Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

IGHSAU: State softball tourney to move to double elimination format in 2026

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The Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union Board of Directors unanimously approved the Iowa State Softball Tournament moving to a double-elimination format in 2026 at their meeting on Thursday. “Anyone that has watched the Softball College World Series knows how exciting the double-elimination format is,” said IGHSAU Executive Director Erin Gerlich. “We … [Read more...] about IGHSAU: State softball tourney to move to double elimination format in 2026

‘I really wanted to focus on the hills’: Zuber wins his 2nd straight CIML crown

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Check off another box for Ankeny runner Ethan Zuber. The senior easily defended his boys' title in the CIML Conference cross country meet on Wednesday, covering the 5K course at Southeast Polk in a time of 15 minutes 30.6 seconds. He finished about 11 seconds ahead of the Dowling Catholic duo of Owen Wolfe and Jack Flori. "That was the focus for me," … [Read more...] about ‘I really wanted to focus on the hills’: Zuber wins his 2nd straight CIML crown

Mohrhauser, Jaguars place 2nd at CIML meet; Shorthanded Hawkettes finish 5th

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The Ankeny girls' cross country team was not at full strength on Wednesday, and neither was Ankeny Centennial. Still, both teams had some good performances in the CIML Conference meet at Southeast Polk. The fourth-ranked Jaguars, who were without coach Eric Cogdill, placed second in the nine-team field for the second straight year. They finished with … [Read more...] about Mohrhauser, Jaguars place 2nd at CIML meet; Shorthanded Hawkettes finish 5th

Ex-Hawk Adamson verbally commits to play baseball at Cal State Bakersfield

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Former Ankeny pitcher Brock Adamson has found a new home. The Ellsworth Community College sophomore has verbally committed to play for the Cal State Bakersfield baseball program in 2025. "I am excited to announce my commitment to Cal State Bakersfield to further my academic and baseball career," Adamson tweeted on X. "I want to thank God, my family, … [Read more...] about Ex-Hawk Adamson verbally commits to play baseball at Cal State Bakersfield

Baethke returns to Urbandale, guides Hawkettes to sweep over her former team

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Of all the gyms that the Ankeny volleyball team has played in throughout the fall, the Hawkettes closed out their regular season in one that’s more than familiar to coach Liz Baethke. The second-year Ankeny coach returned to Urbandale on Tuesday to help guide the Hawkettes to a 3-0 sweep (25-9, 25-4, 25-19) over a J-Hawks … [Read more...] about Baethke returns to Urbandale, guides Hawkettes to sweep over her former team

‘That’s hard to do’: Jaguars sweep SEP, complete perfect 8-0 run through CIML

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There may not be a more battle-tested volleyball team in the state than Ankeny Centennial. The top-ranked Jaguars capped off a perfect run through the CIML Conference with a 25-11, 25-12, 25-16 victory over visiting Southeast Polk on Tuesday. Centennial, which had already clinched the outright conference title, finished 8-0 in the league and improved … [Read more...] about ‘That’s hard to do’: Jaguars sweep SEP, complete perfect 8-0 run through CIML

Tough conditions: Hawks drop to 8th, while Jaguars finish 9th at 4A state meet

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The course at Briarwood Golf Club played a lot tougher in the final round of the boys' Class 4A state golf meet. It resulted in higher scores for just about every team, including Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial. The 15th-ranked Hawks shot a 323 on Tuesday and finished with a 36-hole total of 626. They placed eighth in the 12-team field after sitting in … [Read more...] about Tough conditions: Hawks drop to 8th, while Jaguars finish 9th at 4A state meet

SQM assignments: Ankeny to compete at S.E. Polk, while Jags head to Marshalltown

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The cross country state qualifying meet assignments have been announced by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The Ankeny boys' and girls' teams have been assigned to the Southeast Polk site. Johnston, Southeast Polk and Urbandale will be among the teams in the field. The Ankeny Centennial boys' and … [Read more...] about SQM assignments: Ankeny to compete at S.E. Polk, while Jags head to Marshalltown

No. 7 Ankeny swimmers close out regular season with 111-75 victory at S.E. Polk

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The seventh-ranked Ankeny girls' swimming team completed its dual-meet season on Tuesday with a 111-75 victory at No. 14 Southeast Polk. The Hawkettes won seven of the 12 events. They finished 3-3 in the CIML Conference and improved their overall mark to 8-4. "We had a good meet to close out the regular season," said Ankeny coach Dustin Rhoads. "It is … [Read more...] about No. 7 Ankeny swimmers close out regular season with 111-75 victory at S.E. Polk

