Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Marissa Meyer, Centennial volleyball

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Junior outside hitter Marissa Meyer has helped the seventh-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team to a 15-9 record. She had five kills on Thursday as the Jaguars posted a 25-16, 20-25, 25-18, 25-16 victory over visiting Ames in a Class 5A regional semifinal. Meyer currently ranks second on the team with 115 kills on the season. She has also recorded 28 … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Marissa Meyer, Centennial volleyball

Pezzetti moves closer to all-time record as Jaguars romp past Sioux City East

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Jerry Pezzetti moved a step closer to a huge milestone on Friday. His Ankeny Centennial football team also took a big step forward. The visiting Jaguars jumped out to a 27-0 halftime lead and went on to defeat ninth-ranked Sioux City East, 55-14, in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs at Olsen Stadium. "The kids played hard," said Pezzetti. … [Read more...] about Pezzetti moves closer to all-time record as Jaguars romp past Sioux City East

Third-round matchups: Hawks to host Cedar Falls, Jaguars to visit S.E. Polk

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The pairings are now set for the third round of the Class 4A football playoffs. There won't be a Jag-Hawk rematch. Second-ranked Ankeny (7-1) will host Cedar Falls (5-2) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Ankeny Stadium. It will be a rematch of a 2019 regular-season game that was won by the Tigers, 28-27, at the UNI-Dome. While the Hawks are riding a six-game … [Read more...] about Third-round matchups: Hawks to host Cedar Falls, Jaguars to visit S.E. Polk

‘At NSU I truly felt at home!’: Ankeny’s Johnson commits to play for D2 Wolves

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Ankeny girls' basketball standout Abby Johnson is anxious to take her game to the next level. Now, she knows where she'll be playing. The senior guard has verbally committed to play for Northern State, an NCAA Division II program located in Aberdeen, S.D. "I looked at a lot of schools, and it was a hard decision," said Johnson. "It ultimately came … [Read more...] about ‘At NSU I truly felt at home!’: Ankeny’s Johnson commits to play for D2 Wolves

KA-BOOM! Kadolph runs for 5 TDs as Hawks throttle Council Bluffs Jefferson

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After a week off, the Ankeny football team was ready for the start of the Class 4A playoffs. The second-ranked Hawks exploded for 28 points in both the second and third quarters and rolled to a 70-0 victory over visiting Council Bluffs Jefferson in a second-round game on Friday. "We knew we had to play well this week since we had a (bye) last week," … [Read more...] about KA-BOOM! Kadolph runs for 5 TDs as Hawks throttle Council Bluffs Jefferson

With their top swimmers sitting out, Hawkettes finish 3rd at conference meet

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The Ankeny girls' swimming team placed third in the CIML Iowa Conference meet on Thursday at Fort Dodge. Second-ranked Ames won the meet with 386 points. Mason City took second among the five teams with 315. No. 6 Ankeny finished with 285 points. The Hawkettes were among the teams that rested most of their top swimmers for the upcoming regional … [Read more...] about With their top swimmers sitting out, Hawkettes finish 3rd at conference meet

Mirembe pounds 15 kills, leads Jaguars past Ames in Class 5A regional semifinal

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Monica Mirembe didn't expect to play such a pivotal role in the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team's first postseason match. The junior middle hitter pounded 15 kills and also had four blocks to lead the seventh-ranked Jaguars to a 25-16, 20-25, 25-18, 25-16 victory over visiting Ames in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Thursday. "It just kind of … [Read more...] about Mirembe pounds 15 kills, leads Jaguars past Ames in Class 5A regional semifinal

‘A great day to be a Jaguar’: Centennial boys, girls race to state-meet berths

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Ankeny Centennial will be well represented at next week's state cross country meet in Fort Dodge. The Jaguars qualified for both the boys' and girls' races with strong performances in a Class 4A state qualifying meet on Wednesday at Council Bluffs. While the girls' team qualified for the seventh time in eight years, the boys' squad advanced for the first … [Read more...] about ‘A great day to be a Jaguar’: Centennial boys, girls race to state-meet berths

Hawkettes advance to state for first time since 2016; Cox also qualifies for Hawks

