The success of the Ankeny boys’ soccer program didn’t happen overnight.
The Hawks struggled to a 2-12-2 record in their first season of competition in 1985, and they didn’t post a winning mark until 1989, when coach Mark McDougal led the team to a 7-6-3 campaign.
The 1990s saw some gradual progress under McDougal and then Peter Rameh, who took over the program in 1993. Still, it was an up-and-down decade for the Hawks, who went a combined 62-80-10 from 1990-99.
In 2001, Rameh guided Ankeny to a 14-3 record in his final season. Ever since, the Hawks have been consistent winners under coaches Jim Hunter, Rick Isaacson, Aaron Ruff, Brian Duax and Jordan Burns.
Ankeny went a combined 130-51 in the 2000s, then compiled an impressive 61-13-1 mark from 2010-13 before the split into two high schools. The Hawks have posted a 60-57 record since 2014, giving the program a career mark of 335-243-20.
Ankeny Centennial, meanwhile, has never had a losing season in its seven years as a varsity program. The Jaguars compiled an 86-26 record under Ruff and Duax from 2014-19 before the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In its 35-year history, the Ankeny program has produced dozens of all-conference players, numerous all-staters and many college recruits. The Centennial program has also produced a ton of talent in a short period of time.
Perhaps nobody has been more associated with Ankeny soccer than Ruff, who starred as a player and went on to coach at both schools.
“Growing up in Ankeny I have seen soccer grow exponentially–from being a ball boy in 1991 to playing as a senior at AHS in 1997,” Ruff said. “There are so many precious memories that I have from the Ankeny High School soccer program. The relationships that I made during that time are still some of my best friends. Soccer in Ankeny has changed greatly from not being able to compete with the great programs to being one of the best programs in the state. This is due to the great coaching that the program has had. Mark McDougal, Peter Rameh, Rick Isaacson, Brian Duax and Marcus Varnum have done a great job of developing great players and young men.”
So, who are the best players ever produced by this soccer-loving community? Well, that’s what we’re here for.
Here, then, is the Ankeny Fanatic all-time Ankeny boys’ soccer team, comprised of three complete squads:
FIRST TEAM
Jacob Misel, forward: He scored four goals as a freshman in 2004, helping Ankeny to a 10-9 record in Hunter’s final season. Misel then developed into a star over the next three seasons after Isaacson took over the program. In 2005, he scored 14 goals while leading the Hawks to a 14-6 mark. As a junior, he had seven goals and four assists as Ankeny went 10-7 and earned the first trip to state in school history. Then, in 2007, Misel capped off his career by leading the Hawks to their only state title. He scored two goals in the final 5 minutes to give Ankeny a 2-1 win over defending state champion Valley in the Class 2A semifinals. In the championship game a few days later, Misel scored the game’s only goal off an assist by Ben Poppen as Ankeny defeated Iowa City West, 1-0. He was named the captain of the all-tournament team. “Without a doubt, the top memory for me is winning the state championship and everything about the state tournament,” Misel said. “What I remember the most are the practices and team dinners. We had a really good group of guys on the team, and it was fun to hang out with everyone.”
The Hawks finished 20-1 and also won their first outright CIML Central Conference crown. Ankeny was ranked seventh in the final national spring rankings, according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Misel was named Iowa’s Mr. Soccer and was selected to the Class 2A all-state first team. He also earned all-conference first-team honors for the third straight year. Misel scored a team-high 20 goals and had 45 in his career before going on to play for Elmhurst (Ill.) College. “I am proud of my accomplishments, but most of my life goals these days don’t center around soccer,” Misel said. “Therefore, I don’t think of my past soccer accomplishments often. That being said, when the state tournament comes around, it crosses my mind.” Misel’s sister, Mackenzie, was earlier named to Ankeny Fanatic’s all-time Ankeny girls’ soccer team. “He’s the most accomplished player while at Ankeny High School,” said Isaacson, who left Ankeny in 2011 to become the head coach of the Simpson men’s program. “He led the team to the only state championship in program history.” For those reasons, let’s make Misel the captain of our all-time team.