Jaguars move up to 12th, Ankeny falls to 15th in latest 5A RPI football rankings

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Ankeny Centennial moved up two spots to No. 12 in the latest Class 5A RPI football rankings, while Ankeny dropped three spots to No. 15 heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. The Jaguars (5-2) rolled to a 45-3 victory over Des Moines Roosevelt on Friday and appear to be in good position to make the 16-team playoff field. They will play at … [Read more...] about Jaguars move up to 12th, Ankeny falls to 15th in latest 5A RPI football rankings

‘It’s anybody’s ball game’: Hawks sit in 3rd, Jaguars 9th after Class 4A opening round

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The Ankeny boys' golf team sits in a pretty good position heading into the final round of the Class 4A state meet. Ankeny Centennial isn't too far back, either. The 15th-ranked Hawks shot a 303 in Monday's opening round at Briarwood Golf Club, putting them in third place in the 12-team field. No. 2 Johnston posted a 298 total to take a three-stroke … [Read more...] about ‘It’s anybody’s ball game’: Hawks sit in 3rd, Jaguars 9th after Class 4A opening round

Ex-Hawk Patton’s 2nd career pick helps Iowa State to first 6-0 start since 1938

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Former Ankeny football standout Jamison Patton recorded his second career interception on Saturday to help unbeaten Iowa State to a 28-16 victory at West Virginia. Patton, a sophomore defensive back, picked off a pass from quarterback Garrett Greene late in the third quarter when Iowa State held a 14-10 lead and the Mountaineers were threatening to score. … [Read more...] about Ex-Hawk Patton’s 2nd career pick helps Iowa State to first 6-0 start since 1938

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Makenna Madetzke, Ankeny cross country

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Junior Makenna Madetzke helped the 10th-ranked Ankeny girls' cross country team to a fourth-place finish in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Thursday. The Hawkettes finished with a total of 144 points. Madetzke placed sixth in a time of 18 minutes 46 seconds, which set a personal record. Her previous PR of 18:55 came in the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Makenna Madetzke, Ankeny cross country

Jaguars reach semis of Westside Invite before falling in 3 sets to Pleasant Valley

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The best volleyball teams in Class 5A continue to take turns beating each other. Top-ranked Ankeny Centennial advanced to the semifinals of the Westside Invitational on Saturday at Cedar Rapids Jefferson before dropping a 25-12, 24-26, 15-10 decision to No. 2 Pleasant Valley, which went on to win the tournament and could become the No. 1 team in the final … [Read more...] about Jaguars reach semis of Westside Invite before falling in 3 sets to Pleasant Valley

‘One game at a time’: Jaguars rebound to beat Roosevelt, face Waukee NW next

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) There’s no doubt that the Jaguars wanted to knock off Dowling Catholic at Valley Stadium last Friday, but there was just simply no time to dwell on their triple-overtime loss. Instead, Ankeny Centennial kept its sights set on reaching the postseason and it resulted in a 45-3 bounce-back victory over visiting Des Moines … [Read more...] about ‘One game at a time’: Jaguars rebound to beat Roosevelt, face Waukee NW next

‘We have our work cut out for us’: Hawks fall to 3-4 with loss at Iowa City Liberty

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The margin for error has been eliminated for the Ankeny football team. Following Friday's 28-20 loss at second-ranked Iowa City Liberty, the No. 12 Hawks are now 3-4 on the season and could drop out of the top 16 in the Class 5A RPI rankings this week. Ankeny will likely need to win its final two games against No. 4 Valley (6-1) and Cedar Rapids … [Read more...] about ‘We have our work cut out for us’: Hawks fall to 3-4 with loss at Iowa City Liberty

‘I felt I would be more happy at S. Dakota’: Beason picks Coyotes over Nebraska

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One of the state's best distance runners has made her college plans. Ankeny senior Drew Beason has verbally committed to join the South Dakota women's cross country and track programs. She picked the Coyotes over Nebraska. "I liked the team and the team culture at South Dakota," said Beason. "I felt I would be more happy at South Dakota and just be … [Read more...] about ‘I felt I would be more happy at S. Dakota’: Beason picks Coyotes over Nebraska

Centennial boys finish ahead of Hawks at Fort Dodge despite another win by Zuber

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For the second time this season, the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team defeated its crosstown rival. The 13th-ranked Jaguars placed fourth among 28 teams in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Thursday with 184 points. No. 5 Ankeny took fifth with 205 points. It was the first meeting between the two teams since the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on … [Read more...] about Centennial boys finish ahead of Hawks at Fort Dodge despite another win by Zuber