Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

Centennial’s Mirembe signs letter of intent to play volleyball at DMACC

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Ankeny Centennial volleyball standout Monica Mirembe has signed a letter of intent with DMACC (Boone). Mirembe said she looked at some other schools before picking the Bears. "It was not very hard for me to decide I wanted to go there," Mirembe said. "They have a great nursing program and a welcoming and great environment and people on that … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Mirembe signs letter of intent to play volleyball at DMACC

Centennial Digital Network to live stream all Jaguars’ home events this winter

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Fans of the Ankeny Centennial athletic teams will be able to watch all of the home events this winter from the comfort of their own homes. Centennial parent Andy Pollock will be live streaming all of the home girls' basketball, boys' basketball and wrestling events through Facebook. Coverage will begin with the basketball doubleheader against Southeast … [Read more...] about Centennial Digital Network to live stream all Jaguars’ home events this winter

Seven Ankeny players named to Class 5A all-state first team by IPSWA

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Thirteen Ankeny football players have received all-state honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association, which selected the teams in conjunction with the Iowa Football Coaches Association. Two Ankeny Centennial standouts were also honored. The Hawks, who posted a 10-3 record and earned a runner-up finish in Class 5A, placed seven players on the … [Read more...] about Seven Ankeny players named to Class 5A all-state first team by IPSWA

Challenging season ahead for Richtsmeier, Ankeny bowling teams

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Ankeny bowling coach Lane Richtsmeier is still trying to determine his lineups for Tuesday's season opener against visiting Dowling Catholic at Great Escape. Right now, Richtsmeier doesn't have enough female bowlers for a full girls' varsity squad. "We have 27 total kids out but only four girls at the moment--with some possible late arrivals, hopefully … [Read more...] about Challenging season ahead for Richtsmeier, Ankeny bowling teams

Hawkettes could experience growing pains, but McAnelly sees some potential

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It might take awhile for the Ankeny girls' basketball team to reach its potential. The Hawkettes return only two starters from a squad that posted a 10-7 record last year for the program's first winning season since the split into two high schools. "We are extremely young with only two seniors, and both of them have not played very many varsity minutes … [Read more...] about Hawkettes could experience growing pains, but McAnelly sees some potential

No. 9 Jaguars return experienced guards, add talented post player from Ames

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Some high school basketball teams are fortunate to have two good ballhandlers. The Ankeny Centennial girls' squad is blessed to have four veteran guards who can share the ballhandling duties. Seniors Cleao Murray and Elle Street along with juniors Makenna Clark and Averi Porter will form the nucleus of this year's roster. "Those four are the core of … [Read more...] about No. 9 Jaguars return experienced guards, add talented post player from Ames

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Tamden Webb-Tate, Ankeny football

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Senior linebacker Tamden Webb-Tate helped the Ankeny football team to a 10-3 record and a runner-up finish in Class 5A. He has been named to the all-district first team for the second year in a row. Webb-Tate made eight tackles in the Hawks' 24-7 loss to Southeast Polk in the Class 5A championship game on Friday at the UNI-Dome. He led the team this … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Tamden Webb-Tate, Ankeny football

Hawk swimmers return 4 state qualifiers, including a pair of all-Americans

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The cupboard is hardly bare, but the Ankeny boys' swimming team faces what appears to be a rebuilding season this winter. The Hawks have been one of the state's top programs in recent years, capturing a state title in 2019 before two consecutive runner-up finishes. But many of the standouts from those teams are gone, including Trent Frandson, an … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers return 4 state qualifiers, including a pair of all-Americans

Kadolph, Webb-Tate, Porter earn repeat all-district first-team honors

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The state runner-up Ankeny football team landed eight players on the all-district first team and eight more on the second team. Ankeny Centennial, meanwhile, had six first-team selections and six second-team picks. The all-district teams were selected by the coaches from the following teams: Ankeny, Centennial, Ames, Marshalltown and Waukee … [Read more...] about Kadolph, Webb-Tate, Porter earn repeat all-district first-team honors

‘They played better than us on this night’: Hawks fall short in title game rematch

