Ankeny Fanatic

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Spring

Ankeny seniors Benge, Gloviak named to Class 4A all-tournament team

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Ankeny seniors Landon Benge and Dylan Gloviak were both named to the Class 4A all-tournament team after leading the Hawks to the semifinals for the first time since 2018. Benge scored a pair of goals in Ankeny's 3-1 win over second-ranked Des Moines Roosevelt in the quarterfinals on June 2 at Mediacom Stadium. He finished the season with 27 goals, which … [Read more...] about Ankeny seniors Benge, Gloviak named to Class 4A all-tournament team

Balashaitis, Martin, Macke, Paoli selected to Class 3A all-state first team by IGCA

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Girls' soccer standouts Maddison Balashaitis and Ava Martin of Ankeny Centennial have been named to the Class 3A all-state first team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association for the second straight year. Ankeny star Alli Macke was also a repeat selection. She was joined on the squad by teammate Ava Paoli. Balashaitis, a senior defender, helped the … [Read more...] about Balashaitis, Martin, Macke, Paoli selected to Class 3A all-state first team by IGCA

‘Nobody thought we’d be here’: Hawks end season with semifinal loss to Valley

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Ankeny senior Landon Benge stood on the field at Mediacom Stadium, his future home as a member of the Drake men's soccer team. His brilliant high school career had just ended a few minutes earlier, short of his ultimate goal. "I am so proud of this team," Benge said as he hugged his teammates after eighth-ranked Ankeny fell to No. 1 Valley, 1-0, in a … [Read more...] about ‘Nobody thought we’d be here’: Hawks end season with semifinal loss to Valley

‘I feel so bad for the girls’: Hawkettes fall to Waukee in PKs in Brown’s final game

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This wasn't the way that Simon Brown wanted to close out his Ankeny girls' soccer coaching tenure. As bad as he felt for himself though, Brown felt even worse for his players. The fifth-ranked Hawkettes lost to No. 4 Waukee, 2-1, in a shootout in a Class 3A quarterfinal on Tuesday at the rain-soaked Lied Recreation Fields in Ames. They finished their … [Read more...] about ‘I feel so bad for the girls’: Hawkettes fall to Waukee in PKs in Brown’s final game

‘They deserved it’: Hawks oust Roosevelt, will play No. 1 Valley in Class 4A semifinals

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) For the first time since the 2018 season, the Ankeny boys' soccer team is heading to the state tournament semifinals. The eighth-ranked Hawks got a pair of goals from senior Landon Benge and another from junior Cal Wahlberg to post a 3-1 victory over No. 2 Des Moines Roosevelt in a Class 4A quarterfinal on Monday at Mediacom … [Read more...] about ‘They deserved it’: Hawks oust Roosevelt, will play No. 1 Valley in Class 4A semifinals

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Cal Wahlberg, Ankeny boys’ soccer

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Junior midfielder Cal Wahlberg scored the golden goal in overtime to give the eighth-ranked Ankeny boys' soccer team a 3-2 victory over No. 10 Des Moines Lincoln in a Class 4A substate final on Thursday at Ankeny. It was his seventh goal of the season. Wahlberg has helped Ankeny to an 11-5-2 record and a second consecutive trip to the state tournament. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Cal Wahlberg, Ankeny boys’ soccer

‘It was the perfect way to end our careers’: Ankeny star goes out in style with father

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It was a storybook ending for Ankeny tennis standout Kira Smith. The top-seeded senior posted a 6-1, 6-2 victory over No. 2 Sescie Haan of Clinton to capture the Class 2A singles title at the girls' state tournament on Saturday in Iowa City. She missed her high school graduation to become the city of Ankeny's first-ever state tennis champion. "I can’t … [Read more...] about ‘It was the perfect way to end our careers’: Ankeny star goes out in style with father

ONE OF A KIND: Smith becomes city of Ankeny’s first-ever state tennis champion

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The drought is over. Ankeny finally has a state tennis champion. Top-seeded Kira Smith posted a 6-1, 6-2 victory over No. 2 Sescie Haan of Clinton to capture the Class 2A singles title on Saturday afternoon at Iowa City. She rolled through the two-day tournament without losing a set. Ankeny Centennial's Samara Peterson, meanwhile, finished in eighth … [Read more...] about ONE OF A KIND: Smith becomes city of Ankeny’s first-ever state tennis champion

Smith tops Holland, will play Clinton’s Haan for Class 2A singles championship

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Kira Smith is one win away from becoming the city of Ankeny's first-ever state tennis champion. The top-seeded Ankeny senior posted a 6-3, 6-3 victory over No. 4 Lily Holland of Cedar Rapids Jefferson in the semifinals of the Class 2A singles division at the girls' state tournament on Saturday morning at Iowa City. She will play for the title this … [Read more...] about Smith tops Holland, will play Clinton’s Haan for Class 2A singles championship

