Cal Wahlberg picked a good time to make some history. A junior midfielder on the Ankeny boys' soccer team, Wahlberg set a school record with his 15th assist to help the seventh-ranked Hawks to a 1-0 victory at Waukee Northwest on Tuesday. Wahlberg set up Landon Benge for the game's only goal in the first half. "Coming off a season-ending injury … [Read more...] about Wahlberg sets school record for assists, Benge scores only goal in Hawks’ road win
Hawks
Boys’ substate pairings announced: Jags, Hawks to host semifinal games on May 27
The boys' soccer postseason will look a little different this year. Substate final winners will advance to the state quarterfinals, which will be played at host sites across the state. Quarterfinal matches are set for Monday, June 2 with matchups to be determined. The 2025 IHSAA state soccer tournament presented by Iowa Farm Bureau will then continue … [Read more...] about Boys’ substate pairings announced: Jags, Hawks to host semifinal games on May 27
‘Kira was nothing less than perfect’: Smith advances to state without dropping game
Ankeny girls' tennis coach Steve Smith almost couldn't believe what he was watching on Monday. His daughter, Kira, advanced to the Class 2A state tournament by winning a regional singles title at Marshalltown in spectacular fashion. The senior won three consecutive matches without dropping a single game and even recorded a golden set along the … [Read more...] about ‘Kira was nothing less than perfect’: Smith advances to state without dropping game
Macke, Hawkettes top North Polk, gear up for showdown against No. 1 Waukee NW
The Ankeny girls' soccer team has discovered a potent formula. Already boasting one of the state's best defenses, the Hawkettes have been strengthened in recent games by the explosive scoring ability of senior Alli Macke, who is among the top midfielders in Iowa. That combination was on full display Monday night, when Macke scored a pair of goals to … [Read more...] about Macke, Hawkettes top North Polk, gear up for showdown against No. 1 Waukee NW
‘Today was a lot of fun’: Jaguars sit in 8th, Ankeny 9th after first round at CIML meet
Both the Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny girls' golf teams have some ground to make up on Wednesday. The Jaguars sit in eighth place among 12 squads in the CIML Conference Invitational following Monday's opening round at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club. They posted a score of 376 after shooting in the 360s twice in the last week, but Centennial coach … [Read more...] about ‘Today was a lot of fun’: Jaguars sit in 8th, Ankeny 9th after first round at CIML meet
Postseason brackets announced for girls’ regional, boys’ substate team tennis
All four of Ankeny's tennis teams will be in action this weekend in postseason play. Both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' squads have been placed in Class 2A Region 3. The Hawkettes and Jaguars could potentially meet in the regional final, but would have to pull off an upset or two first in order for that to happen. Ankeny (3-8) will host … [Read more...] about Postseason brackets announced for girls’ regional, boys’ substate team tennis
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Sophie Loeffler, Ankeny girls’ soccer
Senior defender Sophie Loeffler has helped the Ankeny girls' soccer team to a 7-2-2 record and a No. 5 ranking in Class 3A. The Hawkettes posted a 6-0 victory at No. 12 Dowling Catholic on Friday for their second straight shutout and their eighth clean sheet overall. Loeffler scored one goal and had two assists while helping her squad post 11 clean sheets … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Sophie Loeffler, Ankeny girls’ soccer
Ankeny boys cruise past Muscatine, then battle No. 6 Iowa City High to 1-1 draw
The Ankeny boys' soccer team went unbeaten on a weekend trip to Davenport North, coming away with a win and a tie. The eighth-ranked Hawks rolled to a 5-0 victory over Muscatine on Friday. They then battled No. 6 Iowa City High to a 1-1 draw on Saturday. "The score against Iowa City High does not show how well and hard we played," said Ankeny forward … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys cruise past Muscatine, then battle No. 6 Iowa City High to 1-1 draw
‘We started off really well’: Ankeny girls enjoy scoring eruption, roll past Maroons
There have been times this season when the Ankeny girls' soccer team has struggled to find the net. That wasn't the case on Friday night. The fifth-ranked Hawkettes jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and went on to post a 6-0 victory at No. 12 Dowling Catholic. They had scored a total of 13 goals in the previous 10 games. "We started off really well," … [Read more...] about ‘We started off really well’: Ankeny girls enjoy scoring eruption, roll past Maroons
Smith, Ankeny girls play their best tennis of season in 9-2 loss at Dowling Catholic
Although the Ankeny girls' tennis team dropped a pair of 9-2 decisions to Urbandale on Thursday and Dowling Catholic on Friday, the two meets could not have been any more different. That was the assessment of Ankeny coach Steve Smith, who said his team followed an uninspired performance against the J-Hawks by playing its best tennis of the season 24 hours … [Read more...] about Smith, Ankeny girls play their best tennis of season in 9-2 loss at Dowling Catholic
