Ankeny Fanatic

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Hawks

‘We got exposed’: Ankeny hangs around for awhile before Dragons dominate

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The Central Iowa Metropolitan League boasts seven of the top 11 teams in Class 5A in the latest girls' basketball rankings from the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Despite the overall strength of the nine-team league, top-ranked Johnston continues to dominate its CIML rivals. The defending state champion Dragons extended their winning streak to … [Read more...] about ‘We got exposed’: Ankeny hangs around for awhile before Dragons dominate

Johnston boys pull away with 24-5 run in 3rd quarter, defeat Hawks for 2nd time

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This time, the Johnston boys' basketball team didn't blow a big lead. The Dragons, who let a 16-point cushion in the fourth quarter slip away in a 65-64 loss at fifth-ranked Indianola on Saturday, bounced back with a 63-50 victory over visiting Ankeny on Tuesday. They opened the second half with a 24-5 run to build a 54-29 advantage, then cruised to the … [Read more...] about Johnston boys pull away with 24-5 run in 3rd quarter, defeat Hawks for 2nd time

Nelson resigns after 8 years at Ankeny, will rejoin UNI as offensive line coach

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Ankeny football coach Rick Nelson is headed back to Cedar Falls. Nelson, who was a longtime assistant coach at Northern Iowa before taking over the Hawks' program in 2015, has announced his resignation. He will rejoin the Panthers' staff as the offensive line coach. Nelson replaces Ryan Clanton, who was the offensive line coach and offensive … [Read more...] about Nelson resigns after 8 years at Ankeny, will rejoin UNI as offensive line coach

Hansen, Anderson win titles, lead Hawks to overall crown at Mendenhall Invite

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A long layoff didn't seem to bother the Ankeny wrestling team. Competing for the first time since Dec. 20, the seventh-ranked Hawks easily captured the team title in the Jack Mendenhall Invitational on Saturday at Ames. They scored 211.5 points to finish 58.5 points ahead of No. 4 Fort Dodge, which placed second in the 17-team field. "We had an 18-day … [Read more...] about Hansen, Anderson win titles, lead Hawks to overall crown at Mendenhall Invite

Centennial wrestlers crown 4 champs, capture overall title at Lepic Invite

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers crowned four individual champions and also captured the team title in the Tom Lepic Invitational on Saturday at Iowa City West. The Jaguars racked up 189.5 points, 16 more than runner-up Pleasant Valley. Norwalk, Fort Madison and Iowa City West also competed in the round-robin event. "We wrestled an aggressive style," … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers crown 4 champs, capture overall title at Lepic Invite

Ankeny Fanatic Preps of the Week: Chase Jordan and Kali Ogg, Ankeny bowling

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Senior Chase Jordan leads the Ankeny boys' bowling team with a 358.5 series average. He bowled a season-high total of 413 in the Hawks' win over Johnston in their season opener on Dec. 1 at Game Day Lanes. Sophomore Kali Ogg ranks second on the Ankeny girls' squad with a 303 series average. She bowled a career-best total of 334 to lead the Hawkettes to a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Preps of the Week: Chase Jordan and Kali Ogg, Ankeny bowling

Hawkettes rout Roosevelt girls, avenge last year’s loss in Class 5A regional final

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team took an early lead against visiting Des Moines Roosevelt on Saturday without any time running off the clock. The Roughriders were called for a technical foul before the opening tipoff because the uniform number for one of their players was incorrectly entered into the scorebook. It was that kind of day for … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rout Roosevelt girls, avenge last year’s loss in Class 5A regional final

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (3rd team)

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For the last 54 years, a lot of young boys have grown up in Ankeny wanting to play football for coach Jerry Pezzetti. Some of those players wanted to follow in the footsteps of their fathers who played for Pezzetti. That was the case for Drew Carlson, a standout linebacker on Ankeny's 2012 state championship team. His father, Luke, starred for Pezzetti … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (3rd team)

Urbandale boys rally to force OT, then hold off Hawks to end losing streak

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After Jamison Patton swished a 3-pointer from the left corner midway through the third quarter of Friday's game at Urbandale, he slapped the hand of Ankeny boys' basketball coach Brandt Carlson on his way back up the court. Patton's trey gave his team a 32-23 lead, and it appeared that the Hawks were on the verge of ending their three-game losing … [Read more...] about Urbandale boys rally to force OT, then hold off Hawks to end losing streak

