Sports

  The Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings began the 2011-12 basketball season with no returning starters, only one senior (who had struggled through several injuries during his junior year) and six healthy juniors. Yet, they won their division, and came within one game of going to the State Tournament. Several Vikings were among conference leaders, and even among the leaders in all of Class 3A in Iowa, in several categories.

Vinton-Shellsburg senior basketball players Ashley Strong and Jake Milroy will compete in the WaMaC Senior Shootout this Saturday, March 17. The girls play at 5 p.m.; the boys at 6:30, at the Benton Community High School gym in Van Horne.  The WaMaC West team will play the WaMaC west seniors. 

  Vinton Parks and Recreation Department 2011-12 Adult Volleyball Standings   March 9, 2012       This Week's Results Sunday, March 4th    Coed Division   ***Fareway / Tharp Design*** League Champ 42--6 Hummel's / Iron Shed 38--10 Ron-Da-Voo 33--15 PHHF 32--16 Dominant Dingoes 26--22 Diggers 20--28 Team Truax 19--29 Coots Materials 3--45 Meet The Robinsons 0--48                       Dominant Dingoes 25--25--25 vs Diggers 12--11--17 PHHF 25--25--25 vs Coots Materials 15--13--16 Meet The Robinson's 17--7--5 vs Fareway / Tharp Design 25--25--25 Hummel's / Iron Shed 25--22--25 vs Ron-Da-Voo 14--25--11           Bye Week: Team Truax                   ***Fareway / Tharp Design***    League Champion         Monday, March 5th     Men's Division   Ron-Da-Voo 43--5 Neve's PFC 23--25 Blockheads 19--29 Terry's Gutter Service 11--37   Blockheads 25--19--26 vs Terry's Gutter Service 15--26--20 Neve's P.

The Vinton Parks & Recreation Department will soon begin offering a Zumba class at the Vinton Skate & Activity Center! This cardio-sculpt, calorie-burning, Latin-inspired dance-fitness party is the perfect solution for those of you looking to spice up your fitness routine or elevate it to a completely new level! Instructor Katrina Reed will teach participants these easy-to-follow dance moves that will then be incorporated into a full-body, aerobic dance workout! This Zumba class will take place from 6:15 PM to 7:15 PM at the Vinton Skate & Activity Center on the following dates: March 19, 22, 26, 29 and April 2, 5, 9 12.

  The Vikings Youth Wrestling season is coming to an end.  Here is how things finished out for some of the local boys.   Kindergarten Carter Lamont 50lbs 3rd place, out of a 32 man bracket. Cael Smithhart 50lbs  was one win away from placing, out of a 32 man bracket.   1st graders Austin Kemp 50lbs 2 wins away from placing, out of a 64 man bracket.

  The Vinton-Shellsburg Viking wrestling team and coach Steve Johnson held their season wrap-up Tuesday at the high school. Junior Nathan Merchant was named the Most Valuable Wrestler. Several other Vikings earned special recognition, including: Team Hustler Award: Parker Oldtrogge Dick Shaw Most Improved Wrestler: Parker Oltrogge Blood and Guts Award: Austin G-Heims Outstanding Freshman: Michael Neal Most Team Points: Ryan Webster Fastest Fall: Ryan Webster (0.

Long-time Vinton-Shellsburg teacher and coach Don Lyle is a finalist for one of the National Coach of the Year Awards from the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. Lyle was nominated in the category of "Assistant Coach, Boys Sports" along with several others. He is a long-time varsity football assistant coach, and has helped coach a variety of middle school and high school teams over the past 40 years.

  This Week's Results   Sunday, February 26th   Coed Division Fareway / Tharp Design 39--6 Hummel's / Iron Shed 36--9 Ron-Da-Voo 32--13 PHHF 29--16 Dominant Dingoes 23--22 Diggers 20--25 Team Truax 19--29 Coots Materials 3--42 Meet The Robinsons 0--45  

  When Monica Huelman Zaruba first joined the Vinton-Shellsburg High School girls basketball team as a freshman in the fall of 1992, coach Harold Shepherd knew right away that she would make history at her school and beyond. "I could tell from the start that she would have a lasting impact on basketball, not only at Vinton-Shellsburg, but throughout Iowa," said Shep on Thursday, the day before Monica joined the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union Hall of Fame.

The West Dubuque Bobcats held the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings to their lowest point total of the 2011-12 season, defeating V-S, 55-41, in their Sub-State contest Monday evening at the McLeod Center on the UNI campus. The Bobcats shot 50 percent from the field, and hit 17 of 21 free throw attempts. Their defense kept the Vikings off-balance much of the night; V-S shooters made just 15 of 40 shots, and only 4 of their 17 three-point attempts.