The Ankeny wrestling team is ninth in Class 3A in the preseason rankings from IAwrestle.com. The Hawks boast eight ranked individuals, while Ankeny Centennial has six. Ankeny's highest ranked wrestler is two-time state champion Trever Anderson. Anderson, who won the 106-pound title as a freshman in 2019 and the 120-pound crown last season, is ranked … [Read more...] about Ankeny is No. 9 in Class 3A preseason rankings from IAwrestle.com
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Ankeny swimmers could battle CIML rival Dowling for 4th place at state meet
It appears that this year's girls' state swimming meet is shaping up to be a three-team race. On paper, anyway. Based on the seeds going into the state meet--which will be held on Friday and Saturday at Marshalltown--it looks like Ames, Iowa City West and Waukee will fight for the crown. Ankeny could battle CIML rival Dowling Catholic for fourth … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers could battle CIML rival Dowling for 4th place at state meet
A title game rematch?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals
The Class 5A football playoffs are down to the Final Four, and that means it's time to head to the Dome. Ankeny, last year's Class 4A champion, is back in the semifinals for the second straight year along with Southeast Polk, last year's runner-up. The Hawks and Rams will be joined at the Dome by two other traditional powers, Valley and Iowa City … [Read more...] about A title game rematch?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 160
Head coach Rick Nelson and senior defensive back Ryan Crandall of the Ankeny football team along with Dowling Catholic assistant coach Andy Pollock break down the Class 5A playoffs on the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 160
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Olivia Harpenau, Ankeny volleyball
Senior middle hitter Olivia Harpenau helped the Ankeny volleyball team to a 40-6 record this season. She had three kills and a match-high five blocks on Wednesday in the Hawkettes' loss to Pleasant Valley in the Class 5A semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. Harpenau placed third on the team with 195 kills. She was second among the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Olivia Harpenau, Ankeny volleyball
Ankeny swimmers dominate regional meet, advance to state in every event
Nine other schools came to Trail Point Aquatics Center on Saturday to take on host Ankeny in a girls' regional swimming meet. None of them could match the Hawkettes' depth. Ankeny won nine of the 11 swimming events after Erica Peters won the diving event on Thursday at Johnston, and the Hawkettes cruised to the team title with 541.5 points. Newton was … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers dominate regional meet, advance to state in every event
DOMEWARD BOUND!: Hawks throttle C.R. Prairie, will play Valley in semifinals
On a windy night in Cedar Rapids, the Ankeny football team turned to its power running game to earn another trip to the UNI-Dome. Colin Kadolph rushed for 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the second half, and the fifth-seeded Hawks dominated the final two quarters to defeat fourth-seeded Cedar Rapids Prairie, 37-7, in the Class 5A quarterfinals on … [Read more...] about DOMEWARD BOUND!: Hawks throttle C.R. Prairie, will play Valley in semifinals
Reynolds joins Anderson, Mirembe as repeat picks on all-conference first team
The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams each placed three players on the CIML Iowa Conference first team. The Hawkettes and Jaguars, who tied for the league crown with newcomer Waukee Northwest, had six of the eight first-team selections. Ankeny was represented by senior outside hitter Ava Reynolds, senior libero Lexi Stephens and sophomore … [Read more...] about Reynolds joins Anderson, Mirembe as repeat picks on all-conference first team
‘It was a no-brainer for me’: AHS swimmer Swanepoel commits to Wisconsin
The Ankeny boys' swimming program has cranked out another high-level recruit. Junior Lance Swanepoel has verbally committed to Wisconsin. He follows in the footsteps of former teammate Trent Frandson, who is now a freshman at California. Swanepoel picked the Badgers over Louisville. He also took official visits to Florida State and Notre Dame. "It … [Read more...] about ‘It was a no-brainer for me’: AHS swimmer Swanepoel commits to Wisconsin
Ankeny’s Peters wins regional diving crown; Kolars also qualifies for state
Ankeny's Erica Peters is headed to the state diving meet for the fourth consecutive year. Teammate Hannah Kolars will be making her second straight trip. Both divers advanced to the state meet with strong performances on Thursday in a regional meet at Summit Middle School, which hosted both the Ankeny and Johnston regionals. Another Ankeny diver, Lydia … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Peters wins regional diving crown; Kolars also qualifies for state
