Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Spring

‘I really liked the team and coaches’: Sickerson verbally commits to UNI

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Ankeny sprinter Tyler Sickerson is fully healthy now, and he's made his college plans. The senior announced his verbal commitment over the weekend to join the Northern Iowa men's track and field program in the fall of 2025. "I really liked the team and coaches at UNI," said Sickerson. "I have a lot of teammates that I ran with in the past that already … [Read more...] about ‘I really liked the team and coaches’: Sickerson verbally commits to UNI

‘I felt I would be more happy at S. Dakota’: Beason picks Coyotes over Nebraska

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One of the state's best distance runners has made her college plans. Ankeny senior Drew Beason has verbally committed to join the South Dakota women's cross country and track programs. She picked the Coyotes over Nebraska. "I liked the team and the team culture at South Dakota," said Beason. "I felt I would be more happy at South Dakota and just be … [Read more...] about ‘I felt I would be more happy at S. Dakota’: Beason picks Coyotes over Nebraska

Gustafson, Smith see both positives, negatives with moving girls’ tennis to fall

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Girls' tennis coaches Alli Gustafson of Ankeny Centennial and Steve Smith of Ankeny were both prepared for the possibility that their sport would be moving to the fall eventually. It officially happened on Monday with a dual press release from the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association, beginning with the … [Read more...] about Gustafson, Smith see both positives, negatives with moving girls’ tennis to fall

IHSAA, IGHSAU to separate golf, tennis seasons starting in 2025-26

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The Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union have collaborated to reduce spring schedule congestion by moving boys’ golf and girls’ tennis to the fall sport seasons starting in the 2025-26 school year. The changes address decades-long concerns from member schools over scheduling and were approved by both the IHSAA’s … [Read more...] about IHSAA, IGHSAU to separate golf, tennis seasons starting in 2025-26

Centennial’s Ty Duax joins his father as three-time all-state selection by IHSSCA

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Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer standout Ty Duax has joined his father in an exclusive club. Duax, a senior midfielder, has earned all-state honors from the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association for the third time, landing a spot on the Class 4A first team. He was a Class 4A second-team pick as a junior after being named to the Class 3A first team as … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Ty Duax joins his father as three-time all-state selection by IHSSCA

Ankeny’s Macke earns all-state honors from IHSSCA for 2nd consecutive year

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Junior midfielder Alli Macke of Ankeny has earned all-state honors from the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association for the second straight year. Macke, who was named to the Class 3A second team as a sophomore, was selected to the first team along with teammate Emma Gott. Ava Martin of Ankeny Centennial was also a first-team pick. Macke led the … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Macke earns all-state honors from IHSSCA for 2nd consecutive year

Balashaitis, Lewis earn academic all-state honors; 6 boys’ players also recognized

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Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer players Maddison Balashaitis and Avery Lewis have been named to the Class 3A academic all-state first team by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association, while Centennial's Tyson Woerdehoff earned first-team honors in Class 4A on the boys' side. Balashaitis, a junior defender, and Lewis, a senior midfielder, helped … [Read more...] about Balashaitis, Lewis earn academic all-state honors; 6 boys’ players also recognized

Gott, Loeffler, Macke receive all-state honors along with Balashaitis, Martin

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Ankeny girls' soccer standouts Emma Gott, Sophie Loeffler and Alli Macke have received all-state honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association along with the Ankeny Centennial duo of Maddison Balashaitis and Ava Martin. They were among the 20 players named to the Class 3A squad. Macke, a junior midfielder, racked up a team-high 15 goals for the … [Read more...] about Gott, Loeffler, Macke receive all-state honors along with Balashaitis, Martin

Ankeny foursome, Centennial trio named to Class 3A West all-district team

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A quartet of Ankeny players and a trio from Ankeny Centennial have been named to the Class 3A West all-district girls' soccer team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Ankeny was represented by senior forward Emma Gott, junior midfielders Camryn Dietz and Alli Macke, and junior defender Sophie Loeffler. That foursome led the Hawkettes to a 14-5 record, … [Read more...] about Ankeny foursome, Centennial trio named to Class 3A West all-district team

Centennial’s Ty Duax joins Ankeny duo of Benge, Gloviak on all-CIML first team

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Ankeny Centennial standout Ty Duax has been named to the CIML Conference first team by a vote of the league's boys' soccer coaches along with the Ankeny duo of Landon Benge and Dylan Gloviak. Duax, a senior midfielder, earned first-team all-conference honors for the fourth consecutive year. He was honored in the CIML Iowa Conference in 2021-22 before the … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Ty Duax joins Ankeny duo of Benge, Gloviak on all-CIML first team

