Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

‘Can’t wait to see what the future holds’: Ankeny’s Miller to play softball at Coe

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Ankeny senior Kaylyn Miller has verbally committed to play softball at Coe College. Miller announced her decision via social media on Tuesday. "I am so excited to announce my academic and athletic commitment to Coe College!!" Miller tweeted on X. "I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who has helped make this possible, especially all of my … [Read more...] about ‘Can’t wait to see what the future holds’: Ankeny’s Miller to play softball at Coe

‘I’m so excited to be going to Drake’: Centennial star Ott to play for Bulldogs

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One of the state's best softball players has ended her recruiting battle. Ankeny Centennial junior outfielder Mady Ott announced on Tuesday that she has verbally committed to Drake. She will join the Bulldogs' program in the fall of 2026. "I'm so excited to be going to Drake," said Ott. "This wasn't as tough of a decision as I thought it would be. I … [Read more...] about ‘I’m so excited to be going to Drake’: Centennial star Ott to play for Bulldogs

‘I felt like I could be myself’: Bollwinkel commits to play baseball at Southwestern

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Ankeny Centennial senior Kohen Bollwinkel has verbally committed to play baseball at Southwestern Community College in Creston. Bollwinkel said he picked the Spartans over a handful of other programs. "I had a few schools in mind--some four-year schools around Iowa and several junior colleges--before I made my decision," said Bollwinkel, an outfielder. … [Read more...] about ‘I felt like I could be myself’: Bollwinkel commits to play baseball at Southwestern

Overberg, Gophers to host Jackrabbits in first round of NCAA Tournament Friday

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Elizabeth Overberg and the Minnesota soccer team are headed to the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers received an at-large berth to the 2024 NCAA Division I Championship on Monday afternoon. It's the program's first bid since 2018. Minnesota earned the No. 6 seed in the Columbia Regional and will host South Dakota State (15-4-2) on Friday at 6 p.m. at … [Read more...] about Overberg, Gophers to host Jackrabbits in first round of NCAA Tournament Friday

Ex-Ankeny setter Hoeck to be inducted into NJCAA Volleyball Hall of Fame

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Former Ankeny volleyball star Jill Hoeck will be inducted into the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Nov. 19 during the 2024 NJCAA Division I national tournament in Clarksville, Tenn. Hoeck played on Ankeny's back-to-back state runner-up teams in 2002-03 before moving on to Indian Hills Community College, where she was a first-team … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny setter Hoeck to be inducted into NJCAA Volleyball Hall of Fame

Centennial volleyball duo joins Ankeny’s star trio on CIML Conference first team

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball duo of Delaney Miller and Jaeden Pratt has been named to the CIML Conference first team along with fellow seniors Baileigh Carlsen, Reagan Hanfelt and Kamryn Scheib of Ankeny. Pratt, an outside hitter, earned first-team honors for the third time. Miller, an outside hitter, was also a repeat pick. Pratt and Miller led … [Read more...] about Centennial volleyball duo joins Ankeny’s star trio on CIML Conference first team

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Morgan Fincham, Ankeny Christian volleyball

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Senior middle hitter Morgan Fincham helped the Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team to a 40-5 record and a third consecutive Class 1A state championship this season. She had five kills, two aces, six digs and two blocks as the Eagles completed the threepeat with a sweep over BCLUW in the title match on Thursday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Fincham … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Morgan Fincham, Ankeny Christian volleyball

‘We had a great day at the pool!’: Ankeny swimmers qualify 9 girls for state meet

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There's still a lot of work to do, but the Ankeny girls' swimming team could be in position to earn another top-10 finish at the state meet. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes placed second in a regional meet on Saturday at Mason City. They finished with 401.5 points in the eight-team field, while No. 1 Dowling Catholic easily claimed the title with … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great day at the pool!’: Ankeny swimmers qualify 9 girls for state meet

‘We didn’t play our best’: Hawks close out season with 21-13 loss at Iowa City Liberty

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After coming off a Class 5A championship game appearance, the Ankeny Hawks planned on finishing their 2024 football season at the UNI-Dome. Things didn’t necessarily end up happening how the Hawks wanted to as their season ended about 83 miles southeast of Cedar Falls in Iowa City, just one game shy of returning to the … [Read more...] about ‘We didn’t play our best’: Hawks close out season with 21-13 loss at Iowa City Liberty