Armin Mujdzic, forward: As a freshman in 1999, he contributed five assists for a team that posted a 5-8 record. In 2000, Mujdzic racked up 13 goals and eight assists while helping the Hawks to an 11-5 mark. He earned second-team all-conference honors. As a junior, he led Ankeny to the best season in school history at the time. Mujdzic scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Urbandale in the opening round of a Class 2A substate tournament, avenging an earlier 7-0 loss to the J-Hawks. At the time, it was arguably the biggest win in school history. Urbandale was ranked second in the state and 16th in the nation, losing for only the second time in 17 games. The Hawks eventually dropped a 4-1 decision to Ames in the substate final, but Mujdzic finished the season with a school-record 28 goals and also had four assists. He scored four goals in a win over Mason City and had three goals in three other games. As a senior, Mujdzic transferred to Urbandale and led the J-Hawks to the Class 2A crown. “He was arguably the best player to have ever played at Ankeny. He was a remarkable talent,” Isaacson said. “He’s had the most accomplished career beyond high school in terms of professional soccer opportunities.”
Kolby Raineri, forward: He burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2016, when he scored 12 goals and had two assists while helping Ankeny reach the state tournament. He was named to the Eastern Division first team. As a sophomore, he contributed six goals and six assists and was selected to the Central Conference second team. As a junior, Raineri blossomed into a star in Burns’ first season, racking up 20 goals and nine assists while leading the Hawks to a 17-5 record and a third-place finish in Class 3A. He scored the tying and winning goals as Ankeny defeated Iowa City West, 4-3, in double overtime in the consolation final. He was named to the all-tournament team along with teammate Peter Gaspari and was also a first-team all-state pick. In 2019, he had 13 goals and 17 assists as Ankeny again advanced to state before losing a rematch against Iowa City West, 2-1, in a Class 3A quarterfinal. He scored the Hawks’ only goal on a penalty kick in the final minutes–it was the 51st goal of his career. He was an elite all-state selection and a four-time team MVP. “The thing I remember most about my high school career was probably just how much fun I had each year,” Raineri said. “From freshman year to senior year, I loved being a part of the high school team. My favorite memory has to be beating Centennial all four years I was there.” Raineri now plays for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, where he moved to the midfield and accumulated 12 points as a freshman.
Jeff Goodrich, midfielder: He was Ankeny’s Most Valuable Player as a sophomore in 2004, when he scored 13 goals and led the Hawks to a 10-9 record. He was a first-team all-conference selection. As a junior, he helped Ankeny to a 14-6 mark in Isaacson’s first season. He was named to the all-conference second team. In 2006, Goodrich led the team with 10 goals and also had four assists. He had four of his goals in a 6-0 win over Des Moines East in the season opener. Ankeny later posted a 2-1 victory at fifth-ranked Ames in the substate final, avenging an earlier 2-0 loss as well as a 2-0 loss in the 2005 substate final when Byron Millea scored a goal just 49 seconds into overtime. The Hawks then lost to Bettendorf, 1-0, in a Class 2A quarterfinal. Goodrich was a first-team all-conference pick. “He was a great player,” Isaacson said. “He captained the first-ever Ankeny team to qualify for a state tournament, then went on to play at Truman State.”
Dan Peacock, midfielder: He was a three-time first-team all-conference player who helped Ankeny to a record of 47-8 and a pair of trips to the state tournament from 2008-10. As a sophomore, he contributed one goal and one assist for a team that lost to Urbandale in double overtime in a substate semifinal. In 2009, he had two goals and an assist while helping the Hawks to a fourth-place finish in Class 3A. As a senior, Peacock had three goals and seven assists as Ankeny again qualified for the state tournament. Despite scoring just six goals over those three seasons, his value to the team could never be measured in numbers. He simply helped his team dominate the middle of the field, whether he was shutting down an opponent’s attack or setting up a teammate for an attack by the Hawks. He was a unanimous pick to the all-conference first team in each of his last two seasons. “He was a stud,” Isaacson said. “He was underrated, but he was a huge part of that group’s success.”
