In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Legacy Realty of Iowa and Revive Dermatology Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm interviews Ankeny girls' tennis coach Steve Smith and his daughter Kira, who is the Hawkettes' No. 1 player. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 304
Hawks
TENNIS ROUNDUP: Ankeny’s Smith beats another top-10 foe despite cramping
Ankeny senior Kira Smith proved again on Tuesday that she's one of the state's top girls' tennis players--even when she's not 100 percent. Smith provided the Hawkettes' lone victory during a 10-1 loss to visiting Waukee Northwest. She posted a 7-6 (3), 6-2 triumph over Riley Hilton at No. 1 singles. "Kira started cramping after she went up 3-0 in the … [Read more...] about TENNIS ROUNDUP: Ankeny’s Smith beats another top-10 foe despite cramping
‘We bounced back and played our style!’: Benge, Hawks romp to 5-1 win at Waukee
Even when opposing defenders know that he's getting the ball, Ankeny forward Landon Benge is still pretty hard to contain. The senior racked up two goals and two assists to lead the eighth-ranked Hawks to a 5-1 victory at Waukee in a CIML Conference boys' soccer game on Monday. He now has 17 goals, which is tied for second in Class 4A. "It was a matter … [Read more...] about ‘We bounced back and played our style!’: Benge, Hawks romp to 5-1 win at Waukee
Ankeny girls’ track team wins 8 events, Hawks earn 7 victories at Valley Relays
The Ankeny boys' and girls' track teams combined for 15 first-place finishes in the Valley Relays on Friday. The meet, which was unscored, had been postponed earlier this season. Makenna Madetzke provided two of the Hawkettes' eight victories. She won the 3,000 in a time of 10:31.70 and the 1,500 in 4:49.18. Coach TJ Jumper's team swept the jumping … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ track team wins 8 events, Hawks earn 7 victories at Valley Relays
‘It was pretty cool to play at ISU’s facility’: Ankeny girls drop 7-4 decision to Bobcats
Friday's Ankeny Quadrangular girls' tennis tournament didn't go as planned due to the rain. "We started our first meet in Ankeny against undefeated Marshalltown, but the rain forced us to move to Iowa State’s bubble and limited the event to just that meet," said Ankeny coach Steve Smith, whose team was also slated to play Dallas Center-Grimes and … [Read more...] about ‘It was pretty cool to play at ISU’s facility’: Ankeny girls drop 7-4 decision to Bobcats
‘It was just 2 very different games’: After beating S.E. Polk, Ankeny boys fall to PV
Perhaps the Pleasant Valley boys' soccer team deserves to be ranked. The Spartans came to Ankeny this weekend and knocked off a pair of ranked opponents in a span of 18 hours. After posting a 3-0 win at No. 10 Ankeny Centennial on Friday night, they followed it up on Saturday morning with a 1-0 win over No. 7 Ankeny at Ankeny Stadium. The Hawks, who … [Read more...] about ‘It was just 2 very different games’: After beating S.E. Polk, Ankeny boys fall to PV
Macke gets a brace, Petersen chips in another goal in Hawkettes’ win at S.E. Polk
The Ankeny girls' soccer players had several days to reflect on last Saturday's 2-1 loss to unranked Cedar Rapids Prairie. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes were determined not to have another letdown. On Friday, Ankeny got a pair of goals from Alli Macke and went on to post a 3-0 victory at Southeast Polk in a CIML Conference game. "It was a little bit … [Read more...] about Macke gets a brace, Petersen chips in another goal in Hawkettes’ win at S.E. Polk
Graber wins 3,000, Cobb places 3rd in discus as Hawkettes finish 9th at Waukee
The Ankeny girls' track team rested many of its top athletes on Thursday as the Hawkettes placed ninth among 10 squads at the Waukee Invitational. Coach TJ Jumper's team finished with 34 points. Sophia Graber provided Ankeny's lone victory in the 3,000. She won the race in a time of 10:56.69, finishing nearly 20 seconds ahead of runner-up Contessa … [Read more...] about Graber wins 3,000, Cobb places 3rd in discus as Hawkettes finish 9th at Waukee
TENNIS ROUNDUP: Centennial girls, Ankeny boys fall to CIML foes at home
The Ankeny boys' and Ankeny Centennial girls' teams both suffered conference losses on their home courts Thursday. The Jaguars dropped a 10-1 decision to Waukee. It was their Senior Night. "We had the chance to celebrate our seniors and recognize all the incredible contributions they’ve made to our program," said Centennial coach Alli … [Read more...] about TENNIS ROUNDUP: Centennial girls, Ankeny boys fall to CIML foes at home
‘We lost another close one’: Hawkettes edged by S.E. Polk, Johnston at Jester
The Ankeny girls' golf team posted four scores in the 40s on Wednesday at Jester Park, allowing the Hawkettes to shoot a team total of 180 in a CIML Conference triangular meet. Unfortunately, Southeast Polk and host Johnston were just a little bit better. The Rams shot a 175 to edge the Dragons by one stroke and Ankeny by five. "We lost another close … [Read more...] about ‘We lost another close one’: Hawkettes edged by S.E. Polk, Johnston at Jester
‘We’re getting closer’: Hawks drop 7-4 decision to S.E. Polk after splitting singles
