Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Archives for May 2022

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kellen Jones, Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis

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Senior Kellen Jones was the No. 2 player for the Ankeny Centennial boys' tennis team this season. He helped the Jaguars advance to a Class 2A substate final earlier this month. Jones and freshman Brayden Wellendorf qualified for the Class 2A state tournament in doubles. They finished with a 5-4 record after losing their first two matches on Tuesday at the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kellen Jones, Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis

Patton homers, Dunwoody racks up 8 strikeouts in Hawks’ 4-2 loss at Johnston

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A three-run first inning lifted the top-ranked Johnston baseball team to a 4-2 victory over visiting Ankeny on Friday, allowing the Dragons to improve to 9-0 on the season. The non-conference game was a rematch of last year's Class 4A semifinal, which was won by Johnston, 5-0. The Hawks (2-3) were held to five hits by a trio of Johnston pitchers. … [Read more...] about Patton homers, Dunwoody racks up 8 strikeouts in Hawks’ 4-2 loss at Johnston

Klunder’s walk-off hit caps rally, gives Jaguars 5-4 victory over No. 6 Bettendorf

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Bouncing back from a loss earlier in the day, the second-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat No. 6 Bettendorf, 5-4, on Friday at the Johnston Invitational. Lizzy Klunder capped the rally with a walk-off hit that drove in pinch-runner Addie Pollock from third with the winning run. "She … [Read more...] about Klunder’s walk-off hit caps rally, gives Jaguars 5-4 victory over No. 6 Bettendorf

Smith places 4th in Class 2A, equaling highest finish ever by player from Ankeny

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Ankeny's Kira Smith will likely have three more chances to win a girls' state tennis title. And next time, Dowling Catholic's Allison Szalay won't be in her way. Smith's bid for the Class 2A singles crown came to an end on Saturday morning, when the fourth-seeded freshman dropped a 6-1, 6-1 decision to the top-seeded and defending champion Szalay in … [Read more...] about Smith places 4th in Class 2A, equaling highest finish ever by player from Ankeny

‘We made a nice jump’: Hawkettes score 4 runs in 7th to seal 7-2 win at Carlisle

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The Ankeny softball team used a four-run seventh inning to seal a 7-2 victory at Carlisle in a non-conference game on Friday. The Hawkettes improved their record to 1-2 after losing both ends of a doubleheader at fifth-ranked Waukee Northwest on Monday. It was the season opener for Carlisle, the No. 9 team in Class 4A. "Carlisle and Northwest are very … [Read more...] about ‘We made a nice jump’: Hawkettes score 4 runs in 7th to seal 7-2 win at Carlisle

NO ORDINARY SMITH: Ankeny freshman advances to Class 2A singles semifinals

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A dramatic rally allowed Ankeny freshman Kira Smith to advance to the semifinals of the Class 2A singles bracket in the girls' state tennis tournament on Friday at Waukee Northwest. The fourth-seeded Smith won the final four games in the third set to post a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 victory over Sasha Hyacinth of Waterloo West in the quarterfinals. She raised her … [Read more...] about NO ORDINARY SMITH: Ankeny freshman advances to Class 2A singles semifinals

Jaguars again shoot season-best score, finish 10th in Class 4A state meet

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There was nothing to lose for the Ankeny Centennial girls' golf team on Friday. Sitting in 10th place heading into the final round of the Class 4A state meet at Otter Creek, the Jaguars simply went out to have fun on a beautiful day for golf. "I think it helped a lot," Centennial sophomore Payton Drefke said of the sunny skies and temperatures in the … [Read more...] about Jaguars again shoot season-best score, finish 10th in Class 4A state meet

‘The girls were fantastic’: Hawkettes top Cedar Falls, earn 5th straight trip to state

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Kennedy Macke grabbed the state qualifier banner from Ankeny Activities Director Andy Umthun and held it high above her head as her Ankeny girls' soccer teammates screamed with joy. The ultimate prize that Macke wants, though, is the Class 3A championship trophy. "With being on the wrong side of the final last year, there's no lack of motivation in … [Read more...] about ‘The girls were fantastic’: Hawkettes top Cedar Falls, earn 5th straight trip to state

Saves by Bergan, Becker allow Jaguars to outlast Johnston, return to state tourney

