Ankeny Fanatic

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Dan Holm

‘I love to race’: Ankeny’s Villhauer sets PR in 100 butterfly during swim-off at state

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After swimming a pair of races in a matter of minutes during the preliminaries of the girls' state swimming meet on Thursday, Ankeny sophomore Charlie Villhauer moved to the auxiliary pool at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center in Iowa City. She had just started to cool down when she learned over the loudspeaker that she would unexpectedly have to … [Read more...] about ‘I love to race’: Ankeny’s Villhauer sets PR in 100 butterfly during swim-off at state

Ankeny golfers Dueker, McHose, Ross named to academic all-state team

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Ankeny boys' golfers Riley Dueker, Elliot McHose and Gavin Ross have been named to the academic all-state team by the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association. Qualifications for the award include being a senior, a 3.75 GPA or higher, and participating in at least half the varsity events this season. "Well deserved gentlemen," said Ankeny coach Mike … [Read more...] about Ankeny golfers Dueker, McHose, Ross named to academic all-state team

Unanimous pick Flanders joins Schmidt, Lei-Butters on all-CIML first team

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Ankeny Centennial volleyball standouts Mya Lei-Butters and Tatem Schmidt have been named to the CIML Conference first team along with Ankeny star Hailey Flanders, who was a unanimous selection. A total of 14 players from the two schools earned recognition from the league's coaches. The Jaguars landed Maegan Cheeseman and Mady Ott on the all-conference … [Read more...] about Unanimous pick Flanders joins Schmidt, Lei-Butters on all-CIML first team

‘It’s been quite a ride’: Ex-Hawk star Bauer to celebrate his Senior Day on Saturday

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Former Ankeny quarterback Jase Bauer's college football career has been a long and winding journey. After spending three years at Central Michigan and another at Sam Houston State, Bauer has played his final season for the University of Tennessee at Martin. He will celebrate his Senior Day on Saturday when the Skyhawks host Charleston Southern in their … [Read more...] about ‘It’s been quite a ride’: Ex-Hawk star Bauer to celebrate his Senior Day on Saturday

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Tatem Schmidt, Ankeny Centennial volleyball

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Senior setter and outside hitter Tatem Schmidt helped the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team to a runner-up finish in the Class 5A state tournament last week at Xtream Arena in Coralville. She was named to the all-tournament team along with her teammate, senior libero Mya Lei-Butters. Schmidt helped the Jaguars to a 34-6 record. She led the squad with 266 … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Tatem Schmidt, Ankeny Centennial volleyball

Ankeny’s Christensen named to academic all-state volleyball team by IGCA

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Ankeny setter Gwyn Christensen has been named to the academic all-state volleyball team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. In order to be selected to the squad, an athlete must be a senior and meet two of the following three criteria: * A cumulative GPA of 3.85 or higher * An ACT score of 27 or higher (1,200 or higher SAT) * Class rank in … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Christensen named to academic all-state volleyball team by IGCA

Ankeny swimmers place 2nd at regional meet, advance 8 girls to state meet

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The Ankeny girls' swimming team has qualified a total of eight girls for next week's state meet in Iowa City. Ninth-ranked Ankeny placed second in a regional meet on Saturday at Johnston, where coach Dustin Rhoads' team qualified for state in all three relays and every individual event except for the 100 breaststroke. "I was so happy with our … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers place 2nd at regional meet, advance 8 girls to state meet

Johnson’s transition to Division I level off to good start on Pioneers’ road trip

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Carson Johnson's transition to the NCAA Division I level is off to a good start. The former Ankeny basketball star has scored a total of 27 points in his first two games at Denver University after transferring from Minnesota State-Moorhead. The Pioneers have lost their first two games on a season-opening road trip under first-year coach Tim Bergstraser, … [Read more...] about Johnson’s transition to Division I level off to good start on Pioneers’ road trip

Ankeny junior Subbert qualifies for state diving meet with score of 319.60 points

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Ankeny junior Kambelle Subbert has qualified for the state diving meet. Subbert placed fifth with a score of 319.60 points in a regional meet on Thursday at Summit Middle School in Johnston. She was the last of the 32 qualifiers for the state meet, which will be held on Nov. 13-14 at the University of Iowa Campus Recreation & Wellness Center in Iowa … [Read more...] about Ankeny junior Subbert qualifies for state diving meet with score of 319.60 points

