Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Fall

Bruce explodes for IV touchdowns, leads No. 2 Ankeny to the UNI-Dome

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Ankeny quarterback Jase Bauer has played with and against a lot of great athletes during his high school football career. He isn't sure if he's seen anyone like Arland Bruce IV. "He's just a dude," Bauer said of the Iowa recruit. "I mean, he's one of the best players I've ever seen. The dude can just flat-out play. When the play is not there, he's … [Read more...] about Bruce explodes for IV touchdowns, leads No. 2 Ankeny to the UNI-Dome

DOMEWARD BOUND: Hawks ride Bruce past Waukee, into Class 4A semifinals

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Next stop: the UNI-Dome. The second-ranked Ankeny football team earned a trip to the Class 4A semifinals with a 28-7 victory at No. 4 Waukee on Friday. The Hawks (9-1) won their eighth straight game since dropping a 21-17 decision at Waukee (7-3) on Sept. 4. "I'm just happy for the kids," said Ankeny coach Rick Nelson. "I can't say enough about them. … [Read more...] about DOMEWARD BOUND: Hawks ride Bruce past Waukee, into Class 4A semifinals

JUMP FOR JOY!: Hawkettes, Whims capture their 5th state championships

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When Dave Whims came out of retirement in 2019 to coach the Ankeny volleyball team once again, he thought the Hawkettes had the potential to eventually win another state championship. It happened faster than he expected. Second-ranked Ankeny defeated No. 5 Iowa City Liberty in four sets to capture the Class 5A title on Thursday at the Alliant Energy … [Read more...] about JUMP FOR JOY!: Hawkettes, Whims capture their 5th state championships

Ankeny qualifies all 3 of its divers for state meet next weekend

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Ankeny is one of only five teams to advance all three of its divers to the girls' state swimming and diving meet next weekend at Marshalltown. The Hawkettes got some strong performances from Erica Peters, Tasha Doth and Hannah Kolars in a regional meet on Thursday at Johnston. All three of them placed among the top six finishers. "They're all in good … [Read more...] about Ankeny qualifies all 3 of its divers for state meet next weekend

HAWKETTES ARE BACK ON TOP FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2009

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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

‘I knew we could do it’: Ankeny outlasts Spartans, will play I.C. Liberty for crown

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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

Hawkettes overcome Centennial’s fast start, earn return trip to 5A semifinals

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Hawkettes rout undermanned S.E. Polk, earn 16th trip to state under Whims

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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

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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

Third-round matchups: Hawks to host Cedar Falls, Jaguars to visit S.E. Polk

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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