Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Winter

Williams named to Class 5A all-tourney team after leading Ankeny to semifinals

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Ankeny star Jayla Williams has been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team after leading the Hawkettes to the semifinals of the girls' state basketball tournament. Williams scored 20 points and had four steals in Ankeny's 49-39 loss to top-ranked Johnston in Thursday's semifinals at the Casey's Center. The Dragons went on to capture their third … [Read more...] about Williams named to Class 5A all-tourney team after leading Ankeny to semifinals

Ankeny’s Hawkins earns Class 5A Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship/Award

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Ankeny senior Allison Hawkins was the recipient of the Class 5A Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship/Award during the girls' basketball state tournament on Friday night at the Casey's Center. Hawkins helped Ankeny to its first state tournament appearance since 2013. The Hawkettes advanced to the Class 5A semifinals before dropping a 49-39 decision to … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Hawkins earns Class 5A Student Athlete Achievement Scholarship/Award

‘We gave it our all’: Hawkettes put scare into Johnston before falling in semifinals

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There was no reason for Ankeny seniors Ainsley Kiene and Jayla Williams to shed any tears while they answered questions from reporters in the media interview room on Thursday at the girls' state basketball tournament. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes had left it all out on the court at the Casey's Center, where they dropped a 49-39 decision to No. 1 Johnston in … [Read more...] about ‘We gave it our all’: Hawkettes put scare into Johnston before falling in semifinals

‘We just didn’t have enough’: Hawks get 41 points from Aguirre in loss to No. 3 Wolves

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Ankeny basketball star Rio Aguirre didn't want his high school career to come to an end just yet. But neither did the seniors on a potent Waukee Northwest boys' squad. The third-ranked Wolves overcame a career-high 41 points from Aguirre to defeat visiting Ankeny, 82-64, in a Class 4A substate final on Tuesday. "I'm definitely super proud of our … [Read more...] about ‘We just didn’t have enough’: Hawks get 41 points from Aguirre in loss to No. 3 Wolves

Ankeny girls surge past Warriors behind barrage of 3s from Baldwin, Schaapveld

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team relied heavily on all-state guard Jayla Williams to reach the state tournament for the first time since 2013. But on a day when Williams became the program's all-time leading scorer, it was the squad's supporting cast who led a second-half charge that lifted the sixth-ranked Hawkettes into the Class 5A semifinals at the … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls surge past Warriors behind barrage of 3s from Baldwin, Schaapveld

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jayla Williams, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Senior guard Jayla Williams has led the sixth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 15-8 record. The Creighton recruit ranks among the leaders in Class 5A in scoring (21.1 points), steals (3.5) and field goals made (8.1) per game. Williams scored 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out six assists as Ankeny rolled to a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jayla Williams, Ankeny girls’ basketball

Aguirre records rare triple-double, leads Hawks to rout over Valley in substate play

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There was no chance that Rio Aguirre and the Ankeny boys' basketball team were going to overlook their first opponent in postseason play. CIML Conference rival Valley entered Friday's game at Ankeny with just two wins, but the Tigers were still the three-time defending Class 4A state champions. And, they were riding the momentum of a 62-59 triumph at … [Read more...] about Aguirre records rare triple-double, leads Hawks to rout over Valley in substate play

‘It’s so incredible!’: Ankeny routs S.C. East, advances to state for first time since 2013

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After 13 years, the wait is officially over. The Ankeny girls' basketball team is headed to the state tournament. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes ended their drought by defeating No. 11 Sioux City East, 60-30, in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Ankeny. “It’s so incredible!” senior guard Ainsley Kiene said with a … [Read more...] about ‘It’s so incredible!’: Ankeny routs S.C. East, advances to state for first time since 2013

Hawkettes rout S.C. North, advance to regional final for 6th consecutive year

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team moved one step closer toward ending its state tournament drought. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes rolled to a 57-21 victory over visiting Sioux City North in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. They are now one win away from advancing to the state tournament for the first time since 2013--before the community of Ankeny … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rout S.C. North, advance to regional final for 6th consecutive year

Rathjen earns runner-up medal after falling, 4-2, to longtime training partner

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It was the kind of match that you'd expect between two wrestlers who have been training partners for several years. When Ankeny sophomore Calvin Rathjen and Indianola junior Mac Crosson battled for the Class 3A 165-pound championship on Saturday night at the Casey's Center, both competitors knew that one takedown--or one mistake--could decide the … [Read more...] about Rathjen earns runner-up medal after falling, 4-2, to longtime training partner

Vandermark, Walsh close out high school wrestling careers with 4th-place finishes

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Seniors Cale Vandermark of Ankeny Centennial at 126 pounds and Ben Walsh of Ankeny at 120 closed out their high school wrestling careers with fourth-place finishes in the Class 3A state tournament on Saturday at the Casey's Center. Centennial also got a sixth-place finish from senior Brandon Bogseth at 215. Junior Ethan Sodergren took seventh for the … [Read more...] about Vandermark, Walsh close out high school wrestling careers with 4th-place finishes

Ankeny’s Rathjen, Centennial’s Dhabolt to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night

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Ankeny Centennial junior Max Dhabolt is one win away from capturing a second consecutive state wrestling title. Sophomore Calvin Rathjen of Ankeny has a chance to claim his first crown. Both standouts advanced to Saturday's championship matches with dominant performances on Friday night in the Class 3A semifinals at the Casey's Center. The … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Rathjen, Centennial’s Dhabolt to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night

Hawks top No. 3 Dowling in season finale, spoil Maroons’ bid for share of CIML crown

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) In less than two weeks, there’s a chance that the Ankeny boys' basketball team’s path to a state tournament appearance will run through Waukee Northwest. But the Hawks tossed fourth-ranked Northwest and No. 2 Waukee an assist to close out the regular season. Ankeny used a pair