Ankeny Fanatic

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Hawks

Unanimous pick Wiederin selected to CIML first team along with Ellison, Heither

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Ankeny volleyball standout Hailey Wiederin has been unanimously selected to the CIML Conference first team by a vote of the league's coaches. She was joined on the squad by teammate Marlee Ellison and Ankeny Centennial's Sophia Heither. The Jaguars placed two players, Kaelyn Rinehart and Madi VanBruggen, on the all-conference second team. The Hawkettes … [Read more...] about Unanimous pick Wiederin selected to CIML first team along with Ellison, Heither

Ellison, Heither, Weathers to play in Senior Volleyball Classic on Saturday at Johnston

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Marlee Ellison of Ankeny, Sophia Heither of Ankeny Centennial and Katelyn Weathers of Ankeny Christian Academy have been selected to play in the 2026 Senior Volleyball Classic by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. The event will be held on Saturday at Johnston High School. Ellison and Heither will be teammates on the Panthers squad coached by Jodi Vogt … [Read more...] about Ellison, Heither, Weathers to play in Senior Volleyball Classic on Saturday at Johnston

‘We had a great day!’: Ankeny takes 2nd at regional, advances 15 swimmers to state

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Competing in its home pool paid off for the Ankeny girls' swimming team. Seventh-ranked Ankeny placed second in a regional meet on Saturday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. Coach Dustin Rhoads' team scored 418 points, finishing 10 points behind No. 6 Iowa City West. Rhoads and his assistants were named the coaching staff of the year after the … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great day!’: Ankeny takes 2nd at regional, advances 15 swimmers to state

‘We love coach Schoon’: Hawks advance to Dome following medical emergency

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) With a trip to the UNI-Dome on the line and facing a team that ended its season two years ago, the Ankeny football team had more than enough reasons to win its Friday night Class 5A quarterfinal matchup against visiting Iowa City Liberty. But a terrifying moment with 5 minutes left to play gave the Hawks even more … [Read more...] about ‘We love coach Schoon’: Hawks advance to Dome following medical emergency

Ankeny assistant football coach Schoon leaves playoff game in ambulance

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Ankeny assistant football coach Greg Schoon collapsed on the sidelines during Friday's playoff game and left Ankeny Stadium in an ambulance. A police officer performed CPR, and a defibrillator was used. According to Ankeny Fanatic reporter Stephen McDaniel, someone was seen raising a fist in the air as Schoon was loaded into the ambulance, eliciting … [Read more...] about Ankeny assistant football coach Schoon leaves playoff game in ambulance

Ankeny divers Subbert, Corron advance to next week’s state meet in Iowa City

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Ankeny seniors Kambelle Subbert and Isla Corron are headed to next week's state diving meet. Subbert placed fourth in a regional meet on Thursday at the Waukee Natatorium with 326.25 points. Corron took fifth with 319.75. "We are very excited and happy for Kambelle and Isla!" said Ankeny girls' swimming coach Dustin Rhoads. "They have both overcome a … [Read more...] about Ankeny divers Subbert, Corron advance to next week’s state meet in Iowa City

After leading Ankeny to Class 5A semis, Wiederin earns spot on all-tourney team

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Junior outside hitter Hailey Wiederin has been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team after leading the Ankeny volleyball team to the state tournament semifinals for the second straight year at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Wiederin had 24 kills and 17 digs in the Hawkettes' four-set victory over Ankeny Centennial in the quarterfinals on Monday. She then … [Read more...] about After leading Ankeny to Class 5A semis, Wiederin earns spot on all-tourney team

‘We just came up short’: Hawkettes rally from 2-set deficit before falling to DC-G

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) There was nothing the Ankeny volleyball players wanted more than to be the team that dethroned top-ranked Waukee Northwest as the Class 5A state champion. But that dream fell short by one match and a few points. No. 3 Ankeny rallied from a two-set deficit to force a fifth set against No. 2 Dallas Center-Grimes before … [Read more...] about ‘We just came up short’: Hawkettes rally from 2-set deficit before falling to DC-G