Marcus Varnum, midfielder: The current head coach of the Ankeny boys’ team was a great player for the Hawks as well. He was a freshman on the 2009 team that placed fourth in Class 3A despite losing two of its best players, Ben Poppen and Zeb Miller, before the season even started. The Hawks posted a 3-2 win over defending state champion Dowling Catholic, allowing them to tie the Maroons for the conference title. As a sophomore, Varnum scored two goals and set a school record with 14 assists for a team that went 17-2 and won the league crown. He was a second-team all-conference pick. In 2011, he had six goals and 12 assists while helping Ankeny to a 13-4 record. Then, as a senior, he racked up three goals and 19 assists, leading the team in assists for the third straight year and breaking his own school record. He was named Ankeny’s Most Valuable Player and was a repeat pick to the all-conference first team after leading the Hawks to a 17-3 mark in Ruff’s first season as head coach, which ended with a 2-1 loss to Ames in a shootout in a Class 3A quarterfinal. “There’s a whole bunch of awesome Hawks that have gotten this program to an extremely competitive spot,” Varnum said. “I’m very honored to be a part of this crew and to be considered on this list!” Varnum went on to play for Isaacson at Simpson before returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2016. He was promoted to head coach in October of 2019. “He’s one of the top players to play at Ankeny, and he’s on my staff at Simpson,” Isaacson said. “He’s a legend in my eyes.”
Michael Brandt, defender: He was one of the leaders of Centennial’s defensive unit from 2016-19, helping the Jaguars to a 51-20 record during that stretch. He also contributed to the team’s offensive attack, producing 18 goals and 11 assists in his career. As a junior in 2018, he had eight goals and three assists as Centennial advanced to the state tournament for only the second time in school history. He scored the team’s lone goal as the Jaguars lost to Iowa City West, 2-1, in overtime in a Class 3A quarterfinal. As a senior, Brandt had eight goals and five assists. He is part of a soccer-loving family. His sisters–Mary, Sarah and Meg–were all standouts as well. Meg is now playing professionally and was named the co-captain of Ankeny Fanatic’s all-time Ankeny girls’ soccer team; Sarah was also selected to the squad. Brandt is now a sophomore at Loras College, where he appeared in 19 games with seven starts as a freshman, helping the Duhawks to a 15-6-1 record.
Andrew Goodrich, defender: He followed in the footsteps of his brother, Jeff, and became a standout player as well. As a freshman in 2007, he earned all-conference honorable mention after helping Ankeny to the state title. In 2008, he played a key role as Ankeny posted five shutouts en route to a 12-3 record. As a junior, he had three goals and two assists for a team that placed fourth in Class 3A while giving up only 12 goals all season. In 2010, he contributed two goals and three assists as the Hawks again advanced to the state tournament. He was a first-team all-conference pick for the third straight year and was a unanimous selection for the second year in a row. During his four-year career, Ankeny went a combined 67-9. “He was another one of the top guys I coached during my time at Ankeny,” Isaacson said. “He was a four-year starter and a multi-year captain. He was one of the best.”
Matt Loney, defender: As a sophomore in 2008, he was part of a defensive unit that allowed just 0.9 goals per game as Ankeny posted a 12-3 record. He earned all-conference honorable mention. In 2009, Loney helped the Hawks to an 18-3 mark and a fourth-place finish in Class 3A. The team allowed only 12 goals all year. He was named to the all-conference second team. As a senior, Loney was the leader of a defensive unit that posted 12 shutouts. Ankeny won the conference title and advanced to state before losing to Iowa City High in a Class 3A quarterfinal, finishing at 17-2. He was a first-team all-conference and a second-team all-state selection. “Matt was a big part of that core group that took Ankeny soccer to the next level,” Isaacson said. “He was a three-year starter at center back and a team captain.”
Zeb Miller, defender: His powerful right leg eventually landed him a college football scholarship, but Miller also shined on the soccer field during high school. As a freshman in 2006, he earned all-conference honorable mention after helping the Hawks reach the state tournament. In 2007, he played a key role for Ankeny’s stingy defense as the Hawks captured the state title. He was named to the all-tournament team and was a second-team all-conference pick. As a junior, he helped Ankeny post five shutouts while allowing just 0.9 goals per game. He was selected to the all-conference first team. Miller elected to focus on football as a senior, and he went on to become a four-year starter at North Dakota. ‘Had he played his senior year, he’d likely be a top-three player of all-time,” Isaacson said. “But he definitely belongs on this list. He was an anchor for three years on some of our best teams.”
