Ankeny Fanatic

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Archives for May 2025

‘We are frustrated with the result’: Hawks fall at Urbandale, 3-2, in conference finale

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The Ankeny boys' soccer team closed out its CIML Conference schedule with a 3-2 loss at Urbandale on Friday. The seventh-ranked Hawks finished 3-4-1 in the league and dropped to 9-5-2 overall heading into Monday's regular-season finale against visiting Marshalltown. Urbandale raised its records to 5-3 and 9-4. The win allowed the J-Hawks to tie No. 10 … [Read more...] about ‘We are frustrated with the result’: Hawks fall at Urbandale, 3-2, in conference finale

Hawkettes, Jaguars advance to regional semifinals on Tuesday at Pleasant Valley

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Both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial advanced to the semifinal round of the girls' Class 2A regional team tennis competition with victories on Friday at the Prairie Ridge courts. The Hawkettes posted a 5-0 win over Southeast Polk. They blanked the Rams (1-10) for the second time this season. "Our goal on the day was to not have to play doubles," said … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars advance to regional semifinals on Tuesday at Pleasant Valley

‘It was an absolute total team effort!’: Ankeny squads sweep crowns at SQM

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It was a sweet repeat for the Ankeny track squads. The Hawks and Hawkettes swept the team titles in a Class 4A state qualifying meet on Thursday at Marshalltown. They duplicated last year's sweep at Council Bluffs. "It was an absolute total team effort!" said Ankeny boys' coach Jordan Mullen. "The boys are firing on all cylinders right now, and they … [Read more...] about ‘It was an absolute total team effort!’: Ankeny squads sweep crowns at SQM

‘We are peaking at the right time’: Jaguars place 2nd in both divisions at SQM

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The Ankeny Centennial track teams earned second-place finishes in a Class 4A state qualifying meet on Thursday at Council Bluffs Lincoln. Dowling Catholic captured both team titles. The Maroons won the boys' division with 213 points--24 more than Centennial--after losing to the Jaguars by one point at the CIML Conference meet on May 8. "The biggest … [Read more...] about ‘We are peaking at the right time’: Jaguars place 2nd in both divisions at SQM

Hawks roll past Roosevelt, will travel to Linn-Mar Saturday for substate semifinal

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The Ankeny boys' tennis team defeated visiting Des Moines Roosevelt, 5-0, in a Class 2A substate quarterfinal on Friday at the Prairie Ridge courts. The Hawks raised their record to 3-7 on the season. The Roughriders finished 8-5. Ankeny will play at Linn-Mar (Marion) (10-6) in the semifinal round on Saturday morning. Marshalltown (13-1) will host the … [Read more...] about Hawks roll past Roosevelt, will travel to Linn-Mar Saturday for substate semifinal

Ridlen’s goal in 2nd half gives Centennial boys 1-0 victory over No. 9 Railsplitters

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Junior Ben Ridlen scored his first goal of the season to give the 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team a 1-0 victory at No. 9 Des Moines Lincoln in a non-conference game on Thursday. Ridlen found the net in the second half off an assist by Tate Duax, who leads the Jaguars with six assists. "It was a hard-fought, gritty game," said Centennial … [Read more...] about Ridlen’s goal in 2nd half gives Centennial boys 1-0 victory over No. 9 Railsplitters

Girls’ regional pairings announced: Jags, Hawkettes could face familiar opponents

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The Ankeny girls' soccer team could get a chance to avenge one of its losses with a trip to the state tournament on the line. The fifth-ranked Hawkettes (8-2-3) have been placed in Class 3A Region 5 by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union, which announced its postseason pairings on Thursday. Ankeny is the No. 1 seed and will host either Des … [Read more...] about Girls’ regional pairings announced: Jags, Hawkettes could face familiar opponents

‘It took a lot of self-motivation’: Victor, Weichers team up to win district crown

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Ankeny senior Dylan Victor is headed back to the boys' state tennis tournament--and this time he's taking Garrett Weichers with him. After qualifying in singles a year ago, Victor teamed up with his sophomore teammate to win a Class 2A district doubles title on Wednesday at Iowa City High. The duo will return to Iowa City for the state tournament on May … [Read more...] about ‘It took a lot of self-motivation’: Victor, Weichers team up to win district crown

Jaguars improve to finish 6th at CIML Invite; Consistent Hawkettes place 7th

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The members of the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' golf teams were paired together during the final round of the CIML Conference Invitational on Wednesday at Blank Golf Course. The two squads could be part of the same groups next Wednesday in a Class 4A regional meet, since both the Hawkettes and Jaguars have been assigned to play at Elmwood Country … [Read more...] about Jaguars improve to finish 6th at CIML Invite; Consistent Hawkettes place 7th