‘We were already exhausted enough’: Hawkettes close out Centennial in 4 sets

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team has made some tremendous strides over the last several weeks. Its crosstown rival proved on Monday, though, that it has improved just as much. Third-ranked Ankeny held off a valiant effort by No. 6 Centennial to post a 25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 27-25 victory in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state tournament at … [Read more...] about ‘We were already exhausted enough’: Hawkettes close out Centennial in 4 sets

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Marlee Ellison, Ankeny volleyball

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Senior outside hitter Marlee Ellison had 11 kills, four digs and one ace to help the third-ranked Ankeny volleyball team to a 25-7, 25-19, 25-23 victory over No. 13 Cedar Rapids Kennedy in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday. The Hawkettes advanced to the state tournament for the ninth consecutive year. Ellison has recorded 295 kills this season while … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Marlee Ellison, Ankeny volleyball

Ankeny Fanatic’s breakdown of the Class 5A state volleyball tournament

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The top eight teams in the final Class 5A rankings all advanced to the state volleyball tournament, which gets under way on Monday with four quarterfinal matches. Will the chalk continue to win at Xtream Arena in Coralville? That's just one of the questions that will be answered over the next four days. Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm will try to … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic’s breakdown of the Class 5A state volleyball tournament

‘Gus went for it’: Ankeny soph Brown starts fast, finishes 31st in his state meet debut

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Ankeny sophomore Gus Brown was hoping to earn a spot on the awards podium in the boys' Class 4A state cross country meet on Saturday. For the first two miles of the 5k race, he was in position to do just that at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. However, Brown faltered in the final 1.1 miles and placed 31st in a field of 131 runners. "I was … [Read more...] about ‘Gus went for it’: Ankeny soph Brown starts fast, finishes 31st in his state meet debut

Wise closes out her Ankeny cross country career as Heim shows off bright future

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On a day when Ankeny senior Vanessa Wise closed out her high school cross country career with a frustrating race, one of her younger teammates offered a tantalizing glimpse of her bright future. Freshman Mia Heim raced to a 39th-place finish in the Class 4A state meet on Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. She posted a time of 19 minutes 18 … [Read more...] about Wise closes out her Ankeny cross country career as Heim shows off bright future

Goode, Tate lead Hawks past Waukee in opening round of Class 5A playoffs, 43-37

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With an abundance of offensive weapons, the Ankeny football team doesn't always have to rely on the same playmakers. On Friday night, it was time for Devan Goode and DJ Tate to shine. Goode rushed for three touchdowns, Tate caught three scoring passes, and the fourth-ranked Hawks held off a furious rally by No. 13 Waukee to post a 43-37 victory in the … [Read more...] about Goode, Tate lead Hawks past Waukee in opening round of Class 5A playoffs, 43-37

‘We knew we’d be back’: Ankeny girls qualify for state for 9th consecutive year

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny volleyball team never envisioned a 2026 season that wouldn't end on the courts at Xtream Arena. That officially came to fruition on Tuesday and sets up a big crosstown rivalry matchup in Coralville. Third-ranked Ankeny used a dominant start to sweep No. 13 Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 25-7, 25-19, 25-23, in a Class 5A … [Read more...] about ‘We knew we’d be back’: Ankeny girls qualify for state for 9th consecutive year

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Vanessa Wise, Ankeny girls’ cross country

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Senior Vanessa Wise helped the Ankeny girls' cross country team to a fourth-place finish in a Class 4A state qualifying meet on Wednesday at Kickers Park in Iowa City. Wise placed 21st in the 5k race to qualify for the state meet as an individual. She posted a time of 21 minutes 19.9 seconds. Here is some inside info on Wise: Congratulations on … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Vanessa Wise, Ankeny girls’ cross country

‘Everyone raced hard and showed up’: Ankeny swimmers place 4th at CIML meet

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The Ankeny girls' swimming team avenged a dual-meet loss to Johnston while placing fourth in the CIML Conference meet on Saturday at the Waukee Natatorium. Seventh-ranked Ankeny finished with 188 points, 16 more than the No. 6 Dragons. Johnston had posted a 102-85 victory at Ankeny on Sept. 22. Coach Dustin Rhoads' team is now 21-13 overall on the … [Read more...] about ‘Everyone raced hard and showed up’: Ankeny swimmers place 4th at CIML meet