletes, \'78 Vikettes BB team, to Hall of Fame

Josh Kauten

Don Neve, Jr.

Ross Timmermans

John Anderson

1978 Vikettes Basketball Team

Barbara Beyer Berry's brother, Bob and niece Robyn accept her Hall of Fame Plaque.

After seeing a "district" football game, they gathered at the Vinton Country Club where someone had burned a DVD to use with a laptop computer so they could watch 6-on-6 basketball.

The changes in school athletics and technology were on display when the Vinton-Shellsburg Hall of Fame inductees gathered for their reception after the Homecoming football game on Friday.

Among the inductees were the players of the Vinton girls basketball team, which finished third in the state. This took place in the era when there were no class divisions, so the Vikettes competed against teams from schools of all size. Also, it was the era of 6-on-6 basketball, when three forwards and three guards each played on one half of the court. Other rules included a two-dribble limit.

And in the 1970s, athletes competed in conference games during the football season; districts became part of the football dialog years later.

At the country club, where the school held a reception for all of the new Hall of Fame honorees and their families, a variety of newspaper clippings as well as the 1978 trophy, were on display as the participants watched that DVD of the consolation game in which Vinton defeated Fort Dodge St. Edmund in the 1978 girls state basketball tournament.

Below is the list of 2013 VS Hall of Fame honorees, as read during the halftime induction event:

2013 VINTON-SHELLSBURG ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CEREMONY

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013

Welcome to Homecoming 2013! Tonight we have a special addition to our Homecoming activities -- the 2013 Hall of Fame Induction. I would like to thank the Hall of Fame committee members for all of their efforts in putting this event together.

We invite all friends and family to join us for a reception honoring these inductees immediately following tonight’s game at the Vinton Country Club.

And now, the 2013 Viking/Vikette Hall of Fame Inductees:

John Anderson

Our first Inductee is, John Anderson, a 1952 Vinton graduate. While in high school, John participated in football, basketball and track, earning 5 varsity letters. In 1951 he was a defensive and offensive end on the football team that went 6-1-1 to claim a share of the WaMaC title. John has lived in Vinton his entire life. He has two children, Craig & Jody. The John Anderson family has been noted supporters of the school district, Viking athletics, Vinton Parks & Recreation department and the entire community. Mr. Anderson’s award is being presented by Hall of Fame Committee member, Dave Vermedahl.

Barbara Beyer Berry

Our next inductee is Barbara Beyer Berry, a 1957 Garrison graduate. Barbara was a four-year member of the Garrison Rockettes Basketball team that was State Runner-up in 1956 and State Champions in 1957. Barbara went on to play one year at Iowa Wesleyan College and also played AAU Basketball.

Barbara resides in Florida with her husband, Don. They have two children and six grandchildren. Accepting this award on her behalf tonight are her brother, Bob Beyer of Garrison and her niece Robyn. Presenting the award tonight is Janet Woodhouse, Hall of Fame Committee member.

Don Neve, Jr.

Next we have Don Neve, Jr., a 1979 graduate. Mr. Neve participated in Cross Country and Wrestling in high school. As a wrestler, he was a two-time WaMaC Champion, a two-time Sectional Champion, a District Champion and a two-time 105# State-qualifier. He ended his wrestling career with a record of 67-11-2.

Don and his wife, Joy, reside in Vinton. They have two sons who were also accomplished wrestlers. Don is looking forward to another exciting wrestling season as his son, Joel, takes the reins as the new Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings Head Wrestling Coach. Mindy McClintock, Hall of Fame Committee member, is presenting Don with his award.

Josh Kauten

Our next inductee is Josh Kauten, Class of 2000. Josh was a nine-time letterwinner in Football, Basketball, Track, & Baseball. He received All-district honors in football and baseball, as well as All-conference honors in baseball. He was an infielder on the 2000 State semi-finalist baseball team. He was also a member of the school-sponsored bowling team that qualified for state in 2000.

After High School, Mr. Kauten went on to play baseball at Kirkwood, then Illinois State University. In addition to his success on the baseball diamond, Josh also received several academic recognitions, including being named an Academic All-American.

Josh was an 11th Round draft pick by the Detroit Tigers. He played for the West Michigan Whitecaps and was selected for the American Association League All-star Game. He is currently Assistant Baseball Coach at Heartland Community College.

Josh is being escorted by his wife, Emily, and his family. His award is being presented by his high school baseball coach, Jim Struve.

Ross Timmermans

The final individual inductee tonight is Ross Timmermans from the Class of 2006. Ross was a nine-time letter winner in Football, Basketball and Track. He received All-conference recognition in basketball, and All-district and All-state recognition in football and basketball. He was a member of the WaMaC West Championship basketball team in 2005 & 2006. As a senior, Ross was named Viking of the Year.

After high school, Ross played basketball at Coe College, Kirkwood College and Wartburg College. Ross is being escorted by his wife, Missy, and his parents, Mike & Eileen Timmermans. Mike will represent the Hall of Fame Committee by presenting Ross his award.

1977/1978 Vinton Vikettes Basketball Team

Our final 2013 inductees represent the Girls Basketball Team that took third place at State in 1978. At that time there was only one class, schools were not distinguished by size. This team had a conference record 14-0 to win the WaMaC Championship and lost only three games the entire season. The Vikettes were coached by Harold Shepherd, assisted by Steve Blair, and chaperoned by Jan McLeod.

When asked about their favorite memory of the 1977-78 season, the overwhelming response was “The amazing support we received from Vinton and the surrounding communities.”

Coach Shepherd will present awards to the following team members:

Sondra (Jacobson) Dyer, Jana (Rector) Emerson, Wendy (Heineman) Ewoldt, Karen (Hesson) Helms, Mona Mossbarger, Tammy (Walker) Neuendorf, Traci (Speidel) Pflughaupt, Jane (Hanneman) Sima, Diana (Lauterwausser) Stauffer, Jamie (Fuller) Williams, Barbara Lindberg (who is being represented by her father, Russ), and Team Managers Danielle (Bridge) Robison, and Kim (Kleckner) Pendarvis. Team members who were not able to join us tonight are: Barbara (Michael) Rogers, Lisa (Lau) Haller, Deborah Hanson, and Team Manager Susan (Wittmer) Kwiatkowski.

Please join me in one last well-deserved round of applause for all of our 2013 Hall of Fame Inductees.