Ankeny Fanatic

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Archives for April 2025

Northern Illinois tight end Schutty enters transfer portal after freshman season

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Former Ankeny Centennial football standout Chase Schutty has entered the transfer portal. Schutty, a redshirt freshman tight end at Northern Illinois, announced his decision on social media Wednesday. "Dear Huskie Nation, I would like to say thank you to coach Hammock, coach White and coach Woody for giving me the opportunity to play at NIU. I'd also … [Read more...] about Northern Illinois tight end Schutty enters transfer portal after freshman season

Centennial boys win 4 events at Dragon Invitational, including 1-2 finish in shot put

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' track team earned four victories in the Dragon Invitational on Tuesday at Johnston. No team scores were kept at the meet. The Jaguars posted a 1-2 finish in the shot put. Max Dickinson won the event with a throw of 52 feet 3.5 inches, while teammate Gavin Humphrey set a personal record of 52 feet while placing second. Caleb … [Read more...] about Centennial boys win 4 events at Dragon Invitational, including 1-2 finish in shot put

‘It was definitely fun’: Hawkettes defeat Centennial girls in Pink Out event, 8-3

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For only the second time ever, the Ankeny girls' tennis team earned a win against its crosstown rival. The Hawkettes posted an 8-3 victory over Ankeny Centennial on Tuesday at the Prairie Ridge courts, avenging last year's loss by the same score. They are now 1-1 in the CIML Conference and 2-2 overall, while the Jaguars' records dropped to 0-2 in the … [Read more...] about ‘It was definitely fun’: Hawkettes defeat Centennial girls in Pink Out event, 8-3

Hawks cruise to fast times on home track, qualify for Drake in 4×800, 4×400 relays

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The Ankeny boys' track team focused on a handful of events during the Fred Smith Hawk Relays on Tuesday at Ankeny Stadium. The Hawks, who didn't even enter three of the relays, won four events and placed fifth overall in the 10-team field. They finished with 73 points. Dowling Catholic and Waukee each scored 110 points to tie for the team title. "It … [Read more...] about Hawks cruise to fast times on home track, qualify for Drake in 4×800, 4×400 relays

‘I love playing for him’: Ex-Hawk Johnson to follow coach Bergstraser to Denver

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Former Ankeny basketball standout Carson Johnson is headed to the Mile High City. Johnson has committed to play for the University of Denver, which has scheduled a press conference on Wednesday to introduce Tim Bergstraser as the Pioneers' new head coach. Bergstraser went 75-22 in three seasons as the head coach at Minnesota State Moorhead, where Johnson … [Read more...] about ‘I love playing for him’: Ex-Hawk Johnson to follow coach Bergstraser to Denver

‘I am so proud of all of our girls’: Ankeny golfers beat Urbandale at Sugar Creek

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Tuesday was a big day for the Ankeny girls' golf program. The Hawkettes shot a 175 in a CIML Conference triangular meet at Sugar Creek Golf Course in Waukee, allowing them to earn a split against Waukee Northwest and Urbandale. The Wolves posted a 156 total on their home course to defeat both opponents. However, Ankeny got a victory against Urbandale, … [Read more...] about ‘I am so proud of all of our girls’: Ankeny golfers beat Urbandale at Sugar Creek

‘We’re on a hot streak right now’: Brazeau, Duax lead Centennial boys past Hawks

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The victories in the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer rivalry tend to alternate every year, and Monday night continued the tradition. Centennial’s junior tandem of Tate Duax and Brock Brazeau linked up for a pair of goals in the span of 3 minutes during the first half. Ankeny cut the lead down off the foot of star … [Read more...] about ‘We’re on a hot streak right now’: Brazeau, Duax lead Centennial boys past Hawks

‘We found the net’: Martin’s brace, Kroska’s goal lift Jaguars past No. 1 Ankeny girls

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Only a few opposing girls' soccer teams have been able to crack Ankeny's strong defensive unit over the last couple of seasons. On Monday, Ankeny Centennial found some answers on a cold and windy night at Ankeny Stadium. Ava Martin scored two goals and added an assist to lead the sixth-ranked Jaguars to a 3-0 victory over its crosstown rival in the … [Read more...] about ‘We found the net’: Martin’s brace, Kroska’s goal lift Jaguars past No. 1 Ankeny girls

‘What a crazy day’: Jaguars place 6th, Hawkettes finish 8th at Centennial Invite

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Monday's windy conditions created some havoc for the 72 girls who competed in the Ankeny Centennial Invitational at Briarwood Golf Club. "What a crazy day to have your first meet," said Centennial coach John Petersen. "The wind was very difficult to handle. It was even hard to putt." Centennial opened its season by placing sixth in the 12-team field. … [Read more...] about ‘What a crazy day’: Jaguars place 6th, Hawkettes finish 8th at Centennial Invite