Luke Aronow, goalkeeper: As a freshman, he played a key role on Ankeny’s state championship team in 2007. He recorded 11 shutouts, capped off by the 1-0 win over Iowa City West in the Class 2A title game. He was a second-team all-conference pick. In 2008, Aronow helped the team to a 12-3 record and had five shutouts. He earned all-conference honorable mention. As a junior, he had 12 more shutouts for an Ankeny squad that went 18-3 and placed fourth in Class 3A, allowing only 12 goals all year. The Hawks opened the season with a 14-game winning streak, including a stretch of 11 consecutive shutouts where they outscored their opponents by a 40-0 margin. In 2010, Aronow racked up 68 saves and 12 shutouts as Ankeny went 17-2 and won the Central Conference title. The Hawks advanced to state for the third time in four years, dropping a 2-1 decision to Iowa City High in a Class 3A quarterfinal. Aronow was a repeat pick to the all-conference first team and was also selected to the all-state second team. He went on to play for Simpson College, where he was reunited with Isaacson a year later. “He’s an obvious top choice for me,” Isaacson said. “He was a four-year starter and a state champion.”
SECOND TEAM
Fred Frimpong, forward: He helped turn Ankeny’s program around after the split into two high schools left the Hawks with an inexperienced roster in 2014, when the Hawks struggled to a 3-16 record in Duax’s first season. Frimpong had five goals as a sophomore and was named to the Eastern Division second team. As a junior, he led the team with 11 goals and also had six assists as Ankeny improved to an 8-10 mark. He was an all-division first-team pick and received all-state honorable mention. In 2016, he produced a team-high 14 goals and 15 assists as the Hawks went 12-8. He had a goal and an assist to help Ankeny past Centennial, 5-1, for its first win ever in the crosstown rivalry. The Hawks later advanced to the state tournament before falling to Valley, 6-1, in the Class 3A quarterfinals. Frimpong, who had the team’s only goal in the loss to the Tigers, was selected to the all-state first team. “My favorite memory was making it to state my senior year after a couple years of rebuilding the team,” Frimpong said. “It was a true testament to how hard we worked and trusting coach Duax.” He went on to play for the University of Omaha, where he was named to the Summit League all-tournament team and helped the Mavericks to the NCAA Tournament in 2017, before transferring to Drake.
Jon Heffernan, forward: He scored four goals as a sophomore in 2008, then had five goals and three assists as a junior, when he helped Ankeny to a fourth-place finish at the state tournament and earned all-conference second-team honors. Then, in 2010, he became a prolific scorer, racking up 23 goals and three assists for a team that finished 17-2, won the conference title and advanced to state. He erupted for seven goals in one day at the Urbandale Invitational, scoring four times in a 7-0 win over Dallas Center-Grimes and adding three more goals in a 4-0 victory over Pleasant Valley. He was named to the all-conference first team and the Class 3A all-state second team. He went on to play for Simpson.
Will Overberg, forward: He was one of the best players in Centennial’s brief history from 2016-19, racking up a total of 34 goals and 29 assists in his career. As a sophomore, he had five goals and six assists as the Jaguars posted a 12-6 record. He was named to the all-conference second team. In 2018, he scored 16 goals and had 15 assists as Centennial went 15-5 and advanced to the state tournament before losing to Iowa City West, 2-1, in overtime in a Class 3A quarterfinal. He was selected to The Des Moines Register’s all-Iowa Elite team. As a senior, he produced 13 goals and seven assists in helping the Jaguars to a 13-4 mark. Overberg spent most of his time on the pitch as an attacker, but Duax also moved him to the backfield at times to shore up the team’s defense, while also giving the Jaguars an offensive threat in the defensive third. “Being able to represent the community I grew up in, knowing our team had the support of the entire school and community whenever we played is what sticks out the most,” Overberg said. “My best memory would probably just be being able to lead the team with the boys I’ve played with my whole career for our senior year.” He is now a sophomore midfielder at Luther College, where he earned all-conference honors as a freshman after contributing seven goals and six assists for the Norse.
Aaron Ruff, forward: Before becoming Ankeny’s coach, Ruff was also a standout player for the Hawks. As a freshman in 1994, he scored three goals and had a team-high five assists. In 1995, he had five goals and two assists while helping Ankeny to a 9-7-1 record. The Hawks placed second in the National Conference with a 5-2 mark, their highest finish since joining the league in 1992. As a junior, Ruff scored nine goals and had five assists. He was named to the all-conference second team. In 1997, he racked up 16 goals and eight assists while helping Ankeny to an 11-6 mark. He received all-conference honorable mention for the third time in four years. “Seeing the program come from where it was at and develop into what it has become is my fondest memory,” Ruff said. “It is just an honor to be named to Ankeny Fanatic’s all-time soccer team. There have been some great players come through this town.” Ruff competed against Isaacson in both high school and college. “He gets a special nod as an ‘all-timer’ and former head coach at Ankeny,” said Isaacson, who was a standout goalkeeper at Urbandale. “It’s kind of cool he returned to his alma mater. Only he and Marcus will have played at Ankeny and served as head coach at Ankeny. They’re two legends.”
