Assistant coaches Adam Booth and Jeff Bauer along with seniors Brady McCullough and Will Cornwell of the Ankeny football team joined head coaches Brad Zelenovich of Southeast Polk and Tom Wilson of Dowling Catholic and Dome Dynasty's Dave Bingham as the guests on the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 161
Fall
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Sophie Loeffler, Ankeny girls’ swimming
Freshman Sophie Loeffler helped the Ankeny girls' swimming to a fifth-place finish in the state meet on Saturday at Marshalltown. She placed sixth in the 200 freestyle (1:55.68) and 11th in the 500 freestyle (5:13.43). Loeffler helped the Hawkettes to a ninth-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay, swimming the anchor leg in 24.42 seconds. She swam the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Sophie Loeffler, Ankeny girls’ swimming
Stout: 5th-place finish at state ‘a huge accomplishment’ for Ankeny swimmers
The Ankeny girls' swimming team has been ranked among the top five squads in the state most of the season. The Hawkettes capped off a successful campaign with a fifth-place finish in the state meet on Saturday at Marshalltown. They finished with 168 points, edging CIML rival Johnston by six points for fifth place. "Finishing fifth was a huge … [Read more...] about Stout: 5th-place finish at state ‘a huge accomplishment’ for Ankeny swimmers
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Alexis Henning, Ankeny senior
The swimmer closes out her high school career with a fourth-place finish in the 100 backstroke after breaking her own school record in the event during Friday's preliminaries. … [Read more...] about Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Alexis Henning, Ankeny senior
‘We just wanted to avenge that loss’: Hawks pound Valley, soar into title game
Nobody can blame Mason Morrow if he has some nightmares this week. The Valley quarterback was running for his life Friday all over the UNI-Dome turf. Ankeny used a suffocating defensive effort to limit Morrow and the Tigers to 248 total yards and rolled to a 35-13 victory in the Class 5A semifinals at Cedar Falls. The Hawks avenged an earlier 38-35 … [Read more...] about ‘We just wanted to avenge that loss’: Hawks pound Valley, soar into title game
Revive Clinic and Spa Coach of the Month: Rick Nelson, Ankeny football
The Hawks advanced to the state championship game for the second straight year with a resounding 35-13 victory over Valley in the Class 5A semifinals. … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Coach of the Month: Rick Nelson, Ankeny football
Kadolph, Hawks avenge loss to Valley, will play S.E. Polk for Class 5A crown
Colin Kadolph and the Ankeny football team are one win away from defending their state title. Kadolph rushed for 183 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the Hawks to a 35-13 victory over Valley in the Class 5A semifinals on Friday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. "He makes me so proud," Ankeny defensive lineman Braden Simonsen said of Kadolph. "He … [Read more...] about Kadolph, Hawks avenge loss to Valley, will play S.E. Polk for Class 5A crown
Peters dives to 6th-place finish; 4 Ankeny swimmers advance to finals in 2 events
The Ankeny girls' swimming team sits in eighth place with 13 points after the diving portion of the state meet on Friday at Marshalltown. Senior Erica Peters capped off her high school career with a second consecutive sixth-place finish. She scored a total of 447.55 points in the 11-dive event. "I'm pretty happy," said Peters. "I definitely wanted a … [Read more...] about Peters dives to 6th-place finish; 4 Ankeny swimmers advance to finals in 2 events
Ankeny swimmers could battle CIML rival Dowling for 4th place at state meet
It appears that this year's girls' state swimming meet is shaping up to be a three-team race. On paper, anyway. Based on the seeds going into the state meet--which will be held on Friday and Saturday at Marshalltown--it looks like Ames, Iowa City West and Waukee will fight for the crown. Ankeny could battle CIML rival Dowling Catholic for fourth … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers could battle CIML rival Dowling for 4th place at state meet
A title game rematch?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals
The Class 5A football playoffs are down to the Final Four, and that means it's time to head to the Dome. Ankeny, last year's Class 4A champion, is back in the semifinals for the second straight year along with Southeast Polk, last year's runner-up. The Hawks and Rams will be joined at the Dome by two other traditional powers, Valley and Iowa City … [Read more...] about A title game rematch?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 160
