Ankeny Fanatic

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‘I believe I can achieve my goals there’: Neyail to play for Impact Academy

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Bentor Neyail's best basketball is still ahead of him. The Ankeny senior is hoping that a year of prep school hoops will help him reach his potential. Neyail has decided to play for Impact Academy in Las Vegas, Nev. He announced his decision via Twitter on Sunday. "What I liked about Impact was how they care about every individual athlete and focus … [Read more...] about ‘I believe I can achieve my goals there’: Neyail to play for Impact Academy

Ankeny Fanatic Preps of the Week: Kaitlyn Ault and Jaci Webb, girls’ golf

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Ankeny senior Jaci Webb has qualified for the girls' state golf meet for the third time in her career. She placed fourth with an 85 in a Class 4A regional meet on May 24 at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown, helping the Hawkettes to a third-place finish. Ankeny Centennial junior Kaitlyn Ault shot a 114 to finish 25th in a field of 45 golfers at the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Preps of the Week: Kaitlyn Ault and Jaci Webb, girls’ golf

‘We certainly have some things to pick on’: Hawks drop to 1-3 after PV’s sweep

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It's time for the Ankeny baseball team to regroup. The top-ranked Hawks dropped to 1-3 on the season with a doubleheader loss to No. 6 Pleasant Valley on a chilly Friday night at Ankeny. The Spartans posted a 4-2 victory in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 6-2 win. "The temperature was the same for both teams, but they played like it was 75 … [Read more...] about ‘We certainly have some things to pick on’: Hawks drop to 1-3 after PV’s sweep

‘She could go 2-for-2 in a phone booth’: Carter has 4 hits, 5 RBIs in Ankeny’s win

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Ankeny's Marina Carter has picked up right where she left off last season. Carter, who batted .616 as a junior, went 4-for-5 and drove in five runs to lead the 13th-ranked Hawkettes to a 14-4 victory over visiting Dallas Center-Grimes in a non-conference softball game on Thursday. The contest ended after six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. "It's … [Read more...] about ‘She could go 2-for-2 in a phone booth’: Carter has 4 hits, 5 RBIs in Ankeny’s win

Valley avenges earlier loss to Ankeny, will now face Jaguars in 3A quarterfinals

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The path to a state title for the Valley boys' soccer team will have to go through both of Ankeny's teams. The fourth-ranked Tigers avenged an earlier loss with a 3-1 victory over No. 13 Ankeny in a Class 3A substate final on Wednesday at Valley Stadium. The Hawks finished the season with an 11-6 record. Valley (16-4) advances to the Class 3A … [Read more...] about Valley avenges earlier loss to Ankeny, will now face Jaguars in 3A quarterfinals

Hawkettes extend winning streak, will now gear up for postseason play

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The Ankeny girls' soccer team will take a five-game winning streak into postseason play. The ninth-ranked Hawkettes closed out the regular season on Tuesday with a 10-0 victory over visiting Ottumwa. They improved to 10-4, while the Bulldogs' record dropped to 3-11. "We were 5-4 when the regional seedings came out, and that's why we got seeded where we … [Read more...] about Hawkettes extend winning streak, will now gear up for postseason play

It’s a draw: No. 1 Ankeny, No. 2 Urbandale split season-opening doubleheader

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Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz challenged his team after the Hawks lost to visiting Urbandale, 4-1, in the first game of a season-opening doubleheader on Monday. The Hawks then responded with a 12-3 victory in the nightcap to earn a split. "I wanted our guys to have a better approach at the plate, and we were able to put some pressure on them with … [Read more...] about It’s a draw: No. 1 Ankeny, No. 2 Urbandale split season-opening doubleheader

Leadoff hitter Murphy sparks Hawkettes to twinbill sweep over Urbandale

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The job of a leadoff hitter is to get on base any way that you can. Ankeny softball standout Madeleine Murphy fills that role about as well as anybody in the CIML. Murphy got on base in six of her eight at-bats as the 13th-ranked Hawkettes opened the season on Monday by sweeping a non-conference doubleheader against visiting Urbandale. They posted a … [Read more...] about Leadoff hitter Murphy sparks Hawkettes to twinbill sweep over Urbandale

Hawks overcome disallowed goal for 1-0 victory over Ames in substate semifinal

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One goal proved to be enough for the Ankeny boys' soccer team. Mason Yeatts scored in the first half and the 13th-ranked Hawks went on to defeat visiting Ames, 1-0, in a Class 3A substate semifinal on Monday. It was Ankeny's second consecutive victory over the Little Cyclones--the Hawks also won, 3-2, in a shootout on May 14 in what turned out to be their … [Read more...] about Hawks overcome disallowed goal for 1-0 victory over Ames in substate semifinal

