Ankeny Fanatic

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Archives for November 2021

Ankeny swimmers could battle CIML rival Dowling for 4th place at state meet

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It appears that this year's girls' state swimming meet is shaping up to be a three-team race. On paper, anyway. Based on the seeds going into the state meet--which will be held on Friday and Saturday at Marshalltown--it looks like Ames, Iowa City West and Waukee will fight for the crown. Ankeny could battle CIML rival Dowling Catholic for fourth … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers could battle CIML rival Dowling for 4th place at state meet

A title game rematch?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

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The Class 5A football playoffs are down to the Final Four, and that means it's time to head to the Dome. Ankeny, last year's Class 4A champion, is back in the semifinals for the second straight year along with Southeast Polk, last year's runner-up. The Hawks and Rams will be joined at the Dome by two other traditional powers, Valley and Iowa City … [Read more...] about A title game rematch?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Olivia Harpenau, Ankeny volleyball

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Senior middle hitter Olivia Harpenau helped the Ankeny volleyball team to a 40-6 record this season. She had three kills and a match-high five blocks on Wednesday in the Hawkettes' loss to Pleasant Valley in the Class 5A semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. Harpenau placed third on the team with 195 kills. She was second among the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Olivia Harpenau, Ankeny volleyball

Ankeny swimmers dominate regional meet, advance to state in every event

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Nine other schools came to Trail Point Aquatics Center on Saturday to take on host Ankeny in a girls' regional swimming meet. None of them could match the Hawkettes' depth. Ankeny won nine of the 11 swimming events after Erica Peters won the diving event on Thursday at Johnston, and the Hawkettes cruised to the team title with 541.5 points. Newton was … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers dominate regional meet, advance to state in every event

DIG THIS: Ex-Jag Macke becomes Drake’s all-time leader with her 2,424th dig

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Former Ankeny Centennial standout Kylee Macke already owned three of the top 11 single-season dig totals in Drake volleyball history. Now, the redshirt senior libero is the Bulldogs' all-time leader as well. Macke recorded 12 digs on Saturday during Drake's sweep over visiting Southern Illinois at the Knapp Center. She became the Bulldogs' career digs … [Read more...] about DIG THIS: Ex-Jag Macke becomes Drake’s all-time leader with her 2,424th dig

DOMEWARD BOUND!: Hawks throttle C.R. Prairie, will play Valley in semifinals

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On a windy night in Cedar Rapids, the Ankeny football team turned to its power running game to earn another trip to the UNI-Dome. Colin Kadolph rushed for 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the second half, and the fifth-seeded Hawks dominated the final two quarters to defeat fourth-seeded Cedar Rapids Prairie, 37-7, in the Class 5A quarterfinals on … [Read more...] about DOMEWARD BOUND!: Hawks throttle C.R. Prairie, will play Valley in semifinals

Reynolds joins Anderson, Mirembe as repeat picks on all-conference first team

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The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams each placed three players on the CIML Iowa Conference first team. The Hawkettes and Jaguars, who tied for the league crown with newcomer Waukee Northwest, had six of the eight first-team selections. Ankeny was represented by senior outside hitter Ava Reynolds, senior libero Lexi Stephens and sophomore … [Read more...] about Reynolds joins Anderson, Mirembe as repeat picks on all-conference first team

‘It was a no-brainer for me’: AHS swimmer Swanepoel commits to Wisconsin

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The Ankeny boys' swimming program has cranked out another high-level recruit. Junior Lance Swanepoel has verbally committed to Wisconsin. He follows in the footsteps of former teammate Trent Frandson, who is now a freshman at California. Swanepoel picked the Badgers over Louisville. He also took official visits to Florida State and Notre Dame. "It … [Read more...] about ‘It was a no-brainer for me’: AHS swimmer Swanepoel commits to Wisconsin

Ankeny’s Peters wins regional diving crown; Kolars also qualifies for state

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Ankeny's Erica Peters is headed to the state diving meet for the fourth consecutive year. Teammate Hannah Kolars will be making her second straight trip. Both divers advanced to the state meet with strong performances on Thursday in a regional meet at Summit Middle School, which hosted both the Ankeny and Johnston regionals. Another Ankeny diver, Lydia … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Peters wins regional diving crown; Kolars also qualifies for state

Reynolds earns repeat all-tournament honors after leading Ankeny to semifinals

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Ankeny volleyball standout Ava Reynolds has been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team for the second straight year. Reynolds had 19 kills, 11 digs and four blocks in the Hawkettes' loss to eventual champion Pleasant Valley in Wednesday's semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. On Monday, she pounded 27 kills as Ankeny rallied for … [Read more...] about Reynolds earns repeat all-tournament honors after leading Ankeny to semifinals

Soccer standouts Brown, Gray, Whitaker honored by Big Ten Conference

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The soccer careers of Olivia Brown, Megan Gray and Riley Whitaker didn't end without the former Ankeny standouts earning one more honor. All three players were winners of the Sportsmanship Award from the Big Ten Conference, which recognized one athlete from each of the league's 14 teams for the honor. The students chosen are individuals who have … [Read more...] about Soccer standouts Brown, Gray, Whitaker honored by Big Ten Conference

‘We fell to a better team’: Hawkettes’ bid for repeat crown ends with loss to PV

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A talented squad with a lot of motivation proved to be a bad combination for the Ankeny volleyball team on Wednesday. Second-ranked Pleasant Valley posted a 25-16, 32-30, 15-25, 25-17 victory over the No. 3 Hawkettes in the Class 5A semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. The Spartans avenged last year's five-set loss to Ankeny in the … [Read more...] about ‘We fell to a better team’: Hawkettes’ bid for repeat crown ends with loss to PV

Another 5-setter?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

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If Wednesday's semifinal matches in the Class 5A state volleyball tournament are half as entertaining as Monday's quarterfinal matches, then the fans at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse will be in for a treat. Monday's action included a pair of five-set thrillers. Third-ranked Ankeny outlasted No. 6 Urbandale despite scoring five fewer points overall, while … [Read more...] about Another 5-setter?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

‘It’s a bummer’: Pleasant Valley knocks out Centennial, earns rematch vs. Ankeny

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team was hoping to erase the memory of last year's four-set loss to Ankeny in the Class 5A quarterfinals. Instead, the Jaguars suffered a similar fate. Second-ranked Pleasant Valley scored 33 of the last 48 points and posted a 25-16, 19-25, 25-20, 25-12 victory over No. 7 Centennial in a Class 5A quarterfinal on Monday … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a bummer’: Pleasant Valley knocks out Centennial, earns rematch vs. Ankeny

SURVIVE AND ADVANCE: Hawkettes outlast Urbandale, Dykstra in 5 sets

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University of Minnesota football coach PJ Fleck provided some inspiration for the Ankeny volleyball team on Monday. After the third-ranked Hawkettes lost two of the first three sets against No. 6 Urbandale in the Class 5A quarterfinals, Ankeny coach Dave Whims channeled his inner Fleck before the fourth set. "The girls were kind of down after losing … [Read more...] about SURVIVE AND ADVANCE: Hawkettes outlast Urbandale, Dykstra in 5 sets

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Peyton Mitchell, Ankeny Centennial volleyball

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Senior middle hitter Peyton Mitchell has helped the seventh-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team to a 30-9 record. She had four kills and two aces as the Jaguars swept No. 11 Cedar Rapids Prairie in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday to advance to the state tournament. Mitchell has racked up 117 kills and 45 blocks this season. She has compiled a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Peyton Mitchell, Ankeny Centennial volleyball