Ankeny Fanatic

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‘I can’t wait to play with her again!’: Jags’ Litchfield to join Balashaitis at CSP in ’27
‘I can’t wait to play with her again!’: Jags’ Litchfield to join Balashaitis at CSP in ’27

‘I can’t wait to play with her again!’: Jags’ Litchfield to join Balashaitis at CSP in ’27

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Junior goalkeeper Rylee Litchfield of Ankeny Centennial has verbally committed to play for the Concordia St. Paul women's soccer team in 2027. Litchfield will be reunited with former Centennial teammate Maddison Balashaitis, who is a freshman defender on the squad. Balashaitis helped the Golden Bears to a 12-3-5 record last fall. "Maddison has always … [Read more...] about ‘I can’t wait to play with her again!’: Jags’ Litchfield to join Balashaitis at CSP in ’27

Williams, Beam earn multiple all-state honors; Kiene, ACA’s Davis also honored

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Ankeny standout Jayla Williams has earned all-state girls' basketball honors for the third consecutive year, while teammate Ainsley Kiene and Lizzie Beam of Ankeny Centennial were both honored for the first time. Williams, a senior guard, was named to the Class 5A first team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association and the Iowa Print Sports Writers … [Read more...] about Williams, Beam earn multiple all-state honors; Kiene, ACA’s Davis also honored

Ankeny’s Kiene, Williams selected to play in Larry Niemeyer Senior All-Star game

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Ankeny's Ainsley Kiene and Jayla Williams have been selected by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association to play in the Larry Niemeyer Senior All-Star game. The event will be held on Saturday at Cedar Falls. It will consist of a series of all-star games, beginning at 9:15 a.m. Kiene and Williams will both play for the Class 3A/4A/5A Select Gray team coached … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Kiene, Williams selected to play in Larry Niemeyer Senior All-Star game

Ankeny girls’ coach Tobey departs after leading Hawkettes to Class 5A semifinals

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Ankeny girls' basketball coach Nate Tobey has resigned from his position after leading the Hawkettes to their most successful season since the split into two high schools. Tobey guided Ankeny to the semifinals of last week's Class 5A state tournament in his third season with the team. The Hawkettes finished with a 16-9 record, which equaled the most wins … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ coach Tobey departs after leading Hawkettes to Class 5A semifinals

Winkel, Huskies headed to Washburn as No. 4 seed in NCAA Div. II Central Regional

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Luke Winkel and the St. Cloud State men's basketball team are headed to the NCAA Division II national tournament. The 19th-ranked Huskies (25-6) received an at-large berth to the 64-team tournament and are seeded fourth in the Central Regional. They will play No. 5 seed Missouri Western (21-11) in a first-round game on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Lee Arena in … [Read more...] about Winkel, Huskies headed to Washburn as No. 4 seed in NCAA Div. II Central Regional

UNI’s Rathjen takes 2nd at Big 12 tourney, earns 2nd trip to NCAA Championships

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Former Ankeny wrestling standout Caleb Rathjen of Northern Iowa has earned his second career trip to the NCAA Championships. Rathjen, a senior, earned an automatic berth by placing second in the Big 12 Championships at 149 pounds on Saturday night at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. He led the Panthers to a 10th-place finish. Rathjen knocked off two … [Read more...] about UNI’s Rathjen takes 2nd at Big 12 tourney, earns 2nd trip to NCAA Championships

Fontana to be inducted into IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night

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In late February, Bob Fontana got a text message from one of his longtime coaching friends, Andy Howard, that stopped him in his tracks. "Andy was telling me, 'Congratulations. I'm proud of you,'" Fontana recalled. "I go, 'What are you talking about?', and he says, 'You're going into the Hall of Fame.' And I told him, 'Funny joke. Nobody has contacted … [Read more...] about Fontana to be inducted into IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night

Ankeny’s Williams, Centennial’s Beam named to CIML Conference first team

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Ankeny girls' basketball star Jayla Williams has been named to the CIML Conference first team along with Ankeny Centennial standout Lizzie Beam. Williams was a first-team pick for the third consecutive year after earning third-team honors as a freshman. She was also a unanimous selection. Williams, a senior guard, led the Hawkettes to a semifinal … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Williams, Centennial’s Beam named to CIML Conference first team

