Ankeny Fanatic

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Dan Holm

Hawks rout Council Bluffs Lincoln, move up to No. 5 in final Class 5A RPI rankings

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It took only 15 seconds for the Ankeny football team to grab the lead for good in Friday's game at Wickersham Stadium. Owen Fischer returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, and the sixth-ranked Hawks went on to rout Council Bluffs Lincoln, 61-0, in the regular-season finale for both squads. "They blocked it up really nicely," Fischer said … [Read more...] about Hawks rout Council Bluffs Lincoln, move up to No. 5 in final Class 5A RPI rankings

‘It was a good start’: Centennial begins postseason run with sweep over J-Hawks

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Ankeny Centennial volleyball’s aspirations for postseason play takes the Jaguars well beyond just the regional bracket. But all good postseason runs start by hitting the ground running. The second-ranked Jaguars used a couple big runs to help sweep visiting Cedar Rapids Jefferson (25-8, 25-10, 25-9) in three sets in … [Read more...] about ‘It was a good start’: Centennial begins postseason run with sweep over J-Hawks

Ankeny’s Corron places 14th, Subbert finishes 16th in CIML diving competition

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The diving portion of the CIML Conference girls' swimming meet was held on Thursday at the Waukee Natatorium. Ankeny's Isla Corron placed 14th in the 11-dive event with a score of 325.80 points. Teammate Kambelle Subbert finished 16th with 320.15. Holli Hetzer of Southeast Polk, the state's second-ranked diver, won the event with 435.00 points. Bailey … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Corron places 14th, Subbert finishes 16th in CIML diving competition

ACA boys’ cross country team earns trip to Fort Dodge by dominating district meet

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The Ankeny Christian Academy boys' cross country team is headed back to the Class 1A state meet. The third-ranked Eagles, who placed second in Class 1A a year ago, easily won a district title on Thursday at South Hamilton. They swept the top three places in the 5K race and scored 31 points, finishing far ahead of runner-up North Butler Greene (122 … [Read more...] about ACA boys’ cross country team earns trip to Fort Dodge by dominating district meet

‘We executed and had fun’: Hawkettes sweep Marshalltown in regional opener

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The Ankeny volleyball team didn't waste much time advancing to the final round of regional play. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes scored the first eight points of the match and went on to defeat visiting Marshalltown, 25-11, 25-10, 25-7, in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Thursday. They hit .429 on the night and racked up 10 aces while completing 73-of-74 … [Read more...] about ‘We executed and had fun’: Hawkettes sweep Marshalltown in regional opener

Smith, Madetzke advance to state, but qualifying streak ends for Ankeny squads

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Ankeny cross country standout Isaiah Smith has earned a fourth consecutive trip to the boys' Class 4A state meet. Another senior, Makenna Madetzke, has qualified for the third time in the girls' race. This year, though, their respective teams will not be joining them. "It's really sad and kind of tragic to not have the team behind me," said … [Read more...] about Smith, Madetzke advance to state, but qualifying streak ends for Ankeny squads

Eagles roll past Martensdale-St. Marys, will host SE Warren in regional semifinal

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The Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team has yet to be tested in postseason play. The seventh-ranked Eagles cruised to a 25-13, 25-10, 25-13 victory over visiting Martensdale-St. Marys in a Class 1A regional quarterfinal on Wednesday. The Blue Devils scored a total of 36 points in the match--just 10 more than Melcher-Dallas managed to score in a … [Read more...] about Eagles roll past Martensdale-St. Marys, will host SE Warren in regional semifinal

‘Celebrate first and reflect second’: Centennial teams advance to state meet

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For the first time since 2020, the Ankeny Centennial cross country teams traveled to Council Bluffs on Wednesday to compete in a state qualifying meet. And just like five years ago, both squads qualified for next week's state meet. The third-ranked Centennial girls' team placed second among nine squads with 50 points, finishing 13 points behind No. 6 … [Read more...] about ‘Celebrate first and reflect second’: Centennial teams advance to state meet

‘We always serve aggressive’: Eagles rack up 22 aces in sweep over Melcher-Dallas

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Ankeny Christian Academy took a successful first step toward a fourth consecutive state volleyball championship. The seventh-ranked Eagles rolled to a 25-10, 25-7, 25-9 victory over visiting Melcher-Dallas in the opening round of a Class 1A regional tournament on Monday. ACA had defeated the Saints by almost identical scores in the Bluegrass Conference … [Read more...] about ‘We always serve aggressive’: Eagles rack up 22 aces in sweep over Melcher-Dallas

