Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Spring

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Acacia Biehl, Ankeny girls’ soccer

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Senior Acacia Biehl helped the Ankeny girls' soccer team to the Class 3A state championship in 2019. She had one goal and three assists for the Hawkettes. Biehl has committed to play for Wartburg College in the fall. Here is some inside info on Biehl: You have an interesting first name. Is there a story behind how you got it? My parents have … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Acacia Biehl, Ankeny girls’ soccer

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Reilly Johnson, Ankeny girls’ tennis

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Senior Reilly Johnson helped the Ankeny girls' tennis team to a 6-9 record in 2019. She was the team's No. 4 or 5 player most of the season. Johnson was also a member of the Ankeny volleyball team, helping the Hawkettes to a 37-6 mark last fall. She racked up 127 kills, 34 blocks and 41 digs. Here is some inside info on Johnson: Even though your … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Reilly Johnson, Ankeny girls’ tennis

Ankeny Fanatic Preps of the Week: Claire Beath and Rachel Moore, girls’ golf

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Claire Beath is a member of the Ankeny Centennial girls' golf team, while fellow senior Rachel Moore plays for crosstown rival Ankeny. Their 2020 season was wiped out due to the coronavirus. Beath posted an average score of 56.9 strokes as a junior. Moore finished the 2019 season with a 59.4 average. Here is some inside info on the duo: Even though … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Preps of the Week: Claire Beath and Rachel Moore, girls’ golf

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jacob Baier, Ankeny boys’ track

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Senior Jacob Baier was expected to have a big season for the Ankeny boys' track team. He placed sixth in the discus at last year's Class 4A state meet with a throw of 153 feet 9 inches, helping the Hawks to a sixth-place finish. Baier was also a standout on the football field last fall, when he helped Ankeny to an 8-3 record and a Class 4A quarterfinal … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jacob Baier, Ankeny boys’ track

Ankeny’s Reynolds, Centennial’s Hron to play soccer at Simpson College

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Two more Ankeny-area soccer players have decided to spend the next four years in Indianola. Ankeny senior Ben Reynolds has committed to play for Simpson College. He joins his teammate Colby Cheney, who previously committed to the Storm. "The fact that I already knew Colby was going to Simpson helped me in knowing that I would be going along with a … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Reynolds, Centennial’s Hron to play soccer at Simpson College

First-year coaches Varnum, Espinosa deal with devastation of lost season

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Perhaps nobody was more excited to coach his team this spring than Ankeny boys' soccer coach Marcus Varnum. Unless it was Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis coach Armando Espinosa. Both Espinosa and Varnum were first-year head coaches who had their debut seasons wiped out by the coronavirus. Espinosa, the head tennis professional at Ames Fitness Center, … [Read more...] about First-year coaches Varnum, Espinosa deal with devastation of lost season

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Malea Daugherty, Ankeny senior

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Ankeny senior Malea Daugherty has been a standout in three sports--track, volleyball and softball--during her high school career. She helped the Hawkettes reach the semifinals of the Class 5A state volleyball tournament last fall. On the track, Daugherty ran on Ankeny's eighth-place shuttle hurdle relay at last year's Class 4A state meet. She also ran on … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Malea Daugherty, Ankeny senior

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Cade Davis, Ankeny boys’ tennis

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Senior Cade Davis is the top returning player for the Ankeny boys' tennis team. The Wartburg recruit was the squad's No. 1 singles player as a junior, helping the Hawks to a 3-9 record. Davis was also a member of the Ankeny boys' basketball team. The Hawks captured the Class 4A state title last month. Here is some inside info on Davis: We've had … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Cade Davis, Ankeny boys’ tennis

Ankeny’s Brown promoted to head men’s soccer coach at William Penn

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Ankeny girls' soccer coach Simon Brown has been promoted to head men's soccer coach at William Penn University, where he had been the associate head men's and women's coach for the last three years. Brown, who led the Hawkettes to the Class 3A state title in his first season last year, said he hopes to keep both coaching jobs for a long time. "There's … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Brown promoted to head men’s soccer coach at William Penn

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Colby Cheney, Ankeny boys’ soccer

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Senior defender/midfielder Colby Cheney helped the Ankeny boys' soccer team to a 12-7 record last season. The Hawks advanced to the Class 3A state tournament before dropping a 2-1 decision to Iowa City West in the quarterfinals. Cheney has committed to play for Simpson College next year. Here is some inside info on Cheney: What was your reaction … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Colby Cheney, Ankeny boys’ soccer