Garrett Culligan, midfielder: He was a standout at both Ankeny schools from 2012-15. As a freshman at Ankeny, he earned all-conference honorable mention after contributing one goal and six assists for a team that advanced to state. The Hawks again reached the Class 3A quarterfinals in 2013, then Culligan followed Ruff to the north side of town when Ankeny Centennial opened its doors. As a junior, Culligan had seven goals and six assists while helping the Jaguars to a 15-4 record in their debut season, including a tie with Waukee for the CIML Eastern Division title. He was named to the all-division first team. Then, in 2015, Culligan capped off his career by helping Centennial to a 20-2 mark and a runner-up finish in Class 3A. He overcame a bum knee to earn all-tournament honors after the Jaguars lost to Linn-Mar (Marion), 2-0, in the title game. “It just seemed like every day something went wrong for us and just the resiliency of this group was unbelievable,” Culligan said at the time. He scored three goals and had five assists. Culligan was selected to the Class 3A all-state first team and was a repeat pick to the all-CIML first team. He went on to play for Northern Illinois.
Austin Gochneaur, midfielder: He played a key role on the 2012 team that posted a 17-3 record in Ruff’s first season. After previously playing club soccer, Gochneaur joined Ankeny’s squad as a senior and led the team with 19 goals while also contributing two assists. He had a hat trick in three different games, including one where he scored the game’s only goals in the Hawks’ 3-0 victory over Newton. Gochneaur was a first-team all-conference and a second-team all-state pick. “He was a one-year player, but he was a dang good player,” Isaacson said. He went on to play for Western Illinois and then went overseas to play professionally.
Will Nurre, midfielder: Like Frimpong, he played a key role in turning Ankeny’s program around after the split into two high schools. In 2013, he had a goal and three assists as a freshman, helping the Hawks reach the state tournament in their final season as one program. He received all-division honorable mention. As a sophomore, he contributed six assists and was named to the Eastern Division second team. In 2015, he scored nine goals and had four assists as Ankeny nearly reached the .500 mark (8-10) after winning just three games the previous year. He was selected to the Eastern Division first team. Then, as a senior, he racked up nine goals and 11 assists as the Hawks went 12-8 and advanced to the state tournament. He was named to the Class 3A all-state first team. Nurre went on to play for Drake.
Connor Robson, defender: He was a key member of Centennial’s defensive unit as a sophomore in 2014, helping the Jaguars to post 12 shutouts. He contributed two assists and was named the team’s most improved player. As a junior, he again had two assists in helping Centennial to a second-place finish in Class 3A. The Jaguars won their first 16 games of the season before losing a showdown against No. 1 Johnston, 2-1, in overtime in the regular-season finale. As a senior, Robson again had two assists as Centennial posted an 11-5 record. He was a repeat pick to the all-CIC first team and was selected to the Class 3A all-state second team. “He was a great player. He was underrated,” Isaacson said. “He went on to become a four-year starter at Simpson.”
T.J. Tollakson, defender: He earned all-conference honorable mention as a freshman in 1996, then contributed two goals and three assists as a sophomore while helping Ankeny to an 11-6 record. The Hawks struggled over the next two seasons, but Tollakson continued to dominate at the sweeper position, earning first-team all-conference honors both years. He was also a standout runner and swimmer at Ankeny who went out for wrestling as a senior to try something different. He was earlier named to Ankeny Fanatic’s all-time Ankeny boys’ cross country and swimming teams. His prowess as a runner and swimmer led him to become a professional triathlete.
Riley Wood, defender: He used his size and athleticism in the backfield to intimidate opposing forwards from 2016-19, helping Ankeny to three state tournaments during that stretch. He was named to the Eastern Division first team as a freshman, then contributed three goals and one assist as a sophomore, when he was selected to the Central Conference second team. In 2018, he had one goal and five assists while helping the Hawks to a third-place finish in Class 3A. As a senior, he had four goals and three assists for another team that reached the state tournament. Wood started his college career at Luther College, where he helped the Norse to a 17-5-3 record as a freshman, before transferring to St. Cloud State–which launched a men’s soccer program after dropping football in December of 2019.