Duax returns to lineup, helps lead Jaguars to 2-0 victory over No. 4 Johnston boys

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team already knows what to expect going into postseason play, but that’s not stopping the Jaguars from stockpiling some momentum in the home stretch of the regular season. Centennial netted a goal in each half while posting a clean sheet as the 10th-ranked Jaguars posted a 2-0 win over No. … [Read more...] about Duax returns to lineup, helps lead Jaguars to 2-0 victory over No. 4 Johnston boys

‘We’ll see you again’: Ankeny battles No. 1 Wolves to 1-1 tie in possible state preview

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Ankeny assistant coach Trevor Neary shook hands with Waukee Northwest coach Tony Gabriel following Tuesday's girls' soccer showdown at Ankeny High School. "We'll see you again," Neary said after the fifth-ranked Hawkettes battled No. 1 Northwest to a 1-1 tie in the CIML Conference game. "Yeah, we will," Gabriel replied. Tuesday's game had all the … [Read more...] about ‘We’ll see you again’: Ankeny battles No. 1 Wolves to 1-1 tie in possible state preview

Wahlberg sets school record for assists, Benge scores only goal in Hawks’ road win

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Cal Wahlberg picked a good time to make some history. A junior midfielder on the Ankeny boys' soccer team, Wahlberg set a school record with his 15th assist to help the seventh-ranked Hawks to a 1-0 victory at Waukee Northwest on Tuesday. Wahlberg set up Landon Benge for the game's only goal in the first half. "Coming off a season-ending injury … [Read more...] about Wahlberg sets school record for assists, Benge scores only goal in Hawks’ road win

‘The result is a bit of a gut-punch’: Jaguars settle for 1-1 tie after Johnston’s late goal

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For the second time in five days, the third-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team battled hard for 80 minutes only to come away with a tie. Tuesday's 1-1 draw at No. 7 Johnston was a lot more unsatisfying than Friday's 1-1 tie against No. 4 Waukee, which featured a tying goal with about 8 minutes left from Centennial senior Ava Martin--who became … [Read more...] about ‘The result is a bit of a gut-punch’: Jaguars settle for 1-1 tie after Johnston’s late goal

Boys’ substate pairings announced: Jags, Hawks to host semifinal games on May 27

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The boys' soccer postseason will look a little different this year. Substate final winners will advance to the state quarterfinals, which will be played at host sites across the state. Quarterfinal matches are set for Monday, June 2 with matchups to be determined. The 2025 IHSAA state soccer tournament presented by Iowa Farm Bureau will then continue … [Read more...] about Boys’ substate pairings announced: Jags, Hawks to host semifinal games on May 27

‘Kira was nothing less than perfect’: Smith advances to state without dropping game

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Ankeny girls' tennis coach Steve Smith almost couldn't believe what he was watching on Monday. His daughter, Kira, advanced to the Class 2A state tournament by winning a regional singles title at Marshalltown in spectacular fashion. The senior won three consecutive matches without dropping a single game and even recorded a golden set along the … [Read more...] about ‘Kira was nothing less than perfect’: Smith advances to state without dropping game

Macke, Hawkettes top North Polk, gear up for showdown against No. 1 Waukee NW

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The Ankeny girls' soccer team has discovered a potent formula. Already boasting one of the state's best defenses, the Hawkettes have been strengthened in recent games by the explosive scoring ability of senior Alli Macke, who is among the top midfielders in Iowa. That combination was on full display Monday night, when Macke scored a pair of goals to … [Read more...] about Macke, Hawkettes top North Polk, gear up for showdown against No. 1 Waukee NW

‘I always know what I’m capable of’: Jags’ Peterson earns 2nd trip to state tourney

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Ankeny Centennial junior Samara Peterson is headed to the girls' state tennis tournament for the second time. Peterson, who qualified as a freshman in 2023 while playing doubles with Megan Yuan, won a Class 2A regional singles title on Monday at Ames. She posted a 6-4, 5-7, 6-0 victory over Johnston freshman Brianna Launderville in the final. "After … [Read more...] about ‘I always know what I’m capable of’: Jags’ Peterson earns 2nd trip to state tourney

‘Today was a lot of fun’: Jaguars sit in 8th, Ankeny 9th after first round at CIML meet

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Both the Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny girls' golf teams have some ground to make up on Wednesday. The Jaguars sit in eighth place among 12 squads in the CIML Conference Invitational following Monday's opening round at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club. They posted a score of 376 after shooting in the 360s twice in the last week, but Centennial coach … [Read more...] about ‘Today was a lot of fun’: Jaguars sit in 8th, Ankeny 9th after first round at CIML meet