Dowling uses two late defensive stands to hold on for 14-10 victory over Jaguars

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Friday's rematch between the Ankeny Centennial and Dowling Catholic football teams didn't feature as many points as last month's meeting at Valley Stadium. But there was still plenty of drama. The second-ranked Maroons made two late defensive stops in the fourth quarter and held on for a 14-10 victory over No. 7 Centennial in the Class 5A quarterfinals … [Read more...] about Dowling uses two late defensive stands to hold on for 14-10 victory over Jaguars

‘I feel really lucky’: Winters becomes 4th Ankeny player in Volleyball Hall of Fame

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Thursday night was a celebration of Ankeny volleyball at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Prior to the Class 1A championship match that saw Ankeny Christian Academy win its third consecutive state title, former Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial star Jaali Winters was inducted into the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union Volleyball Hall of Fame along with two … [Read more...] about ‘I feel really lucky’: Winters becomes 4th Ankeny player in Volleyball Hall of Fame

ACA’s Nehring, Quick earn academic all-state honors along with Ankeny’s Moser

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Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball stars Macey Nehring and Katie Quick have been named to the academic all-state team along with fellow senior Jade Moser of Ankeny. The team was selected by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Nehring and Quick helped the Eagles to a 40-5 record and a third consecutive Class 1A state championship. Quick was named the … [Read more...] about ACA’s Nehring, Quick earn academic all-state honors along with Ankeny’s Moser

‘Miranda had great confidence’: Ankeny diver Gagne qualifies for state swim meet

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Ankeny diver Miranda Gagne has qualified for next week's girls' state swim meet at Marshalltown. Gagne competed in a regional meet on Thursday at Johnston and posted a score of 324.75 points. She will be seeded 27th among the 32 state qualifiers. "Miranda had great confidence throughout the meet and really didn't make an error until her final dive," … [Read more...] about ‘Miranda had great confidence’: Ankeny diver Gagne qualifies for state swim meet

A DYNASTIC ACHIEVEMENT: Dominant Eagles capture 3rd straight Class 1A title

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) In November of 2022, a core of confident sophomores stepped into the Xtream Arena in Coralville to proclaim that the Ankeny Christian Academy Eagles were the team to beat in Class 1A volleyball. But as that group of sophomores became juniors and now seniors, the message never changed over the course of those three … [Read more...] about A DYNASTIC ACHIEVEMENT: Dominant Eagles capture 3rd straight Class 1A title

‘We definitely brought our best’: Eagles survive tough test, advance to title match

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Its biggest test thus far on the postseason trail still resulted in a sweep for the Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team. The top-seeded Eagles moved one win away from a third consecutive state championship by defeating No. 4 Riverside, 25-12, 25-21, 25-18, in the Class 1A semifinals on Wednesday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The Bulldogs became the … [Read more...] about ‘We definitely brought our best’: Eagles survive tough test, advance to title match

Centennial’s Miller named to all-tourney team for 2nd consecutive year

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Ankeny Centennial volleyball star Delaney Miller has been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team for the second consecutive year. Miller was honored on Thursday following Pleasant Valley's victory over defending champion Waukee Northwest in the Class 5A final at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The senior outside hitter helped the Jaguars to a semifinal … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Miller named to all-tourney team for 2nd consecutive year

‘I’m super proud of our team’: Jaguars rally from 2-0 hole, fall in 5 sets to Waukee NW

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Jaeden Pratt and her Ankeny Centennial volleyball teammates left everything on the court. The second-ranked Jaguars just came up a little bit short. Centennial rallied from a two-set deficit before dropping a 25-21, 25-22, 16-25, 23-25, 18-16 decision to No. 6 Waukee Northwest in the Class 5A semifinals on Wednesday at Xtream Arena in … [Read more...] about ‘I’m super proud of our team’: Jaguars rally from 2-0 hole, fall in 5 sets to Waukee NW

‘I’m super excited’: Eagles romp past Don Bosco, will face Riverside in 1A semifinal

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Ankeny Christian Academy needed just three more wins to etch its name in the history books as a threepeat state volleyball champion. The magic number has been reduced to two as the top-seeded Eagles cruised to a 25-9, 25-16, 25-17 sweep over No. 8 Don Bosco in a Class 1A quarterfinal on Tuesday at Xtream Arena in … [Read more...] about ‘I’m super excited’: Eagles romp past Don Bosco, will face Riverside in 1A semifinal