‘We just needed a little luck’: Hawkettes earn another trip to state on Macke’s goal

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For much of Friday's game against visiting Cedar Falls, the ball didn't bounce right for the Ankeny girls' soccer team. The fifth-ranked Hawkettes struggled to find the net in a Class 3A regional final, and the chances of going to overtime grew more and more likely as the minutes ticked off the clock in the second half. "I was definitely worried," said … [Read more...] about ‘We just needed a little luck’: Hawkettes earn another trip to state on Macke’s goal

Wahlberg’s golden goal sends Hawks back to state tourney in dramatic fashion

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) No matter how the extra time golden goal went in, it was going to be either the game that got away from Ankeny or the major comeback effort that fell just short for visiting Des Moines Lincoln. But in back-to-back seasons, the Hawks will now head into the boys' Class 4A state soccer tournament off the back of a dramatic … [Read more...] about Wahlberg’s golden goal sends Hawks back to state tourney in dramatic fashion

Smith cruises into Class 2A semifinals, while Peterson becomes placewinner

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The potential matchup between Ankeny senior Kira Smith and Ankeny Centennial junior Samara Peterson never materialized on Friday in the Class 2A singles bracket, but both players advanced to the second day of the girls' state tournament at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex in Iowa City. The top-seeded Smith cruised into the semifinals with a pair … [Read more...] about Smith cruises into Class 2A semifinals, while Peterson becomes placewinner

‘Having fresh legs is a huge benefit’: Ankeny gets some rest in rout over Rails

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It took just a tick under 7 minutes into the game for Alli Macke to score off a corner kick, and the rest was history. The fifth-ranked and top-seeded Ankeny girls' soccer team set a new season-high in goals after seven different players combined for nine goals in a shutout victory over visiting Des Moines Lincoln in a Class … [Read more...] about ‘Having fresh legs is a huge benefit’: Ankeny gets some rest in rout over Rails

‘We deserve it’: Ankeny boys roll past Cedar Falls behind Benge, Wahlberg

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Cal Wahlberg and Landon Benge each scored a pair of goals to lead the Ankeny boys' soccer team to a 6-2 victory over visiting Cedar Falls in a Class 4A substate semifinal on a rainy Tuesday night. Austin Lundberg and Andrew Loder also found the net for the eighth-ranked Hawks, who matched their season-high of six goals in a win over Ames on April … [Read more...] about ‘We deserve it’: Ankeny boys roll past Cedar Falls behind Benge, Wahlberg

Petersen to resign as Centennial girls’ golf coach; Smith exits from AHS girls’ tennis

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John Petersen and Steve Smith were both hired for head coaching positions in the Ankeny school district in the spring of 2019. Now, several years later, they are both departing at the same time. Petersen is planning to resign as the Ankeny Centennial girls' golf coach. He has yet to officially submit his resignation letter, but has told his golfers of … [Read more...] about Petersen to resign as Centennial girls’ golf coach; Smith exits from AHS girls’ tennis

Ankeny’s Victor, Weichers eliminated from boys’ Class 2A state doubles tournament

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The Ankeny doubles team of Dylan Victor and Garrett Weichers was eliminated from the boys' Class 2A state tennis tournament on Tuesday at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex in Iowa City. Victor and Weichers opened the tournament with a 6-1, 6-4 loss to Brock Davis and Preston Haefner of Cedar Rapids Washington. The Hawks played their best tennis in … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Victor, Weichers eliminated from boys’ Class 2A state doubles tournament

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Morgan Fisher, Ankeny girls’ track

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Morgan Fisher helped the Ankeny girls' track team to a fifth-place finish in the Class 4A state meet Thursday through Saturday at Drake Stadium. Fisher placed fourth in the 400 in 56.61 seconds and finished 11th in the 200 in 25.58. She also ran on the runner-up distance medley and fourth-place 4x400 relays. As she now makes the transition to the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Morgan Fisher, Ankeny girls’ track

‘I love these guys to death’: Ankeny boys overcome adversity to defend 4A crown

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Landon Pote proudly held on to the Class 4A championship trophy as his teammates on the Ankeny boys' track squad crowded around him on the infield turf at Drake Stadium. The Hawks had just won a second consecutive state title on Saturday in emphatic fashion. "I asked God for three things: for high jump to go better than last year, for shuttle hurdle to … [Read more...] about ‘I love these guys to death’: Ankeny boys overcome adversity to defend 4A crown