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The Johnston girls' soccer team entered Thursday's Class 3A regional final at Ankeny Centennial with a pedestrian 9-7 mark. Centennial coach Chris Allen and his players knew, however, that the 14th-ranked Dragons were better than what their record showed. "We went to overtime with them earlier this season so we were expecting a really competitive … [Read more...] about Saves by Bergan, Becker allow Jaguars to outlast Johnston, return to state tourney

‘I’m not disappointed at all!’: Jaguars sit in 10th place after shooting a 364

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' golf squad sits at the bottom of the team standings heading into Friday's final round in the Class 4A state meet at Otter Creek. Centennial coach John Petersen isn't concerned, however, with where the Jaguars finish in the 10-team field. "I'm not disappointed at all!" Petersen said. "We shot our best score of the year. I am … [Read more...] about ‘I’m not disappointed at all!’: Jaguars sit in 10th place after shooting a 364

‘We still have lots of work to do’: Hawks earn trip to state, will face Waukee NW

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Lucas Newhard joined the Ankeny boys' soccer team this season with the hope of qualifying for the state tournament. Newhard accomplished his goal on Wednesday night. The senior forward scored two goals to lead the top-ranked Hawks to a 3-0 victory over visiting Sioux City East in a Class 3A substate final. "It’s an amazing feeling to go to state," … [Read more...] about ‘We still have lots of work to do’: Hawks earn trip to state, will face Waukee NW

‘It feels so good!’: Jaguars advance to state, will play Urbandale next

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Even with a sore back, Ankeny Centennial's Rashidi Ishibwami could not contain his excitement following Wednesday's Class 3A substate final against the visiting Des Moines Hoover boys' soccer team. Ishibwami scored a goal in the first half and the fifth-ranked Jaguars overcame the rainy conditions to post a 2-1 victory that allowed them to qualify for the … [Read more...] about ‘It feels so good!’: Jaguars advance to state, will play Urbandale next

Peterson places 5th in Class 2A, sets his sights on state championship next year

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There's little doubt that Ankeny Centennial boys' tennis standout Caleb Peterson will be one of the favorites to win the Class 2A state singles title next year. "That's definitely my goal--to win state," Peterson said. The junior earned a fifth-place finish in Class 2A on Wednesday with a dominant performance at the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation … [Read more...] about Peterson places 5th in Class 2A, sets his sights on state championship next year

‘It was just a scrappy game’: Harrington scores twice, leads Ankeny to 5-0 win

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The Waterloo Schools girls' soccer team was determined not to give up any goals on Tuesday night. A torrential rain made it even more difficult for third-ranked Ankeny to find the net in a Class 3A regional semifinal at Ankeny. Eventually, though, the Hawkettes solved Waterloo's strategy and posted a 5-0 victory. "The weather was a nightmare for … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a scrappy game’: Harrington scores twice, leads Ankeny to 5-0 win

‘A win is a win’: Jaguars overcome rainy conditions to advance to regional final

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The rainy weather conditions proved to be a huge obstacle for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team on Tuesday. "The biggest thing we faced was connecting passes in those conditions," said Centennial coach Chris Allen. "We had a lot of balls that would just skip past a player. It kind of made it difficult to play the style we wanted to … [Read more...] about ‘A win is a win’: Jaguars overcome rainy conditions to advance to regional final

‘Our guys were gritty’: Hawks outlast Waukee NW in 9 innings, salvage split

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The Ankeny baseball team used a late rally to post a 13-8 victory in nine innings on Monday at sixth-ranked Waukee Northwest, allowing the Hawks to salvage a split of the CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader. Ankeny scored three runs in the seventh to tie the game at 6-6 and force extra innings. After both teams scored twice in the eighth, the Hawks erupted … [Read more...] about ‘Our guys were gritty’: Hawks outlast Waukee NW in 9 innings, salvage split

Peterson rebounds from 1st-round loss, earns top-8 finish in Class 2A singles

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Ankeny Centennial junior Caleb Peterson is guaranteed a second consecutive top-eight finish in the boys' Class 2A state tennis tournament. After placing sixth in doubles a year ago, Peterson was hoping to contend for the singles title this season. But he lost to second-seeded Kaden Taylor of Waukee Northwest, 6-2, 0-6, 6-4, in the opening round of the … [Read more...] about Peterson rebounds from 1st-round loss, earns top-8 finish in Class 2A singles