Ankeny girls roll past Urbandale, snap three-game skid with 79-42 victory

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Ankeny girls' basketball coach Dru McAnelly didn't want to call Friday's contest at Urbandale a must-win game. But it clearly was. The 11th-ranked Hawkettes raced out to a 48-21 halftime lead and cruised to a 79-42 victory in a CIML Conference matchup. They snapped a three-game losing skid while raising their records to 3-5 in the league and 6-5 … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls roll past Urbandale, snap three-game skid with 79-42 victory

Ankeny girls’ bowling team tops Dowling, but boys’ squad falls to Maroons

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The Ankeny bowling teams split a CIML Conference dual meet with visiting Dowling Catholic on Thursday at Great Escape. The girls' squad won by a score of 1,953 to 1,849. However, the boys' team fell by a score of 2,681 to 2,598. "It was our Senior Night," said Ankeny coach Lane Richtsmeier. "It was a great win for the girls. This was our first meet … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ bowling team tops Dowling, but boys’ squad falls to Maroons

Ankeny swimmers celebrate Senior Night with 114-56 victory over Johnston

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The seniors on the Ankeny boys' swimming team were hungry for a dual-meet victory. There was no better time to get one than on Senior Night. The fifth-ranked Hawks dominated from start to finish and defeated No. 14 Johnston, 114-56, in a CIML Conference dual meet on Thursday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. It was the first win of the season for … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers celebrate Senior Night with 114-56 victory over Johnston

‘We did what we needed to do’: Jaguars get bonus points to edge Fort Dodge

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Last month, Ankeny Centennial wrestling coach Jay Groth said his team's runner-up finish at the Don Miller Invitational would have felt even better if the Jaguars could have defeated host Fort Dodge. On Thursday, Groth's team returned to Fort Dodge and accomplished what it couldn't on Dec. 17. Tenth-ranked Centennial posted a 35-33 victory over the No. … [Read more...] about ‘We did what we needed to do’: Jaguars get bonus points to edge Fort Dodge

‘This was a great test for our girls’: Five Ankeny wrestlers claim titles at Nevada

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Five Ankeny girls captured individual titles on Thursday at the Nevada wrestling scramble. Third-ranked Dana Cleveland at 135 pounds was among Ankeny's champions. She raised her record to 22-3 on the season. Other individual winners were Elyse Engebretson at 115 (19-5), Trudy Haag at 120 (19-4), Josie Bishop at 190 (19-12) and Melanie Martinez at 235 … [Read more...] about ‘This was a great test for our girls’: Five Ankeny wrestlers claim titles at Nevada

Aguirre scores career-high 28 points, but Ankeny boys tumble to No. 5 Valley

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Despite a career-high 28 points from Lio Aguirre, the Ankeny boys' basketball team dropped a 70-58 decision at fifth-ranked Valley on Tuesday. The Tigers pulled away in the second half for their fourth straight victory. They improved to 5-2 in the CIML Conference and 6-2 overall, while Ankeny's records dropped to 2-5 and 3-7. The Hawks have lost three … [Read more...] about Aguirre scores career-high 28 points, but Ankeny boys tumble to No. 5 Valley

‘It’s not the record we want’: Hawkettes drop to 5-5 with another close loss

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There's an old saying, "Close only counts in horseshoes." For the Ankeny girls' basketball team, coming close to earning a victory is becoming a frustrating habit. The 10th-ranked Hawkettes were looking to start off 2023 with a big win on Tuesday, but their upset bid at No. 4 Valley fell just short. The Tigers made a late 3-point goal to post a 41-38 … [Read more...] about ‘It’s not the record we want’: Hawkettes drop to 5-5 with another close loss

Kohl racks up 62 total yards, helps team to 14-7 win at UA Next All-America Game

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Ankeny quarterback JJ Kohl helped Team Phantom to a 14-7 victory over Team Speed in the 2023 Under Armour Next All-America Game on Tuesday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The game was televised on ESPN2. Kohl, an Iowa State recruit, was one of 100 players from across the nation who were selected to participate in the game. He shared the quarterback … [Read more...] about Kohl racks up 62 total yards, helps team to 14-7 win at UA Next All-America Game