Head coach Rick Nelson and senior defensive back Ryan Crandall of the Ankeny football team along with Dowling Catholic assistant coach Andy Pollock break down the Class 5A playoffs on the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 160
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Olivia Harpenau, Ankeny volleyball
Senior middle hitter Olivia Harpenau helped the Ankeny volleyball team to a 40-6 record this season. She had three kills and a match-high five blocks on Wednesday in the Hawkettes' loss to Pleasant Valley in the Class 5A semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. Harpenau placed third on the team with 195 kills. She was second among the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Olivia Harpenau, Ankeny volleyball
Ankeny swimmers dominate regional meet, advance to state in every event
Nine other schools came to Trail Point Aquatics Center on Saturday to take on host Ankeny in a girls' regional swimming meet. None of them could match the Hawkettes' depth. Ankeny won nine of the 11 swimming events after Erica Peters won the diving event on Thursday at Johnston, and the Hawkettes cruised to the team title with 541.5 points. Newton was … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers dominate regional meet, advance to state in every event
DOMEWARD BOUND!: Hawks throttle C.R. Prairie, will play Valley in semifinals
On a windy night in Cedar Rapids, the Ankeny football team turned to its power running game to earn another trip to the UNI-Dome. Colin Kadolph rushed for 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the second half, and the fifth-seeded Hawks dominated the final two quarters to defeat fourth-seeded Cedar Rapids Prairie, 37-7, in the Class 5A quarterfinals on … [Read more...] about DOMEWARD BOUND!: Hawks throttle C.R. Prairie, will play Valley in semifinals
Reynolds joins Anderson, Mirembe as repeat picks on all-conference first team
The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams each placed three players on the CIML Iowa Conference first team. The Hawkettes and Jaguars, who tied for the league crown with newcomer Waukee Northwest, had six of the eight first-team selections. Ankeny was represented by senior outside hitter Ava Reynolds, senior libero Lexi Stephens and sophomore … [Read more...] about Reynolds joins Anderson, Mirembe as repeat picks on all-conference first team
Ankeny’s Peters wins regional diving crown; Kolars also qualifies for state
Ankeny's Erica Peters is headed to the state diving meet for the fourth consecutive year. Teammate Hannah Kolars will be making her second straight trip. Both divers advanced to the state meet with strong performances on Thursday in a regional meet at Summit Middle School, which hosted both the Ankeny and Johnston regionals. Another Ankeny diver, Lydia … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Peters wins regional diving crown; Kolars also qualifies for state
Reynolds earns repeat all-tournament honors after leading Ankeny to semifinals
Ankeny volleyball standout Ava Reynolds has been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team for the second straight year. Reynolds had 19 kills, 11 digs and four blocks in the Hawkettes' loss to eventual champion Pleasant Valley in Wednesday's semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. On Monday, she pounded 27 kills as Ankeny rallied for … [Read more...] about Reynolds earns repeat all-tournament honors after leading Ankeny to semifinals
‘We fell to a better team’: Hawkettes’ bid for repeat crown ends with loss to PV
A talented squad with a lot of motivation proved to be a bad combination for the Ankeny volleyball team on Wednesday. Second-ranked Pleasant Valley posted a 25-16, 32-30, 15-25, 25-17 victory over the No. 3 Hawkettes in the Class 5A semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. The Spartans avenged last year's five-set loss to Ankeny in the … [Read more...] about ‘We fell to a better team’: Hawkettes’ bid for repeat crown ends with loss to PV
Another 5-setter?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals
If Wednesday's semifinal matches in the Class 5A state volleyball tournament are half as entertaining as Monday's quarterfinal matches, then the fans at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse will be in for a treat. Monday's action included a pair of five-set thrillers. Third-ranked Ankeny outlasted No. 6 Urbandale despite scoring five fewer points overall, while … [Read more...] about Another 5-setter?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 159
Coach Dave Whims and senior libero Lexi Stephens of the Ankeny volleyball team joined senior outside hitter Olivia Anderson of Ankeny Centennial and coach Michele Quick of Ankeny Christian Academy as the guests on the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 159