Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny wrestling team

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is dedicated to longtime Des Moines Register wrestling reporter Dan McCool, who died on Monday at the age of 60. Dan was a legend in the wrestling community and will be sorely missed. I was working for the Register as a correspondent in the 80s and one of the first big events that I was asked to cover was to help out Dan with state … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny wrestling team

Ankeny’s Reynolds, Centennial’s Hron to play soccer at Simpson College

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Two more Ankeny-area soccer players have decided to spend the next four years in Indianola. Ankeny senior Ben Reynolds has committed to play for Simpson College. He joins his teammate Colby Cheney, who previously committed to the Storm. "The fact that I already knew Colby was going to Simpson helped me in knowing that I would be going along with a … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Reynolds, Centennial’s Hron to play soccer at Simpson College

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Grace Nemmers, Centennial girls’ tennis

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Senior Grace Nemmers was one of the top returning players on the Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis team, which had its season cancelled last month due to the coronavirus. Nemmers helped the Jaguars to an 8-5 record in 2019. She posted a 6-6 mark at the No. 5 singles position and went 5-4 in doubles. Here is some inside info on Nemmers: You've had a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Grace Nemmers, Centennial girls’ tennis

Centennial’s Sease: ‘Choosing Wartburg was an easy decision for me’

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Ankeny Centennial's Lauren Sease didn't need another season of golf to figure out where she wanted to play in college. She had already made up her mind. Sease, who verbally committed to Wartburg College last fall, is still convinced that she made the right choice. "Choosing Wartburg was an easy decision for me," Sease said. "I only visited one … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Sease: ‘Choosing Wartburg was an easy decision for me’

First-year coaches Varnum, Espinosa deal with devastation of lost season

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Perhaps nobody was more excited to coach his team this spring than Ankeny boys' soccer coach Marcus Varnum. Unless it was Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis coach Armando Espinosa. Both Espinosa and Varnum were first-year head coaches who had their debut seasons wiped out by the coronavirus. Espinosa, the head tennis professional at Ames Fitness Center, … [Read more...] about First-year coaches Varnum, Espinosa deal with devastation of lost season

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ basketball team

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Last week, Ankeny Fanatic unveiled its all-time Ankeny boys' basketball team. Now, it's the girls' turn. Ankeny has a rich tradition in girls' basketball, boasting more than 40 all-state players dating back to 1940. The community has won a total of 10 state championships. The history of Ankeny girls' basketball can be broken down into three distinct … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ basketball team

Ex-Centennial kicker to play final season at Louisiana-Monroe

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Hunter Pinegar has decided to finish his collegiate football career in the Pelican State. The former Ankeny Centennial kicker has verbally committed to play for the University of Louisiana-Monroe, a Division I school. He spent the last season at Sam Houston State, an FCS program in Huntsville, Texas. "I'm looking for a fresh start," said Pinegar, who … [Read more...] about Ex-Centennial kicker to play final season at Louisiana-Monroe

Jaguars’ Pieper earns National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award

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Ankeny Centennial defensive lineman Lucas Pieper has been named a winner of the National Football Foundation's Iowa Chapter Scholar Athlete Award for 2020. This award recognizes high school football players who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in their communities. Pieper helped the Jaguars to an 8-2 record … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ Pieper earns National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award

Ex-Ankeny guard Riordan named Simpson College Male Athlete of Year

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Former Ankeny basketball standout Conor Riordan has been named the Simpson College Male Athlete of the Year after previously earning several postseason honors. Riordan, a senior guard, was selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-West District and D3hoops.com All-West Region second team. He was also named a first-team Academic … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny guard Riordan named Simpson College Male Athlete of Year

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Malea Daugherty, Ankeny senior

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Ankeny senior Malea Daugherty has been a standout in three sports--track, volleyball and softball--during her high school career. She helped the Hawkettes reach the semifinals of the Class 5A state volleyball tournament last fall. On the track, Daugherty ran on Ankeny's eighth-place shuttle hurdle relay at last year's Class 4A state meet. She also ran on … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Malea Daugherty, Ankeny senior

WELCOME BACK!: Lindaman officially announces her return to Gator Nation

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Florida softball standout and Ankeny native Kendyl Lindaman had already told Ankeny Fanatic of her plans to return next season, but her tweet on Saturday makes it official. "Being a part of Gator Nation has given me a lifetime of unforgettable memories and after receiving the news that our season was over, I was not ready for these memories to end," she … [Read more...] about WELCOME BACK!: Lindaman officially announces her return to Gator Nation

Centennial guard Kelling chooses Grand View over Midland, Morningside

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Ankeny Centennial's Preston Kelling is taking his highlight-reel dunks to the east side of Des Moines. The senior guard has verbally committed to play basketball at Grand View University. He picked the Vikings over Midland University and Morningside. "It was definitely a hard decision," said Kelling. "But after a couple days of thinking (it over) and … [Read more...] about Centennial guard Kelling chooses Grand View over Midland, Morningside

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny boys’ basketball team

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It's been more than a month since the Ankeny boys' basketball team capped off an amazing postseason run by winning the Class 4A state title at Wells Fargo Arena. Man, I miss sports. The Hawks' 78-70 victory over Waukee in the championship game was played before a sparse crowd because both schools were limited to just 100 fans due to concern over spread … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny boys’ basketball team

Prized Ankeny football recruit Brecht plans to make decision by end of June

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Ankeny football star Brody Brecht has narrowed his list of schools down to Iowa and Iowa State. Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm caught up with the junior receiver, who is one of the state's top prospects in the Class of 2021, to get an update on his recruitment. Well Brody, you previously said you were hoping to commit after taking your official visits … [Read more...] about Prized Ankeny football recruit Brecht plans to make decision by end of June

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Avery Gates, Ankeny Centennial senior

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Senior Avery Gates was expected to be one of the top sprinters for the Ankeny Centennial boys' track team. He helped the Jaguars to a 16th-place finish in last year's Class 4A state meet. Gates placed 13th in the 200 with a time of 22.60 seconds. He also ran on the third-place 4x400, fourth-place sprint medley and sixth-place 4x200 relays. Here is some … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Avery Gates, Ankeny Centennial senior

‘Some things we can’t control’: Athletes, coaches react to cancellation of sports

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Katie Petersen got together with some of her Ankeny Centennial teammates on Thursday night to continue preparing for what she thought would be her final high school track season. "I was just at the track with a few friends, and we were talking about our new meet schedules and who was going to be on our shuttle (hurdle relay)," said Petersen, one of the … [Read more...] about ‘Some things we can’t control’: Athletes, coaches react to cancellation of sports

Ex-Ankeny battery of Voigt, Anderberg to return for 2021 baseball season

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Greg Anderberg wears No. 7 on his George Washington University baseball uniform. His former Ankeny teammate, Jack Voigt, wears the same number for his squad at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. That isn't the only thing that the duo has in common. Both Anderberg and Voigt played two seasons of junior college baseball before moving on to … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny battery of Voigt, Anderberg to return for 2021 baseball season

CANCELLED: COVID-19 wipes out spring high school activities

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The Ankeny girls' soccer team won't have a chance to defend its Class 3A state title. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced on Friday that all schools will remain closed through the end of the school year due to the ongoing threat of the coronavirus. All spring high school activities have now been cancelled. "I'm just setting up meetings now with the kids … [Read more...] about CANCELLED: COVID-19 wipes out spring high school activities