Ankeny Fanatic

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Archives for May 2024

Hawkettes place 8th in Class 4A, while Jaguars take 12th to equal highest finish

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When the dust had finally settled on Saturday afternoon, the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' track teams both had plenty of reasons to be happy about their performances in the Class 4A state meet at Drake Stadium. The Hawkettes and Jaguars also showed that they have a bright future. Several underclassmen played key roles for both squads in the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes place 8th in Class 4A, while Jaguars take 12th to equal highest finish

Jaguars place 2nd in 4×100 relay, tie for 7th in Class 4A with North Scott, Waukee

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After winning a Class 4A state title in the 4x200 relay on Friday, the Ankeny Centennial boys' track team nearly added another crown in the 4x100 relay on Saturday. The Jaguars raced to a second-place finish on a sunny afternoon at Drake Stadium, posting a time of 41.34 seconds that broke the previous meet record. The team consisted of Elijah Porter, … [Read more...] about Jaguars place 2nd in 4×100 relay, tie for 7th in Class 4A with North Scott, Waukee

Hawks capture DMR crown, remain atop 4A standings; Jaguars claim 4×200 title

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While the Ankeny boys' track team continued its quest for the Class 4A state championship by winning its fourth event title on Friday, its crosstown rival also made a considerable amount of noise at Drake Stadium. Ankeny Centennial raced to a victory in the 4x200 relay, which also allowed the Jaguars to move into the top 10 in the team … [Read more...] about Hawks capture DMR crown, remain atop 4A standings; Jaguars claim 4×200 title

Hawkettes, Jaguars score points in DMR, remain in contention for top-10 finishes

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Heading into the final day of the coed state track meet, the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' teams are still in the mix for top-10 finishes in Class 4A. The Hawkettes are tied with Valley for sixth place with 19 points apiece. The Jaguars are tied with Burlington for 11th with 15 points. Two-time defending champion Waukee Northwest has moved into … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars score points in DMR, remain in contention for top-10 finishes

‘The wheels kind of fell off’: Bettendorf defeats Hawks with 7-run 7th inning

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Visiting Bettendorf erupted for seven runs in the seventh inning and defeated the Ankeny baseball team, 11-5, in a non-conference game on Thursday. It was the home opener for the Hawks, who dropped to 1-2 on the season. "The wheels kind of fell off at the end," said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. "It took us 74 pitches to get through the sixth and seventh … [Read more...] about ‘The wheels kind of fell off’: Bettendorf defeats Hawks with 7-run 7th inning

No. 1 Jaguars rout Gilbert in 6 innings to open season, will play at Rippey Friday

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The top-ranked Ankeny Centennial baseball team opened the season on Thursday with a 10-0 non-conference victory over visiting Gilbert in six innings.The Jaguars used a seven-run fourth inning to build a 9-0 lead and then walked off with the win in the sixth. "We got good pitching, really good defense, and we hit the ball at the right time," said … [Read more...] about No. 1 Jaguars rout Gilbert in 6 innings to open season, will play at Rippey Friday

‘We’ve got more work to do’: Hawks win 3 events, take early lead in Class 4A race

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The Ankeny boys' track team didn't just make a huge statement on Thursday. The Hawks made several of them. Ankeny won the first three finals on the track in the Class 4A state meet at Drake Stadium, double-placed in the high jump and took a commanding lead in the team race heading into Friday's events in the three-day competition. The Hawks have … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got more work to do’: Hawks win 3 events, take early lead in Class 4A race

Hawkettes, Jaguars collide often on opening day of coed state track meet

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The opening day of the coed state track meet featured a few head-to-head battles between the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' teams. In two of the events on Thursday at Drake Stadium, both the Hawkettes and Jaguars scored points. They each earned top-three finishes in the high jump and top-six finishes in the 4x800 relay. "I really enjoy running … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars collide often on opening day of coed state track meet

Drefke places 2nd at regional meet, advances to state for 3rd straight year

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Ankeny Centennial's Payton Drefke will get to close out her high school golf career on one of her favorite courses. The senior qualified for the Class 4A state meet for the third consecutive year with a runner-up finish in a regional meet on Wednesday at Veenker Golf Course in Ames. She shot a 5-over-par 78 on one of the state's most challenging … [Read more...] about Drefke places 2nd at regional meet, advances to state for 3rd straight year

‘This group will always be special to me’: Hawkettes end year with 6th-place finish

