Ankeny Fanatic

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Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny bowling teams

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In the last month, Ankeny Fanatic has unveiled its all-time Ankeny teams in boys' and girls' basketball, wrestling and boys' swimming. Now, in order to complete the winter sports, it's time to focus on bowling--the newest of the sports that are sanctioned by the high school governing bodies. The girls' program began in the 2007-08 season after the Iowa … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny bowling teams

‘PLAY BALL!’: Gov. Reynolds approves high school summer sports

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The suspension of high school athletics due to COVID-19 will come to an end next month. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced on Wednesday at her daily press briefing that summer athletic seasons may be conducted for high school baseball and softball following a two-month activities suspension due to the coronavirus. The announcement approved the … [Read more...] about ‘PLAY BALL!’: Gov. Reynolds approves high school summer sports

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny boys’ swimming team

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The history of Ankeny boys' swimming dates back to the 1980s--before the Ankeny YMCA was even built. Mike Johnson graduated before Ankeny had an indoor swimming pool, so he traveled to Dowling High School twice a day for a pair of three-hour practices. He participated in high school meets in order to qualify for the state meet by swimming in Valley's … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny boys’ swimming team

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jacob Baier, Ankeny boys’ track

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Senior Jacob Baier was expected to have a big season for the Ankeny boys' track team. He placed sixth in the discus at last year's Class 4A state meet with a throw of 153 feet 9 inches, helping the Hawks to a sixth-place finish. Baier was also a standout on the football field last fall, when he helped Ankeny to an 8-3 record and a Class 4A quarterfinal … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jacob Baier, Ankeny boys’ track

Ankeny QB Bauer plans to make decision after his senior season

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The buzz around Ankeny quarterback Jase Bauer is beginning to grow, even during these uncertain times. Bauer helped lead the Hawks to a 7-4 record and a Class 4A quarterfinal appearance last season. He passed for 2,207 yards and 20 touchdowns while completing 61.5 percent of his passes (126-of-205). Bauer was named to the Class 4A all-state first team … [Read more...] about Ankeny QB Bauer plans to make decision after his senior season

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny wrestling team

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is dedicated to longtime Des Moines Register wrestling reporter Dan McCool, who died on Monday at the age of 60. Dan was a legend in the wrestling community and will be sorely missed. I was working for the Register as a correspondent in the 80s and one of the first big events that I was asked to cover was to help out Dan with state … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny wrestling team

Ankeny’s Reynolds, Centennial’s Hron to play soccer at Simpson College

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Two more Ankeny-area soccer players have decided to spend the next four years in Indianola. Ankeny senior Ben Reynolds has committed to play for Simpson College. He joins his teammate Colby Cheney, who previously committed to the Storm. "The fact that I already knew Colby was going to Simpson helped me in knowing that I would be going along with a … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Reynolds, Centennial’s Hron to play soccer at Simpson College

First-year coaches Varnum, Espinosa deal with devastation of lost season

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Perhaps nobody was more excited to coach his team this spring than Ankeny boys' soccer coach Marcus Varnum. Unless it was Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis coach Armando Espinosa. Both Espinosa and Varnum were first-year head coaches who had their debut seasons wiped out by the coronavirus. Espinosa, the head tennis professional at Ames Fitness Center, … [Read more...] about First-year coaches Varnum, Espinosa deal with devastation of lost season

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Malea Daugherty, Ankeny senior

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Ankeny senior Malea Daugherty has been a standout in three sports--track, volleyball and softball--during her high school career. She helped the Hawkettes reach the semifinals of the Class 5A state volleyball tournament last fall. On the track, Daugherty ran on Ankeny's eighth-place shuttle hurdle relay at last year's Class 4A state meet. She also ran on … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Malea Daugherty, Ankeny senior

Prized Ankeny football recruit Brecht plans to make decision by end of June

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Ankeny football star Brody Brecht has narrowed his list of schools down to Iowa and Iowa State. Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm caught up with the junior receiver, who is one of the state's top prospects in the Class of 2021, to get an update on his recruitment. Well Brody, you previously said you were hoping to commit after taking your official visits … [Read more...] about Prized Ankeny football recruit Brecht plans to make decision by end of June

