The Ankeny girls' tennis team closed out the regular season on Thursday with an 11-0 loss at Urbandale. The J-Hawks swept all 11 matches in straight sets. They finished 4-4 in the CIML Conference and improved to 9-4 overall. Ankeny suffered its third road loss in four days after losing at Waukee Northwest on Monday and at Ottumwa on Tuesday. The … [Read more...] about Hawkettes close out inaugural fall regular season with 11-0 loss to Urbandale girls
Spring
North, Doyle provide victories in singles in Ankeny girls’ 9-2 setback at Ottumwa
The Ankeny girls' tennis team got a pair of wins from Olivia North and Izzie Doyle, but it wasn't enough as the Hawkettes dropped a 9-2 decision at Ottumwa in a non-conference meet on Tuesday. North outlasted Jordan Lee, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 1-0 (4), in the No. 1 singles match. Doyle posted a 6-3, 6-4 win over Sonya Lundgren at the No. 3 position. Ankeny … [Read more...] about North, Doyle provide victories in singles in Ankeny girls’ 9-2 setback at Ottumwa
Wolves extend winning streak to 7 with 11-0 win over Ankeny girls’ tennis team
With three meets on the road in the next four days, it's going to be a tough week for the Ankeny girls' tennis team. The Hawkettes' difficult stretch began on Monday with perhaps the biggest test of all--a matchup against one of the state's top squads in Waukee Northwest. The host Wolves swept all 11 matches in straight sets to post an 11-0 victory. … [Read more...] about Wolves extend winning streak to 7 with 11-0 win over Ankeny girls’ tennis team
‘This match gave us a lot to build on’: AHS girls see progress in loss to Columbus
The Ankeny girls' tennis team saw a lot of progress during the Hawkettes' 9-2 loss to visiting Waterloo Columbus in a non-conference meet on Thursday. Ankeny posted a pair of straight-set victories against a team that is now 6-1 on the season. The Hawkettes dropped to 2-8. "I’m really proud of the effort the girls put out there today," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about ‘This match gave us a lot to build on’: AHS girls see progress in loss to Columbus
Despite better performance in doubles, Hawkettes drop 11-0 decision to Dowling
The Ankeny girls' tennis team ran into another tough opponent on Tuesday. The Hawkettes dropped an 11-0 decision to visiting Dowling Catholic in a CIML Conference match. The Maroons improved to 4-1 in the league and 6-2 overall, while Ankeny's records dropped to 1-5 and 2-7. Dowling won all 11 matches in straight sets, including a dominant performance … [Read more...] about Despite better performance in doubles, Hawkettes drop 11-0 decision to Dowling
‘What a great night to be a Hawk!’: Ankeny girls beat S.E. Polk for their first CIML win
A strong performance in doubles allowed the Ankeny girls' tennis team to post a 7-4 victory over visiting Southeast Polk on Thursday at the Prairie Ridge courts. After the two teams split the six singles matches, the Hawkettes won four of the five doubles matches to earn their first win in CIML Conference play. They are now 1-4 in the league and 2-6 … [Read more...] about ‘What a great night to be a Hawk!’: Ankeny girls beat S.E. Polk for their first CIML win
Ankeny girls top S.E. Polk for their first victory, finish 1-2 at Hawkette Invite
After dropping an 11-0 decision to visiting Johnston in a CIML Conference meet on Thursday, the Ankeny girls' tennis team went 1-2 in its Hawkette Invitational on Friday at the Prairie Ridge courts. The Hawkettes earned their first win of the season with an 8-3 victory over Southeast Polk. They won four of the six singles matches, then captured four of … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls top S.E. Polk for their first victory, finish 1-2 at Hawkette Invite
North earns first victory at No. 1 singles in Ankeny girls’ 10-1 loss at Waukee
Senior Olivia North earned her first victory at No. 1 singles for the Ankeny girls' tennis team on Tuesday, but the Hawkettes dropped a 10-1 decision at Waukee in a CIML Conference meet. North posted a 6-4, 1-6, 1-0 victory over Miku Mizushima. "Liv battled in the heat and had great shot selection to get her first win in three sets," said Ankeny coach … [Read more...] about North earns first victory at No. 1 singles in Ankeny girls’ 10-1 loss at Waukee
‘Every player in the lineup stepped up’: Jaguars avenge April loss to Ankeny girls
Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis coach Alli Gustafson wanted her players to commit to every point during Thursday's meet against crosstown rival Ankeny. The Jaguars took their coach's message to heart. Centennial turned in a dominating performance at the Prairie Ridge courts, sweeping all 11 matches to post an 11-0 victory over the Hawkettes. The win … [Read more...] about ‘Every player in the lineup stepped up’: Jaguars avenge April loss to Ankeny girls
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 314
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 breaks down the start of the first-ever fall girls' tennis season and previews Thursday's Jag-Hawk showdown with coaches Alli Gustafson of Ankeny Centennial and Katie Owens of Ankeny. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 314
Ankeny girls’ 11-0 loss at Valley ‘gave us a lot of little wins’ in fall season opener
The schedule didn't allow the Ankeny girls' tennis team to ease into its first fall season. The Hawkettes traveled to Valley on Tuesday to face one of the state's top teams. The Tigers had already defeated their first three opponents by a combined 26-3 margin. The task proved to be as difficult as expected. Valley posted an 11-0 victory in the CIML … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ 11-0 loss at Valley ‘gave us a lot of little wins’ in fall season opener
‘We want to compete hard every match’: Hawkettes begin new era under Owens
The Ankeny girls' tennis team hasn't skipped a beat under new head coach Katie Owens. Owens previously coached the program from 2014-20 before taking some time off to raise her family. "I’m really enjoying being back in the coaching role," said Owens. "It’s been refreshing to work with this group--they’ve shown a lot of enthusiasm and hard work, and … [Read more...] about ‘We want to compete hard every match’: Hawkettes begin new era under Owens
Doubleday Insurance Coach of the Month: Katie Owens, Ankeny girls’ tennis
The Hawkettes' former coach has returned to the program to oversee the move of girls' tennis from a spring sport to the fall. … [Read more...] about Doubleday Insurance Coach of the Month: Katie Owens, Ankeny girls’ tennis
Ankeny girls earn all-American honors in SMR at Nike Track & Field National meet
The Ankeny quartet of Charlee Cibula, Lillian Buckley, Morgan Fisher and Makenna Madetzke earned all-American honors this week at the Nike Track & Field National meet. The four runners teamed up for a fourth-place finish in the sprint medley relay, which is the equivalent to the distance medley relay in Iowa. They posted a time of 4:04.23. The same … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls earn all-American honors in SMR at Nike Track & Field National meet
Former Ankeny girls’ tennis coach Owens returns to take over Hawkettes’ program
The new head coach of the Ankeny girls' tennis team already knows her way around the Prairie Ridge tennis courts. Katie Owens has been hired to replace Steve Smith, who stepped down at the end of the season. She previously coached the Hawkettes from 2014-20, although her final year was interrupted by COVID-19. "I'm back," said Owens. "I'm so … [Read more...] about Former Ankeny girls’ tennis coach Owens returns to take over Hawkettes’ program
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 308
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 former Ankeny girls’ tennis coach Steve Smith and his daughter Kira, who recently won the Class 2A singles title to become the first-ever state tennis champion from the city of Ankeny. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 308
Benge earns all-state honors in Class 4A along with Duax, Gloviak, Wahlberg
Ankeny boys' soccer standout Landon Benge has been named to the Class 4A all-state first team for the second straight year by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association. Benge, a senior forward, was joined on the first team by teammate Dylan Gloviak, a senior defender. Junior forward Tate Duax of Ankeny Centennial was also a first-team pick, while … [Read more...] about Benge earns all-state honors in Class 4A along with Duax, Gloviak, Wahlberg
Ankeny seniors Benge, Gloviak named to Class 4A all-tournament team
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
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
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