It took 11 years, but the Ankeny volleyball team is back on top. The second-ranked Hawkettes captured their first state championship in more than a decade by defeating No. 5 Iowa City Liberty in four sets in the Class 5A final on Thursday at the Alliant Energy Power House in Cedar Rapids. They won the match by scores of 25-21, 25-17, 21-25, 25-19. "It … [Read more...] about HAWKETTES ARE BACK ON TOP FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2009
Fall
‘I knew we could do it’: Ankeny outlasts Spartans, will play I.C. Liberty for crown
Ava Reynolds watched the ball fall to the floor and then screamed with joy. The junior outside hitter blocked a Pleasant Valley spike attempt to send the second-ranked Ankeny volleyball team to the Class 5A championship match. "I don't even know (what I was thinking)...just excitement," said Reynolds. "I was just so proud of my team, and everybody did … [Read more...] about ‘I knew we could do it’: Ankeny outlasts Spartans, will play I.C. Liberty for crown
VIDEO: Hawkettes survive five-set thriller to reach title match
VIDEO: Ankeny wins crosstown battle in Class 5A quarterfinals
Hawkettes overcome Centennial’s fast start, earn return trip to 5A semifinals
For awhile on Monday morning, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team threatened to pull off the first upset of the Class 5A state tournament. The seventh-ranked Jaguars won the opening set against crosstown rival Ankeny and then jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set of a quarterfinal match at the Alliant Energy Power House in Cedar Rapids. "I think … [Read more...] about Hawkettes overcome Centennial’s fast start, earn return trip to 5A semifinals
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ava Reynolds, Ankeny volleyball
Junior outside hitter Ava Reynolds has helped the second-ranked Ankeny volleyball team to a third consecutive appearance in the Class 5A state tournament. She had four kills on Tuesday as the Hawkettes swept Southeast Polk in a regional final at Ankeny. Reynolds leads Ankeny with 206 kills. She has compiled a .297 hitting percentage. Here is some … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ava Reynolds, Ankeny volleyball
‘We can definitely smell it’: Hawks top Cedar Falls, move closer to semifinals
A trip to the UNI-Dome is now just one win away for the Ankeny football team. The second-ranked Hawks advanced to the Class 4A quarterfinals for the second straight year with a 37-16 victory over visiting Cedar Falls on Friday. They scored the final 29 points of the game to erase a 16-8 deficit. "We've been anxious these last couple of weeks," … [Read more...] about ‘We can definitely smell it’: Hawks top Cedar Falls, move closer to semifinals
‘Every girl had a phenomenal race’: Jaguars capture 3rd-place trophy
As she crossed the finish line at the girls' Class 4A state cross country meet on Friday, Ankeny Centennial sophomore Rondi Quass knew that she had earned a spot on the awards podium. Quass later discovered that she would get to make two appearances on the clubhouse deck at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. She not only placed 14th as an individual, … [Read more...] about ‘Every girl had a phenomenal race’: Jaguars capture 3rd-place trophy
Centennial boys place 9th at state, earn highest finish in school history
Gabriel Vicker had yet to see the results from the boys' Class 4A state cross country meet. But the Ankeny Centennial senior was pretty confident that his team had reached its goal. "Our team's goal was top 10, and we're really hoping we got that," said Vicker. "I saw the guys finish in a pretty close pack that wasn't too far behind me, so we're hoping … [Read more...] about Centennial boys place 9th at state, earn highest finish in school history
VIDEO: McMahon, Centennial girls earn spots on awards podium
Hawkettes rout undermanned S.E. Polk, earn 16th trip to state under Whims
The road to the state tournament was an easy one for the Ankeny volleyball team. But that didn't make it any less special. The second-ranked Hawkettes--who automatically advanced to a Class 5A regional final when Marshalltown's season came to an end due to a positive COVID-19 test--earned their third consecutive trip to Cedar Rapids with a 25-4, 25-9, … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rout undermanned S.E. Polk, earn 16th trip to state under Whims
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Michael Hayden, Ankeny boys’ cross country