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The Ankeny girls' cross country team is headed to the state meet for the first time since 2016. The Hawkettes will be joined in Fort Dodge by Cael Cox of the Ankeny boys' squad, who also advanced as an individual with a 15th-place finish in a Class 4A district meet on Wednesday at Marshalltown. However, the Hawks came up three points short of … [Read more...] about Hawkettes advance to state for first time since 2016; Cox also qualifies for Hawks

Peters wins Iowa Conference diving title; Ankeny edges Bobcats for team crown

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Erica Peters and the other Ankeny girls' divers will finally get a little time off. Competing for the fourth time in eight days, Peters won the CIML Iowa Conference title on Tuesday at Fort Dodge while leading the Hawkettes to the team crown. "I'm amazed that these girls could compete in four meets in a week's time and turn in such great performances," … [Read more...] about Peters wins Iowa Conference diving title; Ankeny edges Bobcats for team crown

Hawkettes advance to regional final after Marshalltown cancelled by COVID

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The Ankeny volleyball team will only have to win one match to advance to the Class 5A state tournament. The second-ranked Hawkettes were slated to host Marshalltown in a regional semifinal on Thursday, but the match was cancelled on Tuesday by the Marshalltown Community School District. In an announcement on social media, school officials said that … [Read more...] about Hawkettes advance to regional final after Marshalltown cancelled by COVID

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Gwen Briggs, Ankeny girls’ cross country

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Freshman Gwen Briggs is a member of the ninth-ranked Ankeny girls' cross country team. She placed 63rd in the B Division of the Fort Dodge Invitational on Oct. 8 in a time of 25 minutes, helping the Hawkettes to a third-place finish in the nine-team field. "Gwen has stepped up into our No. 7 spot very well this season and has ran exceptionally in that … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Gwen Briggs, Ankeny girls’ cross country

Ankeny boys’ tennis coach Smith to replace girls’ coach Owens

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The timing was just right for Ankeny girls' tennis coach Katie Owens to step down from her position. It was also the perfect time for Ankeny boys' coach Steve Smith to replace her. Smith has been named the successor to Owens, who coached the Hawkettes from 2014-20. He will now get an opportunity to coach his daughter, Kira, who is currently an eighth … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys’ tennis coach Smith to replace girls’ coach Owens

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Alexis Henning, Ankeny girls’ swimming

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Junior Alexis Henning has helped the sixth-ranked Ankeny girls' swimming team to a 6-2 record this season. On Thursday, Henning won four events as the Hawkettes rolled to a 145-41 victory over visiting Marshalltown at Trail Point Aquatics Center. She won both the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke and also anchored the winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Alexis Henning, Ankeny girls’ swimming

Johnson ‘just couldn’t pass up the opportunity’ to play for Iowa State

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Ankeny golfer Hunter Johnson has decided to stay close to home. Johnson verbally committed on Sunday to play for Iowa State. He picked the Cyclones over some other schools in what he called a difficult decision. "The whole process was very tough," said Johnson. "I had a good relationship with all the coaches, but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity … [Read more...] about Johnson ‘just couldn’t pass up the opportunity’ to play for Iowa State

All of Ankeny’s divers place among top 20 finishers at Bobcat Invitational

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The members of the Ankeny girls' diving team are busy preparing for the end of the season. On Saturday, the Hawkettes competed in the Bobcat Invitational at the Marshalltown YMCA, where the state meet will be held on Nov. 13. "All of our girls placed in the top 20," said Ankeny girls' swimming coach Michelle Stout. "This is one of the biggest diving … [Read more...] about All of Ankeny’s divers place among top 20 finishers at Bobcat Invitational

Hawkette to become a Hawkeye: McMahon verbally commits to Iowa

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It didn't take long for Ankeny senior Lauren McMahon to attract the attention of college coaches. It didn't take long, either, for the running sensation to pick a school. On Friday, McMahon announced her verbal commitment to Iowa's cross country and track programs. "I got the opportunity to talk to (associate head coach Randy) Hasenbank from Iowa," … [Read more...] about Hawkette to become a Hawkeye: McMahon verbally commits to Iowa

Hawkettes dominate final dual meet, romp to 145-41 victory over Marshalltown

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The Ankeny girls' swimming team closed out its dual-meet season with a 145-41 victory over visiting Marshalltown on Thursday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes won every event except for the diving competition. They finished the regular season with records of 3-1 in the CIML Iowa Conference and 6-2 overall. "Tonight was the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes dominate final dual meet, romp to 145-41 victory over Marshalltown