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(Story by Rob Gray) It hurts to watch. You’re helpless. The game is essentially decided and the opposing team is flexing and raising its arms on the sideline with 3-plus minutes left. That’s where Ankeny’s football players found themselves late in Friday night’s 24-7 rematch loss to Southeast Polk in the Class 5A championship game and — you … [Read more...] about ‘They played better than us on this night’: Hawks fall short in title game rematch

Back-to-back crowns?: Ankeny Fanatic’s prediction for the Class 5A title game

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If you missed this week's Ankeny Fanatic podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, check it out. We broke down Friday night's Class 5A championship game with seven different guests. So will Ankeny capture its second straight title and the fourth in school history? Or will Southeast Polk claim its first championship? The Hawks have won the last … [Read more...] about Back-to-back crowns?: Ankeny Fanatic’s prediction for the Class 5A title game

With several key returnees, Centennial girls are 9th in 5A preseason rankings

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team is No. 9 in Class 5A in the preseason rankings by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. The Jaguars posted a 16-3 record last season and reached the Class 5A semifinals before losing to eventual champion Waukee. They return several key players from that team, including senior guards Cleao Murray and Elle … [Read more...] about With several key returnees, Centennial girls are 9th in 5A preseason rankings

Reynolds earns repeat all-state honors; ACA’s Quick named to Class 1A 3rd team

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Ankeny volleyball standout Ava Reynolds has been named to the Class 5A all-state first team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association for the second year in a row. Reynolds,a senior outside hitter, led the Hawkettes to a 40-6 record and a semifinal appearance in the Class 5A state tournament. She racked up a team-high 435 kills while posting a .341 hitting … [Read more...] about Reynolds earns repeat all-state honors; ACA’s Quick named to Class 1A 3rd team

Hawkins becomes 8th QB in Division III history with 50 TD passes in a season

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After another dominant showing in his final American Rivers game Saturday, Central College quarterback Blaine Hawkins was tabbed as the league's offensive player of the week for the sixth time this season. Hawkins, a former Ankeny standout and the league's 2019 offensive MVP, received the honor for the 12th time in his Central career after throwing five … [Read more...] about Hawkins becomes 8th QB in Division III history with 50 TD passes in a season

‘I felt so at peace with Northwestern’: Ankeny’s Billings to play for Red Raiders

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Ankeny softball player Ashtyn Billings is headed to Orange City. The senior pitcher has verbally committed to play for Northwestern College. She picked the Red Raiders over Simpson College and a few junior colleges. "It was not a tough decision for me," said Billings. "I felt so at peace with Northwestern the second I set foot on campus!" Billings … [Read more...] about ‘I felt so at peace with Northwestern’: Ankeny’s Billings to play for Red Raiders

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Sophie Loeffler, Ankeny girls’ swimming

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Freshman Sophie Loeffler helped the Ankeny girls' swimming to a fifth-place finish in the state meet on Saturday at Marshalltown. She placed sixth in the 200 freestyle (1:55.68) and 11th in the 500 freestyle (5:13.43). Loeffler helped the Hawkettes to a ninth-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay, swimming the anchor leg in 24.42 seconds. She swam the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Sophie Loeffler, Ankeny girls’ swimming

Stout: 5th-place finish at state ‘a huge accomplishment’ for Ankeny swimmers

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The Ankeny girls' swimming team has been ranked among the top five squads in the state most of the season. The Hawkettes capped off a successful campaign with a fifth-place finish in the state meet on Saturday at Marshalltown. They finished with 168 points, edging CIML rival Johnston by six points for fifth place. "Finishing fifth was a huge … [Read more...] about Stout: 5th-place finish at state ‘a huge accomplishment’ for Ankeny swimmers

‘We just wanted to avenge that loss’: Hawks pound Valley, soar into title game

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Nobody can blame Mason Morrow if he has some nightmares this week. The Valley quarterback was running for his life Friday all over the UNI-Dome turf. Ankeny used a suffocating defensive effort to limit Morrow and the Tigers to 248 total yards and rolled to a 35-13 victory in the Class 5A semifinals at Cedar Falls. The Hawks avenged an earlier 38-35 … [Read more...] about ‘We just wanted to avenge that loss’: Hawks pound Valley, soar into title game