Ankeny trio, Centennial’s Balashaitis named to CIML Conference first team

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Twelve players from Ankeny and nine more from Ankeny Centennial have received all-conference honors from the girls' soccer coaches in the CIML Conference. Senior forward Emma Gott, junior midfielder Alli Macke and junior defender Sophie Loeffler of Ankeny were all named to the first team along with junior defender Maddison Balashaitis of Centennial. … [Read more...] about Ankeny trio, Centennial’s Balashaitis named to CIML Conference first team

Centennial’s Balashaitis joins Ankeny’s Gott, Macke on Class 3A all-tourney team

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Girls' soccer standouts Emma Gott and Alli Macke of Ankeny and Maddison Balashaitis of Ankeny Centennial were named to the Class 3A all-tournament team on Saturday at Cownie Park. Gott and Macke helped the Hawkettes reach the semifinals of the state tournament earlier in the week. Balashaitis and the Jaguars took top-ranked Waukee Northwest into overtime … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Balashaitis joins Ankeny’s Gott, Macke on Class 3A all-tourney team

‘We had so many chances’: Hawkettes fall to No. 7 Bettendorf in Class 3A semifinals

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The game of soccer doesn't always reward the better team. It's a cruel reality that was endured by the Ankeny girls' squad on Thursday afternoon at Cownie Park. Despite dominating most of the contest, the third-ranked Hawkettes dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 7 Bettendorf in the Class 3A semifinals of the state tournament. The Bulldogs (17-3) advanced to … [Read more...] about ‘We had so many chances’: Hawkettes fall to No. 7 Bettendorf in Class 3A semifinals

‘We just couldn’t hold on’: Hawks’ late lead slips away in 3-2 loss to No. 2 Dowling

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A lot of blood, sweat and tears. The Ankeny boys' soccer players left it all on the field. The seventh-ranked Hawks led for much of the game before falling to No. 2 Dowling Catholic, 3-2, in the Class 4A quarterfinals of the state tournament on Wednesday night at Cownie Park. The Maroons never led until Kevin Copic scored the winning goal with just 1 … [Read more...] about ‘We just couldn’t hold on’: Hawks’ late lead slips away in 3-2 loss to No. 2 Dowling

‘Our defense played amazing’: Hawkettes shut down Waukee, advance to semis

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Two of the state's top defensive teams collided in the Class 3A quarterfinals of the girls' state soccer tournament on Tuesday at Cownie Park. Only one of them kept a clean sheet. Third-ranked Ankeny got a pair of goals from Emma Gott and posted a 3-0 victory over No. 6 Waukee. The Warriors, who also dropped a 1-0 decision to Ankeny on April 5, … [Read more...] about ‘Our defense played amazing’: Hawkettes shut down Waukee, advance to semis

‘I felt welcomed from the start’: Ankeny’s Dietz to play soccer for Bulldogs

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Ankeny soccer standout Camryn Dietz has verbally committed to play for Drake. Dietz, a junior midfielder, announced her decision on social media a week ago. "I am so excited to announce that l've committed to further my academic and athletic career to play Division I soccer at Drake University!" Dietz tweeted on X. "Thank you to all my family, friends, … [Read more...] about ‘I felt welcomed from the start’: Ankeny’s Dietz to play soccer for Bulldogs

Hawkettes finally break through against Dowling’s defense, advance to state

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It wasn't easy, but the Ankeny girls' soccer team is headed back to the state tournament. Emma Gott and Sydney Van Houweling each scored a goal as the third-ranked Hawkettes defeated visiting Dowling Catholic, 2-0, in a Class 3A regional final on Thursday at Northview. "This will be my fourth time going to state, but for some reason it feels … [Read more...] about Hawkettes finally break through against Dowling’s defense, advance to state

‘It feels amazing’: Lundberg’s late goal, Kobow’s ensuing PK send Hawks to state

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The Ankeny boys' soccer team was less than a minute away from having its season come to an end on Wednesday at Northview. But the eighth-ranked Hawks never lost their faith. Austin Lundberg scored an equalizer on a free kick with 52 seconds left, and Ankeny went on to beat visiting Linn-Mar (Marion), 2-1, in a shootout in a Class 4A substate … [Read more...] about ‘It feels amazing’: Lundberg’s late goal, Kobow’s ensuing PK send Hawks to state