Sports

  The first coach of the new Vinton-Shellsburg High School boys soccer program brings college experience along with high school success to his first coaching job. The VS School Board approved the hiring of Tim Kearney of Marion. Kearney was a four-year player and two-year starter for the Linn-Mar team which went to the State Tournament in 2008.

  Heading into the final weekend of 2011, the Vinton-Shellsburg boys basketball team -- with just one senior -- has compiled a 4-1 record. The Vikings defeated Benton Community 62-49 on Tuesday. They have also defeated Maquoketa, Center Point-Urbana and Marion. Their only loss was at Western Dubuque. Grant Sagan leads the team in scoring with 71 points, followed by Max Kearns, Max Griffith, Chris Merchant and Kelyn Rickels.

  The Vikings earned their first dual meet win of the season with a gutty performance Friday night in Waterloo.   Swimming with only 10 swimmers due to a number of injuries and illness, the young Viking squad managed to split a double Dual with Waterloo West and East.  The Vikings fell by a wide margin to a tough West team but managed a strong 80-44 win over East.

  The Viking swimmers continued their steady improvement as they competed Saturday as part of the annual Grinnell Invitational.  The Vikings finished fifth while facing Linn-Mar, Waterloo West, Indianola and Grinnell.  John Levis and Brandon Tharp each medalled for the Vikings with Levis winning the 100 Butterfly and Tharp finishing third in the 100 Breast.

     Vinton-Shellsburg senior volleyball player Ashley Strong was named to the Iowa Class 3A Southeast District All-District team. Strong recently signed with Southwest Community College, where she will play volleyball as well as softball. 

  Vinton Parks and Recreation Department 2011-12 Adult Volleyball Standings December 9, 2011   This Week's Results   Coed Division Sunday, December 4th   Fareway / Tharp Design 19--2 Ron-Da-Voo 15--6 PHHF 25--25--25 vs Diggers 16--17--16 PHHF 14--7 Meet The Robinsons 1

       Vinton-Shellsburg senior Ryan Webster, wrestling at the 160-lb level for the Vikings, pinned all five of his opponents during Saturday's meet. His successful weekend earned him a nomination for this week's Athlete of the Week honor at KCRG-TV. Voters on the TV station's web site chose Webster over two other nominees, earning Webster a place on an upcoming broadcast, as well as a unique competition against KCRG sports guy Scott Saville     Ryan accomplished all five pins in a total of 244 seconds, during the wrestling duals event Saturday, Dec.

    The Viking swim team participated in the annual Newton Invite last weekend in Newton, as the young team continued to make great improvements.  The meet included strong squads from Indianola, Grinnell, Decorah and host Newtonas the Vikings finished fifth overall at the meet.     The Vikings managed to earn several medals with top performances being first place finishes by senior John Levis in the 200 meter freestyle and the 400 meter freestyle and a second place finish by junior Brandon Tharp in the 100 meter breaststroke.

Scooter Dulin (right) earned the first track championship of his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career this season at Benton County Speedway. Pictured with IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root, the Cedar Rapids speedster won two features at Vinton in 2011. (Photo by Bruce Badgley, Motorsports Photography) (right) earned the first track championship of his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career this season at Benton County Speedway.

Nathan Chandler (right) topped Mach-1 Sport Compact point standings at West Liberty Raceway this season. The Norway driver, pictured with IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root, won 17 features, as well as the inaugural main event for the 4-cylinder class during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Cenex in 2011. (Photo by B