Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

‘We had a great meet’: Ankeny swimmers romp to 149-30 victory at Indianola

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After dropping its last three dual meets, the Ankeny girls' swimming team got back into the win column on Thursday. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes traveled to Indianola and rolled to a 149-30 victory over the Indians in a non-conference dual meet at the Indianola Wellness Campus. They won all 12 events and swept the top three places in many of them. "We … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great meet’: Ankeny swimmers romp to 149-30 victory at Indianola

Ankeny’s Nelson commits to play for Creighton, will reunite with Rusher in 2026

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Ankeny softball standout Avery Nelson has verbally committed to play for Creighton, beginning in the fall of 2026. Nelson, a junior outfielder, will be reunited with former teammate Abby Rusher, who is currently a freshman in the Bluejays' program. "I am super excited that I get the opportunity to play with Abby again!" said Nelson. "Her parents were … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Nelson commits to play for Creighton, will reunite with Rusher in 2026

Jaguars sweep Johnston, get help from Ankeny to clinch outright conference title

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It may not have been as pretty as the Jaguars were hoping for, but even “sloppy” play for Class 5A’s top-ranked volleyball team can still result in three-set sweeps. Ankeny Centennial’s quest for the CIML Conference title continued on its home court Tuesday as the Jaguars improved their perfect league record to 7-0 on the … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep Johnston, get help from Ankeny to clinch outright conference title

Villhauer, Trosper earn victories, but Ankeny swimmers fall to No. 1 Dowling

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The Ankeny girls' swimming team ran into the state's No. 1 squad on Tuesday at Dowling Catholic. The potent Maroons won 10 of the 12 events and posted a 122.5-63.5 victory over No. 8 Ankeny in a CIML Conference dual meet. It was the third consecutive loss for the Hawkettes, who dropped to 2-3 in the league and 6-4 overall. The highlight of the meet for … [Read more...] about Villhauer, Trosper earn victories, but Ankeny swimmers fall to No. 1 Dowling

Regional volleyball pairings announced: Centennial, Ankeny, ACA earn top seeds

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The regional volleyball pairings have been announced by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union, and all three of Ankeny's teams have been awarded No. 1 seeds. Top-ranked Ankeny Centennial has been placed in Region 1 in Class 5A. The Jaguars (24-3) will host a regional semifinal against Urbandale (2-21) or Des Moines East (5-17) on Thursday, Oct. 24 at … [Read more...] about Regional volleyball pairings announced: Centennial, Ankeny, ACA earn top seeds

‘We really terminated the ball’: Hawkettes outlast Waukee NW for 3rd time this year

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Two of the state's best volleyball teams met for a third time on Tuesday at Waukee Northwest. And, for the third time, third-ranked Ankeny outlasted the No. 6 Wolves. The Hawkettes posted a 20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 16-25, 15-12 victory in the CIML Conference match, allowing No. 1 Ankeny Centennial to wrap up the outright league crown. Both Ankeny and … [Read more...] about ‘We really terminated the ball’: Hawkettes outlast Waukee NW for 3rd time this year

Ankeny is 12th, Centennial 14th in Class 5A in initial RPI football rankings from IHSAA

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The initial RPI rankings for Class 5A football were announced on Monday by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Ankeny is 12th with an RPI of .5468. The Hawks (3-3) are ranked ahead of six teams with better records, including No. 14 Ankeny Centennial (4-2). Ankeny boasts a strong strength of schedule. Its opponents have combined for a 33-21 … [Read more...] about Ankeny is 12th, Centennial 14th in Class 5A in initial RPI football rankings from IHSAA

Centennial golfers advance to 4A state meet, will get to play on home course

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All season long, the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team was hoping to get a chance to play in the Class 4A state meet on its home course. The 14th-ranked Jaguars will now get that opportunity. Centennial placed third among 14 teams in a district meet on Monday at Bent Tree Golf Club in Council Bluffs. The Jaguars shot a 296 and finished three strokes … [Read more...] about Centennial golfers advance to 4A state meet, will get to play on home course

‘I could not be more proud of this team’: Ankeny golfers capture district crown

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The Ankeny boys' golf team needed to beat one of three higher-ranked teams on Monday in order to qualify for the state meet. The 15th-ranked Hawks went out and defeated all of them. Ankeny shot a 298 to win a Class 4A district title at the Ottumwa Country Club. The Hawks advanced to state for the second straight year and the third time in the last five … [Read more...] about ‘I could not be more proud of this team’: Ankeny golfers capture district crown

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Gracie Lindaman, Ankeny girls’ swimming

