Sports

The Vinton-Shellsburg golf teams combined two players off their teams to compete in an alternate shot format at Coldwater Golf Course in Ames for the Co-Ed State tourney Tuesday. Lauren Tandy and Tyler Stueck shot a 77 to medal and finish 6th for their best finish in the three-year run they had as partners in this event. The day was perfect until the winds picked up towards noon, which made the course tougher with the no-mow areas and links style of golf course, but they managed the course well.

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V-S senior Lauren Tandy finished 4th at the State Golf Meet on May 31-June 1, the highest-placing golfer in Vikette history.  Coach's report: Girls State Golf Tournament Coldwater Golf Links, Ames: par 71 May 31, June 1, 2016 Weather: 70s, mostly sunny   Vinton-Shellsburg Qualifiers: Lauren and Rachel Tandy   2 day results:   Lauren Tandy 43,44=87 Lauren Tandy 43,40=83 Total: 170   Rachel Tandy 56,50=106 Rachel Tandy 44,42=86 Total: 192     Senior Lauren Tandy finished her high school individual career with an exclamation point at State.

The Vinton-Shellsburg Viking golf team placed 8th at Spring Valley Golf Course this weekend and finished a very successful season. Tyler Stueck and Bryce Shaw led the Vikings. Tyler finished the tourney in 13th place carding a 156 for the two-day total.  Bryce Shaw played very consistently finishing with 162 for 28th place. Grant Noren finished in 34th place carding a 169.

Joel Rust made his way into the main event through his "B" feature and drove to the opening night checkers in the IMCA Hawkeye Dirt Tour Monday at Benton County Speedway. A Vinton record 48 Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds were entered. Rust is pictured in victory lane with IMCA President Brett Root. (Photo by Jim Wittke,SpeedwaySouvenir.

The Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes opened their softball season with a 10-9 win at Grinnell, scoring five in the top of the 7th and holding on for the win. Senior Maci Griffith led the Vikettes with four hits and three runs; sophomore Bif Davis also scored three times for VS. Rachel Tandy and Alex Maynard pitched for VS, with Maynard recording the win.

Sisters Lauren and Rachel Tandy will represent Vinton-Shellsburg at next week's State Golf Meet. Lauren, a senior who will play golf at Mount Mercy, carded an 82, good for second place at the Regionals even in Waverly on Monday. Rachel, a sophomore finished third with an 84. The siblings, who call themselves "best friends," are among five individuals advancing to State from that Regional meet.

The best Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified drivers from across the Hawkeye State and much of the Midwest converge on Benton County Speedway next Monday, May 30 for the first of a dozen 2016 Hawkeye Dirt Tour events.  The Memorial Day feature at Vinton pays $1,000 to win, a minimum of $150 to start and is a quali­fier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot.

Jim Struve stood on the bumper of a Vinton fire truck, looking toward the athletes who had just set new school records and returned home with a 2016 Iowa State Track Meet Runner Up trophy and banner. But the Vinton-Shellsburg High School Activies and Atheletics Director did not start his remarks by praising the speed or athleticism of the students who had gathered around him.

While their fans erupted in cheers, the four members of the Vinton-Shellburg girls 4 X 800 relay team reacted to their school-record setting performance with tears. It was an emotional end to years of teamwork, hard work and friendship among three friends and a little sister who have made running an important part of their high school routine.