Ankeny Fanatic

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Girls' Tennis

‘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

Depleted Ankeny girls’ team edges Ottumwa for its first victory of season

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Even without its top player, the Ankeny girls' tennis team split a pair of non-conference meets on Thursday and Friday. The Hawkettes dropped a 7-2 decision at Waterloo Columbus on Thursday before rebounding with a 6-5 victory over visiting Ottumwa on Friday. They are now 1-2 on the season. Ankeny played without senior Kira Smith, who suffered an … [Read more...] about Depleted Ankeny girls’ team edges Ottumwa for its first victory of season

‘Our team did a great job of competing’: Hawkettes open with 9-2 loss to Valley

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In its first test of the season, the Ankeny girls' tennis team dropped a 9-2 decision to visiting Valley in a CIML Conference matchup on Tuesday. It was also the season opener for the Tigers, who won five of the six singles matches and four of the five doubles matches. "We’ve been having extremely intense practices the first two weeks to attempt to … [Read more...] about ‘Our team did a great job of competing’: Hawkettes open with 9-2 loss to Valley

Ankeny girls’ team returns several players, adds 2-time state qualifier Smith to lineup

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The Ankeny girls' tennis team has been strengthened by the addition of a two-time state qualifier. She's also a familiar face to the program. Senior Kira Smith, the daughter of Ankeny coach Steve Smith, has rejoined the squad after spending last year at a tennis academy in Florida. "She’s home this semester so she can graduate from Ankeny High … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ team returns several players, adds 2-time state qualifier Smith to lineup

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

‘We had no double bagels’: Hawkettes fight hard in 5-0 loss to No. 4 Valley girls

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The Ankeny girls' tennis squad closed out its season on Tuesday with a 5-0 loss to fourth-ranked Valley in the semifinals of a Class 2A regional team tournament at Crossroads Park. The Hawkettes, who did not play Valley during the regular season, finished with a 4-9 record. "Overall, I thought we played well," said Ankeny coach Steve Smith. "When a … [Read more...] about ‘We had no double bagels’: Hawkettes fight hard in 5-0 loss to No. 4 Valley girls

Ankeny girls edge Roughriders, will play No. 4 Valley in regional semifinal Tuesday

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The Ankeny girls' tennis team will get a shot at CIML Conference rival Valley after all. The Hawkettes won two of the three doubles matches to beat visiting Des Moines Roosevelt, 5-4, in the quarterfinals of a Class 2A regional team tournament on Friday. The Roughriders finished the season with a 6-4 record. Ankeny (4-8) will play No. 4 Valley (9-3) in … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls edge Roughriders, will play No. 4 Valley in regional semifinal Tuesday

‘It was a solid performance’: Schmitz places 4th in singles at regional tourney

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Ankeny girls' tennis coach Steve Smith knew it would be difficult for any of his players to qualify for the Class 2A state tournament. But that didn't make it any easier for him to watch it unfold. "Your heart always goes out to your seniors when they don’t qualify in their last chance to make state," said Smith. "That being said, overall it was a … [Read more...] about ‘It was a solid performance’: Schmitz places 4th in singles at regional tourney

‘We had some amazing performances’: Hawkettes win twice on Senior Day

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It was a memorable Senior Day for the Ankeny girls' tennis team on Friday. The Hawkettes defeated two of their three opponents in the Ankeny Invitational, highlighted by a 6-5 win over previously unbeaten Marshalltown. The Bobcats are now 13-1 on the season. "We had some amazing performances," said Ankeny coach Steve Smith, whose team also posted a 9-2 … [Read more...] about ‘We had some amazing performances’: Hawkettes win twice on Senior Day

Ankeny girls split singles matches at Urbandale, but eventually suffer 6-3 loss

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The Ankeny girls' tennis team dropped a 6-3 decision at Urbandale in a rain-shortened meet on Wednesday. After the two squads split the six singles matches, Urbandale posted wins at Nos. 3, 4 and 5 doubles to seal the victory. The Nos. 1 and 2 matches were not completed. The J-Hawks improved to 3-4 in the CIML Conference and 7-4 overall. Ankeny's … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls split singles matches at Urbandale, but eventually suffer 6-3 loss

‘It was a fabulous tribute’: Jaguars coach Lewton honored before Pink Out meet

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Ankeny Centennial boys' tennis coach Tami Lewton has been a driving force behind the annual Pink Out meet between Ankeny's crosstown rivals. On Thursday, it was time for the tennis community to give something back to Lewton. Prior to the Pink Out meet at the Prairie Ridge courts, Lewton was honored in an emotional ceremony. She has spent much of the … [Read more...] about ‘It was a fabulous tribute’: Jaguars coach Lewton honored before Pink Out meet

Hawkettes fall to Waukee Northwest, will face rival Centennial on Thursday

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The Ankeny girls' tennis team ran into another tough opponent on Tuesday. The Hawkettes traveled to Waukee Northwest for a CIML Conference meet and dropped a 10-1 decision to the No. 7 Wolves, who won nine of the 11 matches in straight sets. "Consistent with the theme of this season, we played another great team in extremely windy conditions," said … [Read more...] about Hawkettes fall to Waukee Northwest, will face rival Centennial on Thursday

‘It was good for our team to win their first meet’: Ankeny girls defeat S.E. Polk, 7-4

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The Ankeny girls' tennis team earned its first win of the season by defeating visiting Southeast Polk, 7-4, on Friday. The Hawkettes won four of the six singles matches and three of the five doubles contests. "Our top four players didn’t drop a set in singles or doubles," said Ankeny coach Steve Smith. "(The No. 5 doubles team of) Paige Ford and … [Read more...] about ‘It was good for our team to win their first meet’: Ankeny girls defeat S.E. Polk, 7-4