Reynolds earns repeat all-tournament honors after leading Ankeny to semifinals
Ankeny volleyball standout Ava Reynolds has been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team for the second straight year. Reynolds had 19 kills, 11 digs and four blocks in the Hawkettes' loss to eventual champion Pleasant Valley in Wednesday's semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. On Monday, she pounded 27 kills as Ankeny rallied for … [Read more...] about Reynolds earns repeat all-tournament honors after leading Ankeny to semifinals
‘We fell to a better team’: Hawkettes’ bid for repeat crown ends with loss to PV
A talented squad with a lot of motivation proved to be a bad combination for the Ankeny volleyball team on Wednesday. Second-ranked Pleasant Valley posted a 25-16, 32-30, 15-25, 25-17 victory over the No. 3 Hawkettes in the Class 5A semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. The Spartans avenged last year's five-set loss to Ankeny in the … [Read more...] about ‘We fell to a better team’: Hawkettes’ bid for repeat crown ends with loss to PV
Another 5-setter?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals
If Wednesday's semifinal matches in the Class 5A state volleyball tournament are half as entertaining as Monday's quarterfinal matches, then the fans at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse will be in for a treat. Monday's action included a pair of five-set thrillers. Third-ranked Ankeny outlasted No. 6 Urbandale despite scoring five fewer points overall, while … [Read more...] about Another 5-setter?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 159
Coach Dave Whims and senior libero Lexi Stephens of the Ankeny volleyball team joined senior outside hitter Olivia Anderson of Ankeny Centennial and coach Michele Quick of Ankeny Christian Academy as the guests on the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 159
SURVIVE AND ADVANCE: Hawkettes outlast Urbandale, Dykstra in 5 sets
University of Minnesota football coach PJ Fleck provided some inspiration for the Ankeny volleyball team on Monday. After the third-ranked Hawkettes lost two of the first three sets against No. 6 Urbandale in the Class 5A quarterfinals, Ankeny coach Dave Whims channeled his inner Fleck before the fourth set. "The girls were kind of down after losing … [Read more...] about SURVIVE AND ADVANCE: Hawkettes outlast Urbandale, Dykstra in 5 sets
State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals
The state volleyball tournament gets under way on Monday at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. We already know that at least one CIML team will advance to the Class 5A semifinals on Wednesday. Defending champion Ankeny will face CIML rival Urbandale in one of the four quarterfinal matchups. Three other CIML teams are in the Class 5A field, … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals
Hawks pull away from Waukee Northwest with dominant 2nd half
(Story by David Klockenga) The Ankeny football players knew they were in a battle with visiting Waukee Northwest on Friday before the third-ranked Hawks pulled away in the second half for a 42-3 victory in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs. Ankeny (8-2) led by just 14-3 at halftime before outscoring the Wolves, 28-0, in the final two … [Read more...] about Hawks pull away from Waukee Northwest with dominant 2nd half
ANOTHER CLOSE BATTLE: Ankeny boys edge Jaguars by 8 points for 13th place
The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country teams were both hoping to earn top-10 finishes in the Class 4A state meet on Friday. In the end, the two squads waged a close battle for 13th place at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. Twelfth-ranked Ankeny finished with 299 points to edge No. 11 Centennial by eight points. "We're happy about it," … [Read more...] about ANOTHER CLOSE BATTLE: Ankeny boys edge Jaguars by 8 points for 13th place
IT’S ALL CHALK: Favorites prevail in opening round of Class 5A playoffs
There were no upsets in the opening round of the Class 5A football playoffs as all eight of the higher seeded teams prevailed on Friday by an average margin of 26.75 points. Ankeny, the No. 5 team in the final RPI rankings, rolled to a 42-3 victory over visiting Waukee Northwest. The Hawks, who won last year's Class 4A championship, will play at Cedar … [Read more...] about IT’S ALL CHALK: Favorites prevail in opening round of Class 5A playoffs
Hawkettes place 6th for highest finish since 1988; Centennial girls take 10th
Friday was a memorable day for the Ankeny girls' cross country team. It wasn't too bad for Ankeny Centennial, either. The 10th-ranked Hawkettes raced to a sixth-place finish in the Class 4A state meet at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. It was the second-best performance in school history, surpassed only by a fifth-place finish in 1988. "We're … [Read more...] about Hawkettes place 6th for highest finish since 1988; Centennial girls take 10th