While the Ankeny boys' track team continued its quest for the Class 4A state championship by winning its fourth event title on Friday, its crosstown rival also made a considerable amount of noise at Drake Stadium. Ankeny Centennial raced to a victory in the 4x200 relay, which also allowed the Jaguars to move into the top 10 in the team … [Read more...] about Hawks capture DMR crown, remain atop 4A standings; Jaguars claim 4×200 title
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Hawkettes, Jaguars score points in DMR, remain in contention for top-10 finishes
Heading into the final day of the coed state track meet, the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' teams are still in the mix for top-10 finishes in Class 4A. The Hawkettes are tied with Valley for sixth place with 19 points apiece. The Jaguars are tied with Burlington for 11th with 15 points. Two-time defending champion Waukee Northwest has moved into … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars score points in DMR, remain in contention for top-10 finishes
‘The wheels kind of fell off’: Bettendorf defeats Hawks with 7-run 7th inning
Visiting Bettendorf erupted for seven runs in the seventh inning and defeated the Ankeny baseball team, 11-5, in a non-conference game on Thursday. It was the home opener for the Hawks, who dropped to 1-2 on the season. "The wheels kind of fell off at the end," said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz. "It took us 74 pitches to get through the sixth and seventh … [Read more...] about ‘The wheels kind of fell off’: Bettendorf defeats Hawks with 7-run 7th inning
‘We’ve got more work to do’: Hawks win 3 events, take early lead in Class 4A race
The Ankeny boys' track team didn't just make a huge statement on Thursday. The Hawks made several of them. Ankeny won the first three finals on the track in the Class 4A state meet at Drake Stadium, double-placed in the high jump and took a commanding lead in the team race heading into Friday's events in the three-day competition. The Hawks have … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got more work to do’: Hawks win 3 events, take early lead in Class 4A race
Hawkettes, Jaguars collide often on opening day of coed state track meet
The opening day of the coed state track meet featured a few head-to-head battles between the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' teams. In two of the events on Thursday at Drake Stadium, both the Hawkettes and Jaguars scored points. They each earned top-three finishes in the high jump and top-six finishes in the 4x800 relay. "I really enjoy running … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars collide often on opening day of coed state track meet
‘This group will always be special to me’: Hawkettes end year with 6th-place finish
The Ankeny girls' golf team ended its season on Wednesday with a sixth-place finish in a Class 4A regional meet at American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown. The Hawkettes posted a 391 total. "I’m so proud of all the work the girls did this year!" said first-year Ankeny coach Kelley Emke. "We set a goal of getting more consistent as a team and … [Read more...] about ‘This group will always be special to me’: Hawkettes end year with 6th-place finish
‘They played their hearts out’: Hawks’ late rally earns twinbill split at Pleasant Valley
A dramatic rally allowed the Ankeny baseball team to earn a season-opening split of a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday at Pleasant Valley. The Hawks rallied for five runs in the seventh inning of the nightcap to erase a 7-2 deficit, then got a sacrifice fly from Jack Clevidence in the eighth to post an 8-7 victory. "It wasn't the prettiest … [Read more...] about ‘They played their hearts out’: Hawks’ late rally earns twinbill split at Pleasant Valley
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 260
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm previews the coed state track meet with coach Jordan Mullen and reigning Class 4A state cross country champion Ethan Zuber of the Ankeny boys' team along with standout high jumper Reagan Hanfelt of the Ankeny girls' squad. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 260
Hawks look to regroup after closing out regular season with loss to Urbandale
It's time for the Ankeny boys' soccer team to regroup. The seventh-ranked Hawks closed out the regular season on Tuesday with a 1-0 loss to visiting Urbandale, which snapped a five-game losing skid. The J-Hawks scored the game's only goal midway through the second half at Ankeny Stadium. "We had no injuries and no red (cards), but there were no other … [Read more...] about Hawks look to regroup after closing out regular season with loss to Urbandale
‘We had no double bagels’: Hawkettes fight hard in 5-0 loss to No. 4 Valley girls
The Ankeny girls' tennis squad closed out its season on Tuesday with a 5-0 loss to fourth-ranked Valley in the semifinals of a Class 2A regional team tournament at Crossroads Park. The Hawkettes, who did not play Valley during the regular season, finished with a 4-9 record. "Overall, I thought we played well," said Ankeny coach Steve Smith. "When a … [Read more...] about ‘We had no double bagels’: Hawkettes fight hard in 5-0 loss to No. 4 Valley girls
