Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

‘It’ll be fun to watch’: No. 3 Hawks look to contend for first Class 5A crown

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The cupboard is hardly bare for the Ankeny football team. The Hawks suffered heavy losses to graduation after winning the Class 4A state title last fall, but several standouts are back from the squad that finished with an 11-1 record. Some talented newcomers have joined the roster as well. Ankeny is third in the new Class 5A division in the preseason … [Read more...] about ‘It’ll be fun to watch’: No. 3 Hawks look to contend for first Class 5A crown

‘We’re all trying to get it for him’: Pezzetti needs just 2 wins to set all-time mark

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The losses stick out in Jerry Pezzetti's mind much more than the victories. Over the last six decades, there haven't been a lot of them. "People talk about the wins, but I think I remember the losses a lot more than the wins," said Pezzetti, who has been coaching high school football for 60 years. "Someone asked me how many wins (I have), and I don't … [Read more...] about ‘We’re all trying to get it for him’: Pezzetti needs just 2 wins to set all-time mark

Hawkettes rally past Dowling Catholic to win DC-G Invitational crown

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The Ankeny volleyball team has picked up right where it left off a year ago. The defending Class 5A state champions opened their season on Tuesday by winning the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational. Third-ranked Ankeny rallied to beat No. 10 Dowling Catholic, 18-21, 21-10, 15-10, in the championship match. "The last match was the best one," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rally past Dowling Catholic to win DC-G Invitational crown

Jaguars finish 3rd at DC-G Invite after losing to Urbandale during pool play

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For awhile on Tuesday, it appeared that the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team was headed for a showdown against crosstown rival Ankeny in the championship match of the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational. While third-ranked Ankeny easily won its pool, No. 4 Ankeny Centennial got off to a great start in the other pool and seemed to be on a collision course … [Read more...] about Jaguars finish 3rd at DC-G Invite after losing to Urbandale during pool play

Peters, Ankeny divers defend their titles at Johnston Invitational

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Last year, the Ankeny girls' swimming team had three divers among the top 13 finishers at the state meet. The Hawkettes might be able to duplicate that feat this season. Even though Dasha Toth has graduated, Ankeny showed off its diving depth on Monday at the Johnston Invitational. The Hawkettes placed three girls among the top six finishers in the … [Read more...] about Peters, Ankeny divers defend their titles at Johnston Invitational

Defending champs look to ‘maintain high expectations program has reached’

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The goals haven't changed for the Ankeny volleyball team, even after losing Class 5A player of the year Phyona Schrader and fellow all-stater McKenna Scheib from last year's state championship squad. Ankeny coach Dave Whims thinks the Hawkettes can contend for another crown. "My goal is to get the players to play the best they can play as an individual … [Read more...] about Defending champs look to ‘maintain high expectations program has reached’

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Rondi Quass, Centennial girls’ cross country

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Ankeny Centennial junior Rondi Quass is one of the state's best distance runners. She is eighth in the girls' Class 4A individual cross country preseason rankings by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches. Quass placed 14th in last year's Class 4A state meet with a time of 18 minutes 54 seconds. She led the Jaguars to a third-place finish, the best … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Rondi Quass, Centennial girls’ cross country

‘We definitely have a lot of experience’: Loaded Jaguars look to contend in 5A

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Jessica Rinehart has coached a lot of talented volleyball teams at Ankeny Centennial. This year's squad may be one of her most experienced ever. The Jaguars return nearly every player who had a major role on last year's team that posted a 16-10 record and advanced to the state tournament for the seventh time in eight seasons. "We return all of our … [Read more...] about ‘We definitely have a lot of experience’: Loaded Jaguars look to contend in 5A

After McMahon’s departure, Hawkettes look to rebuild around Dosh, Beason

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A year ago, Ankeny's Lauren McMahon emerged from out of nowhere to become one of the state's top girls' cross country runners. Now, as quickly as she arrived on the scene, she is gone. McMahon went out for the sport for the first time and won six of her first seven races before placing sixth in the Class 4A state meet, where she led the Hawkettes to a … [Read more...] about After McMahon’s departure, Hawkettes look to rebuild around Dosh, Beason

Jaguars seek back-to-back trips to state meet for first time in school history

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While dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team enjoyed the best season in school history. The Jaguars won a conference title for the first time and went on to place ninth in the Class 4A state meet with 243 points. It was the first top-10 finish for Centennial, which had placed 13th in its only previous … [Read more...] about Jaguars seek back-to-back trips to state meet for first time in school history

A strong group of senior runners to lead the way for Ankeny boys’ squad

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The Ankeny boys' cross country team came up three points shy of qualifying for last year's Class 4A state meet. The Hawks' fourth-place finish in a district meet at Marshalltown has provided a lot of motivation in the offseason. "After a somewhat disappointing finish to our varsity season last year, our guys are really locked in to having a great … [Read more...] about A strong group of senior runners to lead the way for Ankeny boys’ squad

Centennial girls return 4 varsity regulars from last year’s 3rd-place squad

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Coming off the best season in school history, the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team enters the 2021 campaign with its largest squad ever under coach Eric Cogdill. The Jaguars boast 78 girls on the roster, including 31 freshmen and nine other first-time competitors. "We have more girls on the team (40) that have never ran a high school cross … [Read more...] about Centennial girls return 4 varsity regulars from last year’s 3rd-place squad

‘We have a great pool of athletes’: AHS swimmers return 10 state qualifiers

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Many of the top performers from last year's Ankeny girls' swimming team are back this season. The Hawkettes have also added some talented newcomers. "We have one of the largest teams I've coached," said longtime Ankeny coach Michelle Stout, who has 45 girls on the roster. "It's common to get a spike in interest in an Olympic year, and this (year) was … [Read more...] about ‘We have a great pool of athletes’: AHS swimmers return 10 state qualifiers

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny softball team (1st team)

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Ankeny softball star Jenny Voss wanted to end her high school career with another state championship in the summer of 1996. When she found out that legendary coach Dick Rasmussen was going to retire at the end of the season, her motivation to win soared even higher. "After finding out he was retiring, all the things--big and small--just meant that much … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny softball team (1st team)

‘The kids were less nervous’: Hawk golfers top Ames behind Hensen, Legg

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Playing on its home course proved to be just what the Ankeny boys' golf team needed. After opening the season on Tuesday with a loss at Marshalltown, the Hawks returned home and posted a 312-323 victory over visiting Ames on Thursday at Otter Creek Golf Course. They evened their record at 1-1 in the CIML Iowa Conference. "It was good to get one in the … [Read more...] about ‘The kids were less nervous’: Hawk golfers top Ames behind Hensen, Legg

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny softball team (2nd team)

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Earlier this week, Ankeny Fanatic announced the first of three teams that comprise the all-time Ankeny softball team--the 12 players on the third team. Today, we are announcing the second team. The first team will be unveiled by the end of the week. Holly Voss, a standout pitcher and outfielder at Ankeny about three decades ago, is one of the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny softball team (2nd team)

Hachmeister shoots 71 to earn medalist honors, leads Jaguars past Ames

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For the second day in a row, the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team shot a 303 on its home course and came away with a victory. After winning the Jesse Peck Invitational on Monday, the Jaguars returned to Briarwood Golf Club on Tuesday and posted a 303-346 win over visiting Ames in a CIML Iowa Conference dual meet. "I was very happy with the way the … [Read more...] about Hachmeister shoots 71 to earn medalist honors, leads Jaguars past Ames