Sports : Viking swimmers wrap up successful season

     This past Saturday evening the swimmers and family members of the 2010-11 Boys’ Swim Team gathered at the Pizza Ranch to wrap up the season.   More than 40 people were present to celebrate a successful season and pass out awards.

     This season saw an experienced Viking swim team turn in a superb performance.  Over the past few months, the Vikings won five dual meets, to include a dominating win at home against Waterloo East where the Vikes finished first in every one of the eleven events (a disqualification for a swim cap falling in the pool during the last race was all that separated them from a clean sweep).  But even more impressive was the fact that Viking swimmers set a collective 133 personal best times in various events throughout the year.  All year long these guys worked and swam hard and just continued to get better.  Vinton-Shellsburg may be the smallest district in the state with a swim program, but the team is very proud of the fact that they can compete with and beat these larger schools. 

      Members of the team voted on several season awards which were presented.  Senior Alvin Long was selected as the Best Teammate while fellow senior Matt Pettengill was recognized as the Hardest Working.  There was a tie between sophomore Nick Gardner and senior Wes Lyons as the Most Improved Swimmer and freshman Drake Tilson was awarded Rookie of the Year.  John Levis was selected by his teammates as the team MVP.

      The Vikings lose six outstanding seniors in Long, Pettengill, Lyons, Sean Dulin, Ben Stainbrook and Rico Carneiro.  Fortunately there is a solid core of swimmers returning to the team that we can build on.  Any high school boys interested in joining the team are encouraged to come out next year.  There is plenty of room on the squad.  Everybody gets to compete at the meets; nobody gets cut or has to sit and watch from the bench.  All they need to do is be able to swim.  If they can get down the pool and back we can teach them to do it faster.

      A special thanks to all of those from the community who supported this program and the team over the past few seasons.  People and businesses donated time, money and provided in-kind support to keep this program alive and vibrant.  All of the kids and parents are extremely grateful for your generosity.

      GO VIKES!