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Senior Gracie Lindaman racked up four first-place finishes on Tuesday as the Ankeny girls' swimming team dropped a 95-91 decision to visiting Johnston in a CIML Conference dual meet at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The 10th-ranked Hawkettes are now 6-3 on the season, including 2-2 in the conference. Lindaman won the 50 freestyle in 25.74 seconds, then … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Gracie Lindaman, Ankeny girls’ swimming

‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars knock off Waukee NW to capture Urbandale crown

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Some familiar opponents stood between the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team and the championship of the Urbandale Invitational on Saturday. The top-ranked Jaguars proved to be up for the challenge. After dispatching No. 5 Indianola in the semifinals, Centennial posted a 25-17, 25-21 win over No. 6 Waukee Northwest in the title match. The Jaguars (23-3) … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars knock off Waukee NW to capture Urbandale crown

‘They had to dig deep’: Ankeny spikers overcome illnesses to win W-SR Invite

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The Ankeny volleyball team dropped two sets along the way, but still managed to win the championship of the Waverly-Shell Rock Invitational on Saturday. The third-ranked Hawkettes posted a 25-20, 24-26, 15-9 victory in the title match over Denver, the No. 1 team in Class 2A. They extended their winning streak to seven matches while improving to 32-4 on … [Read more...] about ‘They had to dig deep’: Ankeny spikers overcome illnesses to win W-SR Invite

‘It came down to the last play’: Centennial falls to No. 1 Dowling in triple-OT thriller

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As the pass from Ankeny Centennial's Chase Kluver sailed toward the right corner of the end zone, Sam Heither dove for the ball in an effort to make a spectacular catch. Heither somehow made the grab, which would have provided the tying points for the sixth-ranked Jaguars in the third overtime of Friday's game against No. 1 Dowling Catholic. Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘It came down to the last play’: Centennial falls to No. 1 Dowling in triple-OT thriller

Hawks even record, continue push for playoff bid with 35-16 win over C.R. Prairie

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Regardless of gold jerseys or white jerseys, one of two Hawk teams was bound to exit Ankeny Stadium on Friday with a much-needed victory to keep its playoff hopes alive. And in the end, it was the Ankeny Hawks who soared past the visiting Cedar Rapids Prairie Hawks, 35-16, to improve to 3-3 on the season. “We needed (the … [Read more...] about Hawks even record, continue push for playoff bid with 35-16 win over C.R. Prairie

‘I felt really good’: Kiene places 14th in her 2nd race, helps Ankeny finish 4th at SEP

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Ainsley Kiene appears to be rounding into shape just in time for the Ankeny girls' cross country team. Competing in just her second race of the season, Kiene placed 14th in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Thursday. The junior posted a time of 20 minutes 18 seconds to help the ninth-ranked Hawkettes to a fourth-place finish in the 11-team … [Read more...] about ‘I felt really good’: Kiene places 14th in her 2nd race, helps Ankeny finish 4th at SEP

Centennial cross country teams race to 3rd-place finishes in Williams Invitational

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The Ankeny Centennial cross country teams raced to third-place finishes in the Bud Williams Invitational on Thursday at the Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City. The Centennial girls' squad lost to opponents from Iowa for the first time this season. The third-ranked Jaguars had won their first three meets of the year before placing fourth in the Gold … [Read more...] about Centennial cross country teams race to 3rd-place finishes in Williams Invitational

Jaguars sweep past Valley for another road win, improve to 6-0 in conference

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Playing on the road doesn't seem to bother the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. The top-ranked Jaguars earned their fifth consecutive road victory--and their second sweep in three days--with a 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 win at No. 12 Valley on Thursday. The win allowed Centennial to remain unbeaten in CIML Conference play. The Jaguars are now 6-0 in the … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep past Valley for another road win, improve to 6-0 in conference

Hawks place 5th, Jaguars finish 7th at CIML meet; will now gear up for districts

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Many of the teams competing in the CIML Conference meet on Wednesday at Otter Creek could be headed to the boys' Class 4A state golf meet next week at Briarwood Golf Club. The nine-team CIML boasts eight of the top 15 squads in the Class 4A rankings. As many as seven of them could qualify for state, because they'll be spread across three different … [Read more...] about Hawks place 5th, Jaguars finish 7th at CIML meet; will now gear up for districts

Jaguars move closer to conference crown with road sweep over No. 8 Waukee

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Jaguars know there’s no such thing as a “gimme game” when it comes to the Central Iowa Metropolitan League. But after sweeping the Waukee Warriors in three sets on the road Tuesday night, the top-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team is so close to locking up its first league title since 2021 that the Jaguars can … [Read more...] about Jaguars move closer to conference crown with road sweep over No. 8 Waukee