‘I’ve got more soccer in me’: Ankeny goalkeeper Frederick to play for Simpson

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Ankeny's Brenny Frederick wasn't sure if she wanted to continue playing soccer. Once she decided that she did, it wasn't difficult for the senior goalkeeper to make her future plans. Frederick has committed to play for Simpson College next year. "Playing soccer was the tough decision. Playing for Simpson was an easy decision," said Frederick. … [Read more...] about ‘I’ve got more soccer in me’: Ankeny goalkeeper Frederick to play for Simpson

Ankeny’s Baier chooses track and field over football, signs with Northern Iowa

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While helping the Ankeny football team to an appearance in the Class 4A semifinals last fall, senior offensive lineman Jacob Baier couldn't get the sport of track and field out of his mind. That's when he knew that his future was in the throwing circle. "A year ago if you asked me football or track, I wouldn't have known," said Baier. "What really … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Baier chooses track and field over football, signs with Northern Iowa

Ex-Ankeny player, assistant coach Varnum hired to take over Hawks’ program

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The replacement for Ankeny boys' soccer coach Jordan Burns was already on the Hawks' coaching staff. Assistant coach Marcus Varnum has been hired to take over the program. A former Ankeny player, Varnum helped the Hawks to a 12-7 record last season. "I'm absolutely thrilled," said Varnum. "It's a great opportunity, and I am really pleased and feel very … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny player, assistant coach Varnum hired to take over Hawks’ program

‘Hard to walk away’: Ankeny’s Burns resigns as boys’ soccer coach

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Ankeny boys' soccer coach Jordan Burns has resigned from his position after two seasons at the school. Burns, a native of Scotland, compiled a 29-12 record and guided the Hawks to a pair of state tournament appearances. "It was a very tough decision," said Burns. "It's something that I didn't really want to do, but I had to do. I'm at the point in my … [Read more...] about ‘Hard to walk away’: Ankeny’s Burns resigns as boys’ soccer coach

More all-state honors for Harrington, Kooker, Wee and Wyckoff

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Senior Chloee Kooker and junior Ashley Harrington of Ankeny have been joined by seniors Olivia Wee and Allie Wyckoff of Ankeny Centennial on the girls' Class 3A all-state first team by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association. That quartet previously received first-team honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Kooker, a defender, was also … [Read more...] about More all-state honors for Harrington, Kooker, Wee and Wyckoff

Ankeny star Kooker named Miss Iowa Soccer for 2019

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When the Ankeny girls' soccer team captured the Class 3A state title earlier this month, it appeared to be the perfect way for senior defender Chloee Kooker to close out her illustrious high school career. Kooker was named to the all-tournament team for the second straight year after the Hawkettes won the fourth state championship in school history. She … [Read more...] about Ankeny star Kooker named Miss Iowa Soccer for 2019

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Ryan Safley, Ankeny boys’ soccer

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Ryan Safley is a member of the Ankeny boys' soccer team. The senior helped solidify Ankeny's defense as the Hawks posted a 12-7 record and advanced to the Class 3A state tournament for the third time in four years. "He wasn't a captain, but he was a great leader for us," Ankeny coach Jordan Burns said of Safley. "He stepped up and took over a … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Ryan Safley, Ankeny boys’ soccer

GOAAAAAAAAL!!!! Ankeny girls claim crown on Adamson’s game-winner

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Saige Adamson never thought she'd score the game-winning goal in a state championship soccer game. As a defender, she always figured she'd be the one to stop the other team from scoring. On Saturday, Ankeny's senior captain managed to do both. While recording another clean sheet, Adamson also took advantage of a rare scoring opportunity in the box, … [Read more...] about GOAAAAAAAAL!!!! Ankeny girls claim crown on Adamson’s game-winner

Hawkettes complete ‘revenge season’, capture fourth state title in school history

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The Ankeny girls' soccer players waited 365 days to atone for last year's loss in the Class 3A championship game. It was well worth the wait. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes got a late goal from Saige Adamson and defeated No. 1 Waukee, 1-0, in the Class 3A final on Saturday at Cownie Soccer Complex. They captured the fourth state title in school … [Read more...] about Hawkettes complete ‘revenge season’, capture fourth state title in school history