Sports : VS Cross Country teams mark 25th year of carrying Homecoming game ball

Homecoming tradition for 25 years: VS cross country team ran the ball from Independence to Vinton.

Vinton-Shellsburg fans greet the cross country team as it arrives with the Homecoming game ball.

Ricky Jaray leads the CC runners into the stadium, holding the game ball.

Cross Country and football team members exchange high fives after the runners delivered the ball.

After a quarter-century, the tradition of Vinton-Shellsburg cross country teams carrying the Homecoming football into the stadium continues as strong as ever.

More than a dozen Viking fans lined the bridge over the Cedar River as all of the boys and girls on the cross country team – with Ricky Jaray carrying the game ball – entered Vinton.

The team and coach John Frazier had left Independence at approximately 3:30 in the afternoon for the 30-mile run. Later Friday evening, the Homecoming crowd cheered loudly as the runners entered the stands with Jaray leading them, the ball held high over his head. He presented the ball to Coach Jim Womochil, who handed it to QB Chase Overton as the football players and coaches exchanged high fives with the runners.

This is the 25th consecutive year that Vinton-Shellsburg’s Homecoming has included the tradition of the cross country team members riding by bus to the opposing team’s hometown, and then taking turns running the ball from there to Vinton.

The parents and fans who organized the welcome at the bridge hope to make that part of the annual tradition.

“I’d love to see people lined up all the way to the stadium next year,” said Annette Merchant, as she stood near the bridge waiting for the runners.