Once again, the doubles matches proved to be the difference for the Ankeny boys' tennis team in a narrow loss. After the Hawks split the six singles matches against visiting Southeast Polk on Tuesday, the Rams won four of the five doubles matches to escape with a 7-4 victory in a CIML Conference matchup. Southeast Polk improved to 2-3 in the league and … [Read more...] about ‘We’re getting closer’: Hawks drop 7-4 decision to S.E. Polk after splitting singles
‘It’s always fun to sweep a team’: Ankeny girls blank Rams for 1st shutout in 3 years
For the first time in three years, the Ankeny girls' tennis team posted an 11-0 shutout on Tuesday. The Hawkettes dominated a CIML Conference meet at Southeast Polk to keep the Rams winless. Coach Steve Smith's team improved to 2-3 in the league and 3-4 overall, while Southeast Polk's records dropped to 0-5 and 0-6. It was Ankeny's first shutout since … [Read more...] about ‘It’s always fun to sweep a team’: Ankeny girls blank Rams for 1st shutout in 3 years
Ankeny boys get victories from Haase, Tomlinson, Sickerson at North Polk Relays
Using only a partial lineup, the Ankeny boys' track team placed sixth among seven squads in the North Polk Relays on Tuesday. The Hawks scored 70 points. Ballard (Huxley) won the meet with 136 points. North Polk finished second with 115. Ankeny focused most of its attention on some of the individual events. The Hawks had three first-place finishes, two … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys get victories from Haase, Tomlinson, Sickerson at North Polk Relays
‘Veenker got the best of some of the girls’: Hawkettes place 10th at Bowman Invite
The Ankeny girls' golf team placed 10th among 14 squads in the Turk Bowman Invitational on Tuesday at Ames. The Hawkettes posted a score of 421 at Veenker, one of the state's toughest golf courses. "Today, Veenker got the best of some of the girls," said Ankeny coach Kelley Emke. "It’s a hard course that keeps testing you hole after hole, and … [Read more...] about ‘Veenker got the best of some of the girls’: Hawkettes place 10th at Bowman Invite
Ankeny boys’ track squad ties for 3rd place in 2025 Drake Relays Cup standings
The Ankeny boys' track team tied for third place in the 2025 Drake Relays Cup standings. Both the Hawks and Cedar Falls scored 15 points. Johnston broke a 20-point tie with Dowling Catholic via a better 4x200 placement to win the boys' contest. The Dragons will be honored on the final day of the state track meet on May 24 along with girls' winner Waukee … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys’ track squad ties for 3rd place in 2025 Drake Relays Cup standings
Hawks move into No. 7 spot in Class 4A rankings, while Jaguars drop to No. 10
The Ankeny boys' soccer team has moved into the No. 7 spot in the latest Class 4A rankings from the Iowa High School Athletic Association, while Ankeny Centennial fell two spots to No. 10. Ankeny rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the final 10 minutes to earn a 3-3 tie against then-No. 5 Johnston on Tuesday. The Hawks then posted a 1-0 victory on Saturday at … [Read more...] about Hawks move into No. 7 spot in Class 4A rankings, while Jaguars drop to No. 10
‘We’re excited to see where we stack up’: Jaguars, Hawks look ahead to state meet
Over the course of three days at the Drake Relays, the Ankeny Centennial boys' track team showed that the Jaguars will be a force at next month's Class 4A state meet. "I'm really confident in me and my teammates' ability to come out and compete with the best of them," said Centennial senior Braeden Jackson, who ran on the third-place 4x100 and … [Read more...] about ‘We’re excited to see where we stack up’: Jaguars, Hawks look ahead to state meet
Ankeny Fanatic Preps of the Week: Kate Geiselhart and Isabella Ross, girls’ golf
Kate Geiselhart of Ankeny Centennial and Isabella Ross of Ankeny are both seniors on their respective girls' golf teams. Geiselhart has helped the Jaguars to a 2-2 record in the CIML Conference. She carded a 4-over-par 40 on Wednesday in a triangular meet at Otter Creek to earn medalist honors for the first time in her career. Ross, meanwhile, has … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Preps of the Week: Kate Geiselhart and Isabella Ross, girls’ golf
‘It’s a great feeling’: Ankeny boys defend their Drake Relays crown in 4×800 relay
The boys' 4x800 relay at the Drake Relays on Saturday didn't exactly go according to plan for defending champion Ankeny. The Hawks were in second place when their third runner, Justice Rathje, fell onto the track while handing the baton to teammate Ethan Zuber. "I was just trying not to fall over that last 300 (meters) when that Cedar Falls guy passed … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a great feeling’: Ankeny boys defend their Drake Relays crown in 4×800 relay
Hawkettes top Dallas Center-Grimes, then struggle in loss to unranked C.R. Prairie
Ankeny looked like two different girls' soccer teams in a span of less than 24 hours. After posting a 2-0 win over visiting Dallas Center-Grimes on Friday night, the fourth-ranked Hawkettes returned to their home pitch on Saturday afternoon and dropped a 2-1 decision to unranked Cedar Rapids Prairie in another non-conference game. "I think the girls … [Read more...] about Hawkettes top Dallas Center-Grimes, then struggle in loss to unranked C.R. Prairie