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The Ankeny girls' golf team ended its season on Wednesday with a sixth-place finish in a Class 4A regional meet at American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown. The Hawkettes posted a 391 total. "I’m so proud of all the work the girls did this year!" said first-year Ankeny coach Kelley Emke. "We set a goal of getting more consistent as a team and … [Read more...] about ‘This group will always be special to me’: Hawkettes end year with 6th-place finish

‘They played their hearts out’: Hawks’ late rally earns twinbill split at Pleasant Valley

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A dramatic rally allowed the Ankeny baseball team to earn a season-opening split of a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday at Pleasant Valley. The Hawks rallied for five runs in the seventh inning of the nightcap to erase a 7-2 deficit, then got a sacrifice fly from Jack Clevidence in the eighth to post an 8-7 victory. "It wasn't the prettiest … [Read more...] about ‘They played their hearts out’: Hawks’ late rally earns twinbill split at Pleasant Valley

‘We are very proud of this group’: Jaguars fall at No. 5 Valley in substate final

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Tami Lewton would have been proud of her team's effort. The Ankeny Centennial boys' tennis squad closed out the season on Wednesday with a 5-0 loss at fifth-ranked Valley in the final of a Class 2A substate team tournament. The Jaguars finished with a 4-9 record. Lewton missed the entire season as she wages a battle against cancer. "We are very … [Read more...] about ‘We are very proud of this group’: Jaguars fall at No. 5 Valley in substate final

KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK: Christensen racks up 18 strikeouts in ACA’s victory

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Ankeny Christian Academy pitcher Eli Christensen is already in midseason form. The senior righthander tossed a five-hitter and had a career-high 18 strikeouts to lead the Eagles to a 4-0 victory over Coon Rapids-Bayard in the opener of their high school baseball season on Tuesday at Northview Park in Urbandale. The Crusaders (1-2) were the preseason No. 1 … [Read more...] about KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK: Christensen racks up 18 strikeouts in ACA’s victory

‘They were clogging the middle’: Jaguars suffer frustrating 1-0 loss to Cedar Falls

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This wasn't the way that the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer players wanted their Senior Night to go. The seventh-ranked Jaguars finished the regular season on Tuesday with a 1-0 loss to visiting Cedar Falls in a non-conference game. The Tigers were outshot by a 16-2 margin, but they scored the game-winner when Zoe Zylstra found the net in the second half … [Read more...] about ‘They were clogging the middle’: Jaguars suffer frustrating 1-0 loss to Cedar Falls

Hawks look to regroup after closing out regular season with loss to Urbandale

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It's time for the Ankeny boys' soccer team to regroup. The seventh-ranked Hawks closed out the regular season on Tuesday with a 1-0 loss to visiting Urbandale, which snapped a five-game losing skid. The J-Hawks scored the game's only goal midway through the second half at Ankeny Stadium. "We had no injuries and no red (cards), but there were no other … [Read more...] about Hawks look to regroup after closing out regular season with loss to Urbandale

Jaguars beat Norwalk girls, then tumble to No. 3 Waukee NW in regional final

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis squad advanced to the final of a Class 2A regional team tournament on Tuesday before dropping a 5-0 decision to third-ranked Waukee Northwest, which hosted the meet. The Jaguars, who posted a 5-1 win over Norwalk in the semifinal round, ended the season with a 7-4 record. The Warriors finished 6-6. "Although today … [Read more...] about Jaguars beat Norwalk girls, then tumble to No. 3 Waukee NW in regional final

‘We had no double bagels’: Hawkettes fight hard in 5-0 loss to No. 4 Valley girls

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The Ankeny girls' tennis squad closed out its season on Tuesday with a 5-0 loss to fourth-ranked Valley in the semifinals of a Class 2A regional team tournament at Crossroads Park. The Hawkettes, who did not play Valley during the regular season, finished with a 4-9 record. "Overall, I thought we played well," said Ankeny coach Steve Smith. "When a … [Read more...] about ‘We had no double bagels’: Hawkettes fight hard in 5-0 loss to No. 4 Valley girls

‘This is a huge confidence boost’: Jaguars top Valley, remain unbeaten in shootouts

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It can be a crapshoot anytime a high school soccer game goes to a penalty-kick shootout. However, the Ankeny Centennial girls' team seems to be defying those odds. The seventh-ranked Jaguars posted a 1-0 victory at No. 4 Valley in a shootout on Monday, allowing them to tie the Tigers for third place in the final CIML Conference standings. Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘This is a huge confidence boost’: Jaguars top Valley, remain unbeaten in shootouts