Junior Michael Hayden is a member of the Ankeny boys' cross country team. Hayden placed seventh with a time of 18 minutes 9 seconds in the CIML Iowa Conference junior varsity race on Oct. 15 at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames. He helped the Hawks to a runner-up finish in the JV division. "Michael has been awesome all year," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Michael Hayden, Ankeny boys’ cross country
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 112
Check out the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America. Ankeny football stars and Iowa recruits Brody Brecht and Arland Bruce IV stopped by to discuss the Hawks' playoff run with Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm, who also interviewed Ankeny Centennial defensive coordinator Dave Jones about the Jaguars' … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 112
Third-round matchups: Hawks to host Cedar Falls, Jaguars to visit S.E. Polk
The pairings are now set for the third round of the Class 4A football playoffs. There won't be a Jag-Hawk rematch. Second-ranked Ankeny (7-1) will host Cedar Falls (5-2) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Ankeny Stadium. It will be a rematch of a 2019 regular-season game that was won by the Tigers, 28-27, at the UNI-Dome. While the Hawks are riding a six-game … [Read more...] about Third-round matchups: Hawks to host Cedar Falls, Jaguars to visit S.E. Polk
KA-BOOM! Kadolph runs for 5 TDs as Hawks throttle Council Bluffs Jefferson
After a week off, the Ankeny football team was ready for the start of the Class 4A playoffs. The second-ranked Hawks exploded for 28 points in both the second and third quarters and rolled to a 70-0 victory over visiting Council Bluffs Jefferson in a second-round game on Friday. "We knew we had to play well this week since we had a (bye) last week," … [Read more...] about KA-BOOM! Kadolph runs for 5 TDs as Hawks throttle Council Bluffs Jefferson
With their top swimmers sitting out, Hawkettes finish 3rd at conference meet
The Ankeny girls' swimming team placed third in the CIML Iowa Conference meet on Thursday at Fort Dodge. Second-ranked Ames won the meet with 386 points. Mason City took second among the five teams with 315. No. 6 Ankeny finished with 285 points. The Hawkettes were among the teams that rested most of their top swimmers for the upcoming regional … [Read more...] about With their top swimmers sitting out, Hawkettes finish 3rd at conference meet
Hawkettes advance to state for first time since 2016; Cox also qualifies for Hawks
The Ankeny girls' cross country team is headed to the state meet for the first time since 2016. The Hawkettes will be joined in Fort Dodge by Cael Cox of the Ankeny boys' squad, who also advanced as an individual with a 15th-place finish in a Class 4A district meet on Wednesday at Marshalltown. However, the Hawks came up three points short of … [Read more...] about Hawkettes advance to state for first time since 2016; Cox also qualifies for Hawks
Peters wins Iowa Conference diving title; Ankeny edges Bobcats for team crown
Erica Peters and the other Ankeny girls' divers will finally get a little time off. Competing for the fourth time in eight days, Peters won the CIML Iowa Conference title on Tuesday at Fort Dodge while leading the Hawkettes to the team crown. "I'm amazed that these girls could compete in four meets in a week's time and turn in such great performances," … [Read more...] about Peters wins Iowa Conference diving title; Ankeny edges Bobcats for team crown
Hawkettes advance to regional final after Marshalltown cancelled by COVID
The Ankeny volleyball team will only have to win one match to advance to the Class 5A state tournament. The second-ranked Hawkettes were slated to host Marshalltown in a regional semifinal on Thursday, but the match was cancelled on Tuesday by the Marshalltown Community School District. In an announcement on social media, school officials said that … [Read more...] about Hawkettes advance to regional final after Marshalltown cancelled by COVID
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Gwen Briggs, Ankeny girls’ cross country
Freshman Gwen Briggs is a member of the ninth-ranked Ankeny girls' cross country team. She placed 63rd in the B Division of the Fort Dodge Invitational on Oct. 8 in a time of 25 minutes, helping the Hawkettes to a third-place finish in the nine-team field. "Gwen has stepped up into our No. 7 spot very well this season and has ran exceptionally in that … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Gwen Briggs, Ankeny girls’ cross country