Wartburg’s Sash named Defensive Player of the Week for 2nd time this season

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Former Ankeny Centennial volleyball standout Anna Sash was named the American Rivers Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 13 for the second time this season. The Wartburg College sophomore middle hitter was also honored on Sept. 29. Sash showcased her dominance at the net, recording nine total blocks across a pair of Wartburg victories — a … [Read more...] about Wartburg’s Sash named Defensive Player of the Week for 2nd time this season

Akers catches his first collegiate pass for 7-yard touchdown in Huskies’ loss at Ohio

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Devon Akers will never forget the first reception of his college football career. The former Ankeny standout caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Josh Holst during the second quarter of Northern Illinois' 48-21 loss at Ohio on Saturday afternoon. It was the second career game for the tight end, who sat out his initial season in 2024 as a … [Read more...] about Akers catches his first collegiate pass for 7-yard touchdown in Huskies’ loss at Ohio

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ella Leever, Ankeny Christian volleyball

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Senior outside hitter and defensive specialist Ella Leever has helped the ninth-ranked Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team to a 25-13 record. The Eagles posted a 25-14, 25-9, 25-19 victory over Moravia on Thursday to win the Bluegrass Conference championship at Seymour. Leever leads the Eagles with 215 kills and 277 digs. She has also contributed 28 … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ella Leever, Ankeny Christian volleyball

‘The campus felt like a great fit’: Clark verbally commits to play for Panthers

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It's been a good weekend for Ankeny senior defensive back La'Marious Clark. On Friday, he made three tackles while helping the fifth-ranked Hawks to a 34-26 victory over No. 3 Valley in a top-five showdown at Ankeny Stadium. Then, on Sunday, he announced his verbal commitment to play football for the University of Northern Iowa. "I checked out a few … [Read more...] about ‘The campus felt like a great fit’: Clark verbally commits to play for Panthers

‘We earned it’: Hawks overcome 2 costly mistakes to knock off No. 3 Valley, 34-26

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Entering Friday's showdown at Ankeny Stadium, the third-ranked Valley football team had allowed a total of just seven points in its previous three games. But the Tigers had not faced an opponent during that stretch with as many offensive weapons as No. 5 Ankeny. Kael Roush passed for 315 yards and three touchdowns while Daniel Larmie ran for 136 yards … [Read more...] about ‘We earned it’: Hawks overcome 2 costly mistakes to knock off No. 3 Valley, 34-26

Jaguars tumble to No. 2 Dowling, will host S.C. North next with playoff berth at stake

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) On a night when two of the top three football teams in Class 5A got beat, the 12th-ranked Ankeny Centennial Jaguars wanted to get in on the action of knocking off a top seed. But Centennial just couldn’t find its footing offensively, and No. 2 Dowling Catholic took control in the second half as the Jaguars dropped to 4-4 on … [Read more...] about Jaguars tumble to No. 2 Dowling, will host S.C. North next with playoff berth at stake

‘It was a good night for us’: Jaguars place 4th, earn highest finish ever at CIML meet

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It's already been a successful fall for the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team. Wednesday's CIML Conference meet at Johnston was just another sign of the Jaguars' progress this season. Ninth-ranked Centennial placed fourth in the nine-team field with 105 points. The Jaguars had finished eighth, seventh and sixth in the previous CIML meets since … [Read more...] about ‘It was a good night for us’: Jaguars place 4th, earn highest finish ever at CIML meet

‘It was another great day for racing’: Jags place 3rd, Ankeny takes 7th at CIML meet

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team was hoping to win its first CIML Conference title since 2022, which was also the last time the meet was held at Johnston. After placing second behind Johnston in each of the last two years, the third-ranked Jaguars raced to a third-place finish on Wednesday. They finished with 67 points. No. 2 Waukee … [Read more...] about ‘It was another great day for racing’: Jags place 3rd, Ankeny takes 7th at CIML meet

‘It was just to have fun’: Seniors race their coaches following victory over S.E. Polk

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Madi Trosper anchored the final relay of the night on behalf of the Ankeny girls' swimming team, and it came down to a photo finish on Tuesday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. But by that point, seventh-ranked Ankeny had already defeated No. 17 Southeast Polk, 136-50, for its first CIML Conference victory of the … [Read more...] about ‘It was just to have fun’: Seniors race their coaches following victory over S.E. Polk