‘This group has been dedicated’: Ankeny baseball team boasts high hopes
A year ago, the Ankeny baseball team came up one victory shy of qualifying for the Class 4A state tournament. Coach Joe Balvanz and the Hawks are hoping to clear that hurdle this season. "The practices have been going great," said Balvanz. "The players are working hard every day to improve their skill set and baseball IQ. This group has … [Read more...] about ‘This group has been dedicated’: Ankeny baseball team boasts high hopes
‘It’s our Achilles’ heel’: Hawkettes lose another PK shootout, share CIML crown
The Ankeny girls' soccer team ran out of gas. It resulted in another shootout loss. The second-ranked Hawkettes closed out the regular season on Friday with a 2-1 loss at No. 4 Valley. The Tigers' win, coupled with No. 1 Waukee Northwest's 4-2 victory at No. 7 Ankeny Centennial, allowed the Wolves to tie Ankeny for the CIML Conference title. "The … [Read more...] about ‘It’s our Achilles’ heel’: Hawkettes lose another PK shootout, share CIML crown
Hawks beat Indianola in substate team tourney before falling to C.R. Washington
The Ankeny boys' tennis squad advanced to the semifinals of a Class 2A substate team tournament on Saturday before dropping a 5-1 decision at seventh-ranked Cedar Rapids Washington, which lost a total of only 10 games in the five singles matches that it won. The Warriors (11-4) advanced to play Johnston (6-4) in the substate final on Wednesday. The Hawks … [Read more...] about Hawks beat Indianola in substate team tourney before falling to C.R. Washington
Tentative qualifiers announced for coed state track and field meet
The tentative qualifiers for this year's coed state track and field meet at Drake Stadium have been announced. Here are all of the qualifiers from Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial: Girls 100--Morgan Posusta (AC) 200--Karsen Jacks (A) 400--Charlee Cibula (A), Morgan Johnson (A), Ellie Pollock (AC) 800--Ellie Blevins (AC), Julia Flick (AC), Alli … [Read more...] about Tentative qualifiers announced for coed state track and field meet
‘I’m proud of the boys’: Depleted Hawks fall to Valley boys, drop to 9-7 on season
A week off to prepare for postseason play might be just what the Ankeny boys' soccer team needs. Unfortunately, the seventh-ranked Hawks still have one game left to close out the regular season. Ankeny dropped a 3-0 decision on Friday to visiting Valley, one of the state's hottest teams. The No. 5 Tigers extended their winning streak to 13 … [Read more...] about ‘I’m proud of the boys’: Depleted Hawks fall to Valley boys, drop to 9-7 on season
Ankeny girls edge Roughriders, will play No. 4 Valley in regional semifinal Tuesday
The Ankeny girls' tennis team will get a shot at CIML Conference rival Valley after all. The Hawkettes won two of the three doubles matches to beat visiting Des Moines Roosevelt, 5-4, in the quarterfinals of a Class 2A regional team tournament on Friday. The Roughriders finished the season with a 6-4 record. Ankeny (4-8) will play No. 4 Valley (9-3) in … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls edge Roughriders, will play No. 4 Valley in regional semifinal Tuesday
Drefke earns medalist honors again, leads Jaguars to victory over Ankeny
Ankeny Centennial's Payton Drefke earned medalist honors for the third time in four days and for the fifth time this season on Thursday. The senior carded a 4-over-par 39 at Copper Creek to finish one stroke ahead of Southeast Polk's Kate Wahman in a CIML Conference triangular meet. Her round was highlighted by a birdie on the par-4, No. 4 … [Read more...] about Drefke earns medalist honors again, leads Jaguars to victory over Ankeny
Hawks, Hawkettes sweep team titles at Class 4A SQM in impressive fashion
It was a jubilant bus ride home for the Ankeny track teams on Thursday night. Both squads captured team titles in a Class 4A state qualifying meet at Council Bluffs. More importantly, the Hawkettes and Hawks unofficially qualified for next week's state meet in 17 and 15 events, respectively. "We are so excited with how our team competed," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about Hawks, Hawkettes sweep team titles at Class 4A SQM in impressive fashion
Hawkettes, Jaguars earn No. 1 regional seeds, but face tough roads to state
The road to the state tournament won't be an easy one for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer teams. Both the Hawkettes and Jaguars earned No. 1 seeds for regional play from the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union, but will likely have to beat familiar opponents from the CIML Conference in order to qualify for state. Second-ranked Ankeny … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars earn No. 1 regional seeds, but face tough roads to state
Victor uses ‘Herculean effort’ to become Ankeny’s first state qualifier since 2017
Ankeny junior Dylan Victor is headed to the boys' state tennis tournament later this month. Victor qualified with a second-place finish in singles at a Class 2A district tournament on Wednesday at Norwalk. He became the Hawks' first state qualifier since Griffin Laib in 2017. "I had a little bit of confidence based on the schools we were playing," said … [Read more...] about Victor uses ‘Herculean effort’ to become Ankeny’s first state qualifier since 2017