Hawks claim 3 individual titles at CIML meet, focus more on defending 4A crown
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny boys' track team knows what it takes to reach the top, and the Hawks are just making sure the pieces are in place to do so. The defending Class 4A state champion Hawks earned three individual titles while placing fourth overall with 101 points during the CIML Conference meet on Thursday at Ankeny Stadium. “The … [Read more...] about Hawks claim 3 individual titles at CIML meet, focus more on defending 4A crown
‘It was a whole team effort’: Hawkettes place 2nd, Jaguars take 5th at CIML meet
The Ankeny girls' track team appears to be peaking at the right time. The Hawkettes won three events and placed second in the CIML Conference meet on Thursday at Waukee. They finished with 106.5 points. "We were super excited about how our team prepared and how they competed," said Ankeny coach TJ Jumper. "It was a whole team effort. We are rounding … [Read more...] about ‘It was a whole team effort’: Hawkettes place 2nd, Jaguars take 5th at CIML meet
Ankeny boys’ tennis team notches 6-5 win at Urbandale for its 2nd victory of season
The Ankeny boys' tennis team earned its second victory of the season on Thursday with a 6-5 win at Urbandale. The Hawks won four of the six singles matches to take a 4-2 lead. Dylan Victor won in straight sets at the No. 1 position, and so did Garrett Weichers at No. 2, Grady Schlosser at No. 3 and Trent James at No. 6. Ankeny has struggled in doubles … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys’ tennis team notches 6-5 win at Urbandale for its 2nd victory of season
‘We had a good comeback’: Jaguars place 7th, Hawkettes take 10th at S.E. Polk Invite
Both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' golf teams took a step forward on Thursday. The Jaguars placed seventh among 14 squads in the Southeast Polk Invitational at Copper Creek. They posted a score of 368. "I was pleased with today’s scores," said Centennial coach John Petersen. "We are definitely trending in the right direction! We have gone … [Read more...] about ‘We had a good comeback’: Jaguars place 7th, Hawkettes take 10th at S.E. Polk Invite
Jaguars tumble to Waukee NW, S.E. Polk; Ankeny golfers fall to Waukee, Dowling
Wednesday was a tough day for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' golf teams. The 19th-ranked Jaguars lost to both No. 4 Waukee Northwest and No. 12 Southeast Polk at Briarwood Golf Club, while the Hawkettes fell to both Waukee and Dowling Catholic in another triangular meet at Blank Golf Course. "It was a hard loss today for all of us," said … [Read more...] about Jaguars tumble to Waukee NW, S.E. Polk; Ankeny golfers fall to Waukee, Dowling
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 304
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Legacy Realty of Iowa and Revive Dermatology Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm interviews Ankeny girls' tennis coach Steve Smith and his daughter Kira, who is the Hawkettes' No. 1 player. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 304
TENNIS ROUNDUP: Ankeny’s Smith beats another top-10 foe despite cramping
Ankeny senior Kira Smith proved again on Tuesday that she's one of the state's top girls' tennis players--even when she's not 100 percent. Smith provided the Hawkettes' lone victory during a 10-1 loss to visiting Waukee Northwest. She posted a 7-6 (3), 6-2 triumph over Riley Hilton at No. 1 singles. "Kira started cramping after she went up 3-0 in the … [Read more...] about TENNIS ROUNDUP: Ankeny’s Smith beats another top-10 foe despite cramping
‘We bounced back and played our style!’: Benge, Hawks romp to 5-1 win at Waukee
Even when opposing defenders know that he's getting the ball, Ankeny forward Landon Benge is still pretty hard to contain. The senior racked up two goals and two assists to lead the eighth-ranked Hawks to a 5-1 victory at Waukee in a CIML Conference boys' soccer game on Monday. He now has 17 goals, which is tied for second in Class 4A. "It was a matter … [Read more...] about ‘We bounced back and played our style!’: Benge, Hawks romp to 5-1 win at Waukee
Ankeny girls’ track team wins 8 events, Hawks earn 7 victories at Valley Relays
The Ankeny boys' and girls' track teams combined for 15 first-place finishes in the Valley Relays on Friday. The meet, which was unscored, had been postponed earlier this season. Makenna Madetzke provided two of the Hawkettes' eight victories. She won the 3,000 in a time of 10:31.70 and the 1,500 in 4:49.18. Coach TJ Jumper's team swept the jumping … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ track team wins 8 events, Hawks earn 7 victories at Valley Relays
‘It was pretty cool to play at ISU’s facility’: Ankeny girls drop 7-4 decision to Bobcats
Friday's Ankeny Quadrangular girls' tennis tournament didn't go as planned due to the rain. "We started our first meet in Ankeny against undefeated Marshalltown, but the rain forced us to move to Iowa State’s bubble and limited the event to just that meet," said Ankeny coach Steve Smith, whose team was also slated to play Dallas Center-Grimes and … [Read more...] about ‘It was pretty cool to play at ISU’s facility’: Ankeny girls drop 7-4 decision to Bobcats