Josh Ries-Wandrey, goalkeeper: He was an athletic presence in the box who also shined on the basketball court at Ankeny. As a junior in 2001, he earned all-conference honorable mention after helping the Hawks to a 14-3 record in Rameh’s final season. As a senior, he played a key role as Ankeny went 14-5 in Hunter’s first season, including six victories in overtime. He recorded six shutouts and was named second-team all-conference as well as the Hawks’ Most Valuable Player. One of those shutouts came in a 7-0 win over Des Moines North, when he showed his versatility by also scoring one of his two goals. He went on to play for Southwest Missouri State. “He was an imposing keeper,” Isaacson said. “He dominated his box.”
THIRD TEAM
Lucas Haack, forward: He was a key part of Ankeny’s state tournament teams in 2006-07. He had four goals and a team-high five assists as a junior. Then, in 2007, he scored 12 goals as the Hawks claimed the Class 2A crown. He had a hat trick in a 7-1 win at Urbandale, then later had a pair of goals in a 4-0 victory over Valley that clinched Ankeny’s first outright conference title. He was a first-team all-conference pick, then was named to the all-tournament team after helping the Hawks to the state championship. “He was the Robin to Misel’s Batman,” Isaacson said. “He was a consistent performer on what was probably Ankeny’s best team ever.” He went on to play for Simpson.
Nermin Kremic, forward: He was a standout on the first two Centennial teams in school history, helping the Jaguars to a 35-6 record in 2014-15. He had eight goals and a team-high eight assists as a junior, when he tied for the team lead with 24 points. He was named to the Eastern Division second team. In 2015, he set a school record with 25 goals that still stands today. He also had eight assists to finish with 58 points. Kremic scored with 9 seconds left to give the Jaguars a 2-1 win over Bettendorf during the regular season. He later scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to give Centennial a 1-0 victory over Dowling Catholic in the substate final, punching the Jaguars’ first ticket to the state tournament. He had a hat trick in a 5-0 win over Sioux City West in the Class 3A semifinals and was named to the all-tournament team following Centennial’s runner-up finish. He earned all-state honorable mention.
Isaac Lopez, forward: A student at Ankeny Christian Academy, Lopez didn’t join Ankeny’s varsity squad until his senior year in 2011. He turned out to be a huge addition for the Hawks in Isaacson’s final season. He led the team with 15 goals and also had six assists. He scored two goals in five different games, and Ankeny went 4-1 in those contests–losing only to Central Conference champion Johnston, 4-3, in overtime. He helped the Hawks to a 13-4 record and was named to the all-conference first team. Lopez went on to play for Grand View. “He was fast,” Isaacson said. “He might be the quickest player I’ve coached in 20 years of coaching. He had a gear that is uncommon.”
Charlie Pritchard, forward: He was an explosive scorer who teamed up with Raineri to form a dynamic duo at Ankeny in 2018-19. He scored three goals as a freshman in 2016, then had three more as a sophomore, when he earned all-conference honorable mention. In 2018, he racked up 19 goals and eight assists as the Hawks earned a third-place finish in Class 3A. One of his goals came in Ankeny’s 4-3 overtime loss to Bettendorf in the Class 3A semifinals, when he scored the only goal of the first half about 5 minutes into the game. He later received a red card following his team’s loss, forcing him to sit out the third-place game against Iowa City West. But he got another chance to play at Cownie Park as a senior, when he had 18 goals and 12 assists while leading the Hawks to another state tournament berth. “There was never a doubt in my mind that we wouldn’t get back here,” Pritchard said at the time. He was named to The Des Moines Register’s all-Iowa boys’ soccer team. “My favorite memory from high school soccer is the feeling after scoring a goal, especially a winning goal after a close game,” Pritchard said. “My goal my senior year against Centennial to win 2-1 was one of my favorite goals.” Pritchard started his college career at Central before transferring to St. Cloud State, where he has been reunited with Wood and Nick Ashton, a former Centennial standout.
Ben Poppen, midfielder: He only played two seasons of high school soccer, but was a key member of Ankeny’s state championship team in 2007. As a sophomore, he helped the Hawks to a 20-1 record. In the Class 2A final against Iowa City West, he earned an assist on the game’s only goal, setting up teammate Jacob Misel for the game-winner with 23 minutes 19 seconds remaining. He earned all-conference honorable mention. In 2008, he scored six goals while helping Ankeny to a 12-3 mark. He was a second-team all-conference pick. Poppen then elected to skip his senior season to prepare for his collegiate career at the University of Hartford, where he became a defender. He also played for the Des Moines Menace of the Premier Development League. “He was another prominent member of that state championship team,” Isaacson said.