PK ends Bulldogs’ season, but Pennington earns all-conference first-team honors

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The season came to an end on Thursday for Alanna Pennington and the Drake women's soccer team. The top-seeded Bulldogs dropped a 1-0 decision to Illinois State in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament at Mediacom Stadium in Des Moines. A late penalty kick in the 85th minute from the Redbirds' Abby Hall proved to be the difference in … [Read more...] about PK ends Bulldogs’ season, but Pennington earns all-conference first-team honors

‘We just ran into a giant’: Jaguars earn runner-up trophy in 5A state tournament

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When the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team lost a five-set thriller at Waukee Northwest on Sept. 2, it turned out to be a preview of Thursday's Class 5A championship match at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The final meeting between the two CIML Conference rivals, though, wasn't nearly as close. Top-ranked Northwest captured its second state title in three … [Read more...] about ‘We just ran into a giant’: Jaguars earn runner-up trophy in 5A state tournament

Centennial stars Lei-Butters, Schmidt named to Class 5A all-tournament team

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Ankeny Centennial volleyball standouts Mya Lei-Butters and Tatem Schmidt were both named to the Class 5A all-tournament team after leading the Jaguars to a runner-up finish in the state tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Second-ranked Centennial dropped a 25-10, 25-21, 25-18 decision to No. 1 Waukee Northwest in the title match on Thursday morning. … [Read more...] about Centennial stars Lei-Butters, Schmidt named to Class 5A all-tournament team

Baethke accepts Hall of Fame award on behalf of Inderski, her ex-Urbandale star

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Former Urbandale star Kyla Inderski was inducted into the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union Volleyball Hall of Fame on Thursday during the state tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Ankeny coach Liz Baethke, who coached at Urbandale for 23 years before taking over the Hawkettes' program in 2023, accepted the award on behalf of her former player. … [Read more...] about Baethke accepts Hall of Fame award on behalf of Inderski, her ex-Urbandale star

‘We played as hard as we could’: Ankeny’s tourney run ends with loss to No. 1 Wolves

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It was going to take a monumental upset for the Ankeny volleyball team to advance to Thursday's championship match in the Class 5A state tournament. It didn't happen, but it wasn't due to a lack of effort. "I am so proud of this team," said Ankeny junior Marlee Ellison. "We've worked so hard all season, and we just have a really great bond. I think … [Read more...] about ‘We played as hard as we could’: Ankeny’s tourney run ends with loss to No. 1 Wolves

Jags sweep Valley to get over semifinal hump, will play Waukee NW for 5A crown

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team finally got over the hump. The second-ranked Jaguars advanced to the Class 5A championship match for the first time since 2018 with a sweep over No. 7 Valley on Wednesday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. They had lost in the semifinal round in each of the last three years. "It feels great," Centennial coach Jessica … [Read more...] about Jags sweep Valley to get over semifinal hump, will play Waukee NW for 5A crown

‘It’s just the best feeling’: Hawkettes oust Dowling in 5-set thriller, earn shot at NW

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Quinn Roush wasn't a major part of the Ankeny volleyball team's offensive attack during Monday's Class 5A quarterfinals at Xtream Arena in Coralville. But the junior middle hitter picked the perfect time to pound just her second kill of the day. Roush put the ball down to give the sixth-ranked Hawkettes a thrilling five-set victory over No. 5 Dowling … [Read more...] about ‘It’s just the best feeling’: Hawkettes oust Dowling in 5-set thriller, earn shot at NW

‘They put us on their backs’: Cheeseman, Schmidt lead Jags to sweep over I.C. West

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A third consecutive postseason sweep has put the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team in a familiar spot. The second-ranked Jaguars posted a 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 victory over No. 8 Iowa City West in the Class 5A quarterfinals on Monday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. They advanced to the semifinals for the fourth year in a row. "It feels really good. It's … [Read more...] about ‘They put us on their backs’: Cheeseman, Schmidt lead Jags to sweep over I.C. West