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carson Bright, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Senior guard Carson Bright helped the Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 12-11 record this season. He played in 21 of the 23 games off the bench. Bright averaged 3.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. He shot 57.4 percent from the field (31-of-54), including 12-of-26 from 3-point range (46.2 percent). Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carson Bright, Ankeny boys’ basketball

Season ends for Johnson, Pios with loss to N. Dakota in Summit League quarterfinals

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Carson Johnson's historic season at the University of Denver came to an end on Friday night at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Johnson scored 17 points but also battled some foul problems as sixth-seeded Denver lost to third-seeded North Dakota, 83-67, in the quarterfinals of the Summit League tournament. The Pioneers finished the season with a … [Read more...] about Season ends for Johnson, Pios with loss to N. Dakota in Summit League quarterfinals

Williams named to Class 5A all-tourney team after leading Ankeny to semifinals

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Ankeny star Jayla Williams has been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team after leading the Hawkettes to the semifinals of the girls' state basketball tournament. Williams scored 20 points and had four steals in Ankeny's 49-39 loss to top-ranked Johnston in Thursday's semifinals at the Casey's Center. The Dragons went on to capture their third … [Read more...] about Williams named to Class 5A all-tourney team after leading Ankeny to semifinals

Ankeny’s Hawkins earns Class 5A Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship/Award

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Ankeny senior Allison Hawkins was the recipient of the Class 5A Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship/Award during the girls' basketball state tournament on Friday night at the Casey's Center. Hawkins helped Ankeny to its first state tournament appearance since 2013. The Hawkettes advanced to the Class 5A semifinals before dropping a 49-39 decision to … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Hawkins earns Class 5A Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship/Award

‘I think they out-toughed us’: Pratt, Illinois State women lose rematch vs. Bulldogs

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Former Ankeny Centennial standout Jaeden Pratt has enjoyed a successful freshman season with the Illinois State women's basketball squad. Unfortunately, Thursday's game against Drake won't be one of Pratt's highlights on the court. The Redbirds fell behind at the end of the first quarter, 26-13, and went on to drop a 73-55 decision at the Knapp Center. … [Read more...] about ‘I think they out-toughed us’: Pratt, Illinois State women lose rematch vs. Bulldogs

‘We gave it our all’: Hawkettes put scare into Johnston before falling in semifinals

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There was no reason for Ankeny seniors Ainsley Kiene and Jayla Williams to shed any tears while they answered questions from reporters in the media interview room on Thursday at the girls' state basketball tournament. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes had left it all out on the court at the Casey's Center, where they dropped a 49-39 decision to No. 1 Johnston in … [Read more...] about ‘We gave it our all’: Hawkettes put scare into Johnston before falling in semifinals

Bayless battles foul woes, scores 4 points in final game of his college hoops career

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Braxton Bayless' college basketball career came to an end on Wednesday in the opening round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. The former Ankeny star battled foul trouble and played just 26 minutes, well below his 33.3 average, in Little Rock's 72-62 loss to Lindenwood. The graduate guard scored four points on … [Read more...] about Bayless battles foul woes, scores 4 points in final game of his college hoops career

Former Ankeny star Sears to be honored as Big East Conference basketball legend

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One of the greatest players in the history of the Ankeny boys' basketball program will be honored during next week's Big East Conference tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City--even though he never played in the league. Former Creighton star Ryan Sears will be honored as one of 11 Big East legends. He completed his college career in … [Read more...] about Former Ankeny star Sears to be honored as Big East Conference basketball legend

‘We just didn’t have enough’: Hawks get 41 points from Aguirre in loss to No. 3 Wolves

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Ankeny basketball star Rio Aguirre didn't want his high school career to come to an end just yet. But neither did the seniors on a potent Waukee Northwest boys' squad. The third-ranked Wolves overcame a career-high 41 points from Aguirre to defeat visiting Ankeny, 82-64, in a Class 4A substate final on Tuesday. "I'm definitely super proud of our … [Read more...] about ‘We just didn’t have enough’: Hawks get 41 points from Aguirre in loss to No. 3 Wolves