Despite losing its top two players to graduation, the Ankeny boys’ golf team still boasts plenty of talent.
The Hawks return four varsity regulars from a team that placed 10th in last year’s Class 4A state meet with a 634 total. They are seniors Duncan Beelner, Kyler Crimmins, Evan Hodapp and Caden Weddingfeld.
“I am leaning heavily on those four guys,” said Ankeny coach Mike Weddingfeld, whose team qualified for state for the first time since 2020. “They have all played the last couple years and have lots of varsity experience so they will need to step up and be leaders for our team.”
Ankeny posted an overall record of 81-25 a year ago. The Hawks went 6-2 in CIML Conference dual meets, losing only to Johnston and Southeast Polk–which eventually placed second and third, respectively, in Class 4A.
Beelner placed third on the team with a 39.3 average. He shot a 69 in a triangular meet at Willow Creek, where the Hawks posted a 277 for their lowest score ever under Weddingfeld while defeating eventual state champion Valley by 10 strokes.
Beelner helped Ankeny to the team title at the Fort Dodge Invitational, where he placed third with a 72. He later tied for 43rd place at the state meet with a two-day total of 161.
Hodapp was the team’s No. 4 golfer with a 39.7 average. He placed seventh with a 74 in the Southeast Polk Invitational at Copper Creek, where he helped the Hawks to a third-place finish.
Hodapp was an individual state qualifier as a sophomore in 2022. He tied for 58th place with a 167 total.
After shooting an 84 in the opening round of last year’s state meet, Hodapp played the first hole of his final round before withdrawing due to a neck injury.
Crimmins placed fifth on the team with a 39.9 average. He took 10th with a 79 in the Jesse Peck Invitational at Briarwood, where he helped Ankeny to a runner-up finish.
Crimmins placed 17th in the conference meet at Jester Park with a 76. He later shot another 76 in the final round of the state meet for a 167 total.
Weddingfeld was the team’s No. 6 golfer with a 43.1 average. He carded a 78 in the Steve Spray Invitational at Indianola, where he helped the Hawks to a second-place finish.
Weddingfeld later posted a 170 total at the state meet.
Those four were among 31 players who participated in tryouts on Monday and Tuesday at Otter Creek.
“The tryouts were good in that we had two days of scores to get the season started,” Weddingfeld said. “Monday was not the best weather day as even though the forecast didn’t call for rain, it rained the entire time and many of the boys were not prepared with umbrellas and rain gear. It did show the resilience of many of the boys though and was a good indicator of who could handle the weather.”
The final roster was then trimmed to 24 golfers.
“I had several kids shoot well during tryouts that I expect to be battling for varsity positions,” Weddingfeld said. “(Seniors) Zach Overturf and Breck Hughes have been on the team the past three years, while (juniors) Gavin Ross and Chase Ortega have also been in the program. Sam Ortega, who is a senior but new to the team, played well over the two days so although those guys may not have varsity experience they have been around the program and know the hard work and dedication it will take for us to be successful.”
Ankeny will open the season on Thursday with a conference triangular meet against Urbandale and Waukee Northwest at River Valley Golf Course in Adel. The 18-hole event starts at 8:30 a.m.
After competing in last year’s state meet on their home course, the Hawks will be looking to play another familiar course at this year’s state meet–which will be held on Oct. 11-12 at Briarwood.
“I feel like we have a great chance to get back to state again and feel fortunate that it will be held right across the street from us so that the boys can have easier access to practicing at the course and will be more familiar with the state course,” Weddingfeld said. “We will take one meet at a time and as we do every year focus on improving each day and tournament. It is way too early in the season to be thinking of state but as every year it is definitely at the top of our goal list.”