Tanner Wallen, midfielder: He emerged as a key player as a sophomore in 2005, when he had three goals and three assists and earned all-conference honorable mention in Isaacson’s first season as coach. As a junior, he scored six goals and had four assists, earning all-conference second-team honors. In 2007, he racked up seven assists in helping the Hawks to the state title. Wallen was named to the all-conference first team. “He was a grinder,” Isaacson said. “He was a former captain with Misel and a prominent figure on that state championship team.”
Taylor Wallen, midfielder: Tanner’s younger brother was a sophomore reserve on the championship squad, then became one of the Hawks’ leaders over the next two seasons. In 2008, he had three goals and four assists and earned all-conference honorable mention. Then, as a senior, he scored 12 goals and had eight assists for a team that placed fourth at the state tournament. He scored the game’s only goal in a 1-0 victory over Cedar Falls in a Class 3A quarterfinal and was named to the all-tournament team along with teammate Harrison Dunn. He also had an assist on the winning goal in the substate final. He was named to the all-conference first team and to the Class 3A all-state first team. “He was more skilled than big bro,” Isaacson said. “He was a captain and took his team to state his senior year.”
Jacob Fox, defender: He was a versatile player who excelled at multiple positions during his high school career. As a sophomore in 1999, he scored four goals as a forward and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player. He also earned second-team all-conference honors. In 2000, he again scored four goals and was selected to the all-conference first team after helping Ankeny to an 11-5 record. As a senior, Fox moved to the backfield in Rameh’s final season as coach and helped the Hawks to a 14-3 mark. He contributed three goals and two assists and was named to the all-conference second team.
Luke Mickelson, defender: He was a versatile player who saw action at multiple positions during his career, but was probably at his best roaming the backfield. As a sophomore in 2000, he contributed two goals and four assists and earned first-team all-conference honors. In 2001, he had five goals and was a second-team all-conference pick for a team that posted a 14-3 record. As a senior, he moved to a forward position and had 11 goals to help fill the void created by Mujdzic’s departure. He was a repeat second-team all-conference selection.
Colton Page, defender: He was a standout at two positions at both Ankeny schools from 2013-15. As a sophomore, he had one goal and a team-high seven assists as a midfielder in helping Ankeny reach the state tournament in its final season as one program. He assisted on the go-ahead goal by Marshall Clark in a 2-1 victory over Valley in the substate final, punching the Hawks’ ticket to state. He was an Eastern Division first-team pick and an all-CIC second-team selection. After moving to Centennial, he tied for the team lead in scoring with 10 goals as a junior, helping the Jaguars to a 15-4 record. He was named to the Eastern Division second team. In 2015, he moved to the backfield and was the leader of a defensive unit that posted 11 shutouts as Centennial placed second in Class 3A. He had two goals and five assists and was named to the Class 3A all-state first team. Page went on to play for Drake.
Patrick Bunting, goalkeeper: Like his teammate Gochneaur, Bunting only played one season at Ankeny in 2012 before going on to play for Western Illinois. He helped the Hawks to a 17-3 record that included 15 shutouts. That squad opened the season with an eight-game winning streak, outscoring its opponents by a 24-1 margin during that stretch. Bunting allowed just nine goals overall and made 54 saves on the season. He was a second-team all-conference pick. “He was a talented keeper,” Isaacson said.
Honorable mention
Many other players were considered for this list and just missed making the third team. Here are some other players who were among the best to ever play at Ankeny and Centennial:
Forwards: Joel Fox, Brian Lazear, Cole Netten, Randy Olson, Colin Robinson, Leland Schipper, Shawn Skelton, Kenan Smajlovic.
Midfielders: Nick Ashton, Marshall Clark, Peter Gaspari, John Jackovin, Logan Judd, Bryson Metcalf, Reid Petersen, Chris Skelton.
Defenders: Justin Franks, Zach Halder, Ryan Kueker, Ben Nuss, Nate Palmolea, Ryan Petersen, Josh Snyder.
Goalkeepers: Kory Ford, Jesse Kahnk, Zach Young.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The Ankeny Fanatic teams were selected by publisher Dan Holm, who consulted with former and current coaches before making his picks.)