‘Some things we can’t control’: Athletes, coaches react to cancellation of sports

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Katie Petersen got together with some of her Ankeny Centennial teammates on Thursday night to continue preparing for what she thought would be her final high school track season. "I was just at the track with a few friends, and we were talking about our new meet schedules and who was going to be on our shuttle (hurdle relay)," said Petersen, one of the … [Read more...] about ‘Some things we can’t control’: Athletes, coaches react to cancellation of sports

Ex-Ankeny battery of Voigt, Anderberg to return for 2021 baseball season

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Greg Anderberg wears No. 7 on his George Washington University baseball uniform. His former Ankeny teammate, Jack Voigt, wears the same number for his squad at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. That isn't the only thing that the duo has in common. Both Anderberg and Voigt played two seasons of junior college baseball before moving on to … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny battery of Voigt, Anderberg to return for 2021 baseball season

CANCELLED: COVID-19 wipes out spring high school activities

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The Ankeny girls' soccer team won't have a chance to defend its Class 3A state title. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced on Friday that all schools will remain closed through the end of the school year due to the ongoing threat of the coronavirus. All spring high school activities have now been cancelled. "I'm just setting up meetings now with the kids … [Read more...] about CANCELLED: COVID-19 wipes out spring high school activities

Ankeny swimming star Frandson ranked No. 14 nationally in Class of 2021

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Ankeny junior Trent Frandson is ranked among the top 20 high school swimming prospects nationally in the Class of 2021, according to the latest rankings by SwimSwam.com. Frandson, who has verbally committed to California, is ranked 14th overall. He was previously ranked 13th in the same class a year ago. Frandson is a four-time Iowa state champion. He … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimming star Frandson ranked No. 14 nationally in Class of 2021

Ex-Hawk Smith to play basketball at Central College

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Former Ankeny basketball player Jalen Smith has found a new home in Pella. Smith, a 6-foot-2 guard, has decided to play for Central College after sitting out the 2019-20 season. "It was difficult at first, but I was trying to find a home closer to (Ankeny)," Smith said. "I was really looking hard at Simpson and Central. It was a hard decision, but I … [Read more...] about Ex-Hawk Smith to play basketball at Central College

Ankeny’s Kriebs to join Northern Iowa’s football program as preferred walk-on

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Ankeny defensive lineman Jack Kriebs wanted to play football at the highest level that he could. That's why Kriebs turned down offers from some smaller schools and accepted an invitation to join Northern Iowa's program as a preferred walk-on. "I had some offers from jucos like Iowa Western and Iowa Central and NAIA but nothing DI," said Kriebs. "I … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Kriebs to join Northern Iowa’s football program as preferred walk-on

Ankeny, Dowling share No. 1 spot in Gazette’s offseason football rankings

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The expectations for the Ankeny football team in the 2020 season were already going to be high. Now, they might be going through the roof. Ankeny has earned a co-No. 1 ranking along with seven-time defending state champion Dowling Catholic in Class 4A in the Cedar Rapids Gazette's offseason rankings. Both teams scored 54 poll points from a panel of six … [Read more...] about Ankeny, Dowling share No. 1 spot in Gazette’s offseason football rankings

Updated schedule provides glimmer of hope for spring sport athletes, coaches

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A glimmer of hope arrived earlier this week for Will Blevins, Jaci Webb and the rest of the spring sport athletes throughout the state of Iowa. On Monday, an updated schedule for spring sports was released in a joint statement from the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association. All spring activities had … [Read more...] about Updated schedule provides glimmer of hope for spring sport athletes, coaches

Ankeny’s Juhl commits to play baseball next year at Simpson College

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It remains to be seen if the Ankeny baseball team will have a season this summer. At least senior Lucas Juhl knows where he'll be playing next year. Juhl has committed to play for Simpson College. He revealed his decision on Monday via Twitter. "I'm excited to announce my commitment to Simpson College to continue my academic and baseball career," … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Juhl commits to play baseball next year at Simpson College