Webb shoots an 85, advances to state golf meet for 3rd time in her career

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Ankeny senior Jaci Webb is headed to the girls' state golf meet for the third time in her high school career. And this time, she'll get to play on her home course. Webb carded an 85 to place fourth in a Class 4A regional meet on Monday at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown. She advanced to the state meet, which is slated for June 1-2 at Otter Creek … [Read more...] about Webb shoots an 85, advances to state golf meet for 3rd time in her career

Loaded Ankeny baseball team looking to take one more step in 2021

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When the Ankeny baseball team opens the season on Monday night by hosting a doubleheader against Urbandale, several major-league scouts are expected to be in attendance. They'll be watching the top two teams in Class 4A according to the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association's preseason rankings: Ankeny is No. 1 and Urbandale is No. 2. "This team is … [Read more...] about Loaded Ankeny baseball team looking to take one more step in 2021

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Shelby Romig, Ankeny girls’ track

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Ankeny senior Shelby Romig won a state title in the long jump at the girls' Class 4A state track meet on Friday at Drake Stadium. She helped the Hawkettes to their highest finish overall since 1997. Romig also plays for the Ankeny softball team. The Hawkettes will host Urbandale in a season-opening doubleheader on Monday. Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Shelby Romig, Ankeny girls’ track

‘I knew it was really close’: State hurdles title eludes Thompson by .004 seconds

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When he crossed the finish line at Drake Stadium on Saturday, Ankeny senior Mason Thompson wasn't sure if he had won a Class 4A state title in the 110 hurdles. Nobody else was sure, either. Thompson and the hurdler to his immediate right, Adam Wright of Dowling Catholic, leaned across the finish line simultaneously. "It was either mine or his," … [Read more...] about ‘I knew it was really close’: State hurdles title eludes Thompson by .004 seconds

Hawkettes hold their own in 5-0 loss at Johnston in regional team tourney

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Although the Ankeny girls' tennis team dropped a 5-0 decision at Johnston in the semifinals of a Class 2A regional team tournament on Saturday, the final score didn't tell the whole story. The Hawkettes got strong efforts from Anna Schmitz and Rachel Rolow in the loss, forcing Johnston to work hard to earn the victory. The Dragons then lost to Waukee, … [Read more...] about Hawkettes hold their own in 5-0 loss at Johnston in regional team tourney

Hawkettes tie for 4th in 4A, while Jaguars score most points in school history

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The bar has been raised for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' track teams. The Hawkettes tied for fourth place in the Class 4A state meet that concluded on Saturday at Drake Stadium. They finished with 40 points, matching Cedar Falls' total. It was Ankeny's highest finish since 1997, when the Hawkettes earned runner-up honors in Class 3A. "We … [Read more...] about Hawkettes tie for 4th in 4A, while Jaguars score most points in school history

‘I’m kind of at a loss for words’: Ankeny’s Romig leaps to long jump crown

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For the second day in a row, the Ankeny girls' track team walked out of Drake Stadium with an individual state title. Senior Shelby Romig won the long jump at the Class 4A state meet on Friday, posting her victory about 24 hours after teammate Lauren McMahon raced to a win in the 3,000-meter run. "I'm kind of at a loss for words right now," Romig said. … [Read more...] about ‘I’m kind of at a loss for words’: Ankeny’s Romig leaps to long jump crown

‘We got points on the board, and we’ll get some more’: Jaguars take 2nd in 4×200

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The goal of a top-five finish in the Class 4A state meet remains well within reach for the Ankeny Centennial boys' track team. The Jaguars picked up points in two more events on Friday and are currently tied with three other teams for seventh place with 18 points. Ankeny is tied with three other squads for 13th place with eight points. Cedar Falls has … [Read more...] about ‘We got points on the board, and we’ll get some more’: Jaguars take 2nd in 4×200

‘We’re just happy to be here’: Collins takes 2nd, Miller places 3rd in boys’ 400

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The rainy conditions at Drake Stadium didn't seem to bother Ankeny Centennial's Tommy Collins or Ankeny's Tyrese Miller on Thursday. Collins raced to a second-place finish in the 400 on the opening day of the boys' Class 4A state track meet. He posted a time of 48.70 seconds, which set a school record. "We all had to run in (the rain). It wasn't just … [Read more...] about ‘We’re just happy to be here’: Collins takes 2nd, Miller places 3rd in boys’ 400

McMahon wins 3,000 in dramatic fashion; Jaguars place 3rd in 4×800 relay

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Ankeny senior Lauren McMahon asked herself a question as she watched Iowa City Liberty's Ashlyn Keeney take the lead on the final lap of the 3,000-meter run in the girls' Class 4A state track meet on Thursday. "I knew she was going to come out with a really good 400 kick," McMahon said of Keeney. "I was just thinking in my head, 'Lauren, what do you have … [Read more...] about McMahon wins 3,000 in dramatic fashion; Jaguars place 3rd in 4×800 relay