Ankeny’s Weichers wins No. 2 singles flight at Johnston Invitational

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The Ankeny boys' tennis team competed against three other squads at the Johnston Invitational on Saturday. Norwalk and Waukee also participated along with the host Dragons. Ankeny's Garrett Weichers won all three of his matches to win the No. 2 singles flight. That was the highlight of the day for the Hawks. Weichers posted a 10-1 win over Waukee's … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Weichers wins No. 2 singles flight at Johnston Invitational

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kira Smith, Ankeny girls’ tennis

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Senior Kira Smith is a two-time state qualifier for the Ankeny girls' tennis team. She has rejoined the program after spending the last 1 1/2 years at the Gomez Tennis Academy in Naples, Fla. Smith placed fourth in singles in Class 2A as a freshman in 2022, equaling the highest finish ever by an Ankeny player. She posted a 20-3 record, then went 12-6 as a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kira Smith, Ankeny girls’ tennis

Hawkettes, Jaguars earn several top-8 finishes in tuneup for Drake Relays

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Saturday's Jim Duncan Invitational proved to be a good tuneup for the Drake Relays for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' track teams. Competing on the same blue oval that will host America's Athletic Classic in two weeks, the Hawkettes and Jaguars both earned several top-eight finishes while facing some of the state's top athletes. "I'm very … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars earn several top-8 finishes in tuneup for Drake Relays

Hawks romp past Indianola, then top Davenport North on Loder’s late heroics

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The Ankeny boys' soccer team evened its overall record at 2-2 by recording a pair of non-conference victories in a span of 24 hours. The Hawks got a late goal from Andrew Loder to beat visiting Davenport North, 2-1, on Friday. Loder scored off a pass from Landon Benge with less than 2 minutes left. The win followed Ankeny's 4-1 triumph at Indianola on … [Read more...] about Hawks romp past Indianola, then top Davenport North on Loder’s late heroics

Jaguars close out Duncan Invitational by edging Ankeny boys to win 4×400 relay

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The final race in the Jim Duncan Invitational on Saturday turned into a battle between the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' track teams at Drake Stadium. The Jaguars got a strong anchor leg from Cael Woods to win the 4x400 relay in a time of 3:25.89. Jackson Reed, Caleb Reed and Braeden Jackson ran the first three legs for Centennial. The Ankeny … [Read more...] about Jaguars close out Duncan Invitational by edging Ankeny boys to win 4×400 relay

‘We showed what can make us special’: Jaguars earn pair of wins at Council Bluffs

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This weekend may have been a turning point for the Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team. The Jaguars improved their overall record to 3-2 with a pair of victories at the Council Bluffs Lewis Central Invitational. After posting a 2-1 win over the host Titans on Friday night, they returned to the pitch on Saturday morning and defeated Omaha (Neb.) Skutt … [Read more...] about ‘We showed what can make us special’: Jaguars earn pair of wins at Council Bluffs

Depleted Ankeny girls’ team edges Ottumwa for its first victory of season

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Even without its top player, the Ankeny girls' tennis team split a pair of non-conference meets on Thursday and Friday. The Hawkettes dropped a 7-2 decision at Waterloo Columbus on Thursday before rebounding with a 6-5 victory over visiting Ottumwa on Friday. They are now 1-2 on the season. Ankeny played without senior Kira Smith, who suffered an … [Read more...] about Depleted Ankeny girls’ team edges Ottumwa for its first victory of season

Iowa Central all-American Palmer commits to play softball at St. Cloud State

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Former Ankeny softball standout Kennedy Palmer has committed to play for St. Cloud State. Palmer, a sophomore infielder at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, has helped the Tritons to a 30-5 record in 2024-25. She is currently batting .378 with one triple, six doubles and 16 RBIs in 30 games played. "I had a few schools that were high up on … [Read more...] about Iowa Central all-American Palmer commits to play softball at St. Cloud State

DOWN TO THE WIRE: Ankeny boys drop 5-4 decision to Cedar Rapids Jefferson

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For the second time in four days, the doubles matches proved to be the difference in a narrow loss for the Ankeny boys' tennis team. The Hawks dropped to 0-2 on the season with a 5-4 loss to visiting Cedar Rapids Jefferson in a non-conference meet on Friday. The J-Hawks won two of the three doubles matches after the two teams split the six singles … [Read more...] about DOWN TO THE WIRE: Ankeny boys drop 5-4 decision to Cedar Rapids Jefferson