Ankeny Fanatic

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Girls' Tennis

Former Ankeny girls’ tennis coach Owens returns to take over Hawkettes’ program

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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

‘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 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

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

Smith earns No. 1 seed for 2A singles, could meet Peterson in quarterfinals

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The pairings for next week's boys' and girls' state tennis tournaments have been announced. Ankeny's Kira Smith is the No. 1 seed for the girls' Class 2A singles tournament, which will be held on Friday and Saturday at Iowa City. She will face Addison King of Cedar Falls in the opening round. Smith could potentially meet Ankeny Centennial's Samara … [Read more...] about Smith earns No. 1 seed for 2A singles, could meet Peterson in quarterfinals

Hawkettes, Jaguars fall to Pleasant Valley in Class 2A regional team tournament

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A long day in Pleasant Valley ended in similar fashion for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis teams. Both the Hawkettes and Jaguars saw their seasons come to an end with a loss to Pleasant Valley in a Class 2A regional team tournament on Tuesday. The Spartans posted a 5-1 victory over Centennial in the semifinal round, then battled Ankeny late … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars fall to Pleasant Valley in Class 2A regional team tournament

Hawkettes, Jaguars advance to regional semifinals on Tuesday at Pleasant Valley

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Both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial advanced to the semifinal round of the girls' Class 2A regional team tennis competition with victories on Friday at the Prairie Ridge courts. The Hawkettes posted a 5-0 win over Southeast Polk. They blanked the Rams (1-10) for the second time this season. "Our goal on the day was to not have to play doubles," said … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars advance to regional semifinals on Tuesday at Pleasant Valley

‘Kira was nothing less than perfect’: Smith advances to state without dropping game

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Ankeny girls' tennis coach Steve Smith almost couldn't believe what he was watching on Monday. His daughter, Kira, advanced to the Class 2A state tournament by winning a regional singles title at Marshalltown in spectacular fashion. The senior won three consecutive matches without dropping a single game and even recorded a golden set along the … [Read more...] about ‘Kira was nothing less than perfect’: Smith advances to state without dropping game

Postseason brackets announced for girls’ regional, boys’ substate team tennis

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All four of Ankeny's tennis teams will be in action this weekend in postseason play. Both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' squads have been placed in Class 2A Region 3. The Hawkettes and Jaguars could potentially meet in the regional final, but would have to pull off an upset or two first in order for that to happen. Ankeny (3-8) will host … [Read more...] about Postseason brackets announced for girls’ regional, boys’ substate team tennis

Smith, Ankeny girls play their best tennis of season in 9-2 loss at Dowling Catholic

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Although the Ankeny girls' tennis team dropped a pair of 9-2 decisions to Urbandale on Thursday and Dowling Catholic on Friday, the two meets could not have been any more different. That was the assessment of Ankeny coach Steve Smith, who said his team followed an uninspired performance against the J-Hawks by playing its best tennis of the season 24 hours … [Read more...] about Smith, Ankeny girls play their best tennis of season in 9-2 loss at Dowling Catholic

TENNIS ROUNDUP: Ankeny’s Smith beats another top-10 foe despite cramping

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Ankeny senior Kira Smith proved again on Tuesday that she's one of the state's top girls' tennis players--even when she's not 100 percent. Smith provided the Hawkettes' lone victory during a 10-1 loss to visiting Waukee Northwest. She posted a 7-6 (3), 6-2 triumph over Riley Hilton at No. 1 singles. "Kira started cramping after she went up 3-0 in the … [Read more...] about TENNIS ROUNDUP: Ankeny’s Smith beats another top-10 foe despite cramping

‘It was pretty cool to play at ISU’s facility’: Ankeny girls drop 7-4 decision to Bobcats

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Friday's Ankeny Quadrangular girls' tennis tournament didn't go as planned due to the rain. "We started our first meet in Ankeny against undefeated Marshalltown, but the rain forced us to move to Iowa State’s bubble and limited the event to just that meet," said Ankeny coach Steve Smith, whose team was also slated to play Dallas Center-Grimes and … [Read more...] about ‘It was pretty cool to play at ISU’s facility’: Ankeny girls drop 7-4 decision to Bobcats

‘It’s always fun to sweep a team’: Ankeny girls blank Rams for 1st shutout in 3 years

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For the first time in three years, the Ankeny girls' tennis team posted an 11-0 shutout on Tuesday. The Hawkettes dominated a CIML Conference meet at Southeast Polk to keep the Rams winless. Coach Steve Smith's team improved to 2-3 in the league and 3-4 overall, while Southeast Polk's records dropped to 0-5 and 0-6. It was Ankeny's first shutout since … [Read more...] about ‘It’s always fun to sweep a team’: Ankeny girls blank Rams for 1st shutout in 3 years

TENNIS ROUNDUP: Ankeny, Centennial squads get swept by Johnston, Dowling

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Tuesday was a rough night for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial tennis teams. All four squads suffered losses in CIML Conference play. At the Prairie Ridge courts, the Ankeny boys' team dropped an 11-0 decision to Johnston while the Centennial girls' squad was blanked by Dowling Catholic, 11-0. It was the fourth consecutive shutout loss for the Jaguars, … [Read more...] about TENNIS ROUNDUP: Ankeny, Centennial squads get swept by Johnston, Dowling

TENNIS ROUNDUP: Ankeny teams tumble to Waukee by same score, similar fashion

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The Ankeny tennis teams both lost to Waukee, 7-4, in CIML Conference action on Thursday. In both meets, the Warriors won four of the five doubles matches to seal the victory. In the girls' meet at Ankeny, the Hawkettes got singles wins from Sophie Schmitz, Olivia North and Satviki Gorrela. After dropping the first set, Schmitz rallied from a 4-1 deficit … [Read more...] about TENNIS ROUNDUP: Ankeny teams tumble to Waukee by same score, similar fashion

‘It was definitely fun’: Hawkettes defeat Centennial girls in Pink Out event, 8-3

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For only the second time ever, the Ankeny girls' tennis team earned a win against its crosstown rival. The Hawkettes posted an 8-3 victory over Ankeny Centennial on Tuesday at the Prairie Ridge courts, avenging last year's loss by the same score. They are now 1-1 in the CIML Conference and 2-2 overall, while the Jaguars' records dropped to 0-2 in the … [Read more...] about ‘It was definitely fun’: Hawkettes defeat Centennial girls in Pink Out event, 8-3

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kira Smith, Ankeny girls’ tennis

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Senior Kira Smith is a two-time state qualifier for the Ankeny girls' tennis team. She has rejoined the program after spending the last 1 1/2 years at the Gomez Tennis Academy in Naples, Fla. Smith placed fourth in singles in Class 2A as a freshman in 2022, equaling the highest finish ever by an Ankeny player. She posted a 20-3 record, then went 12-6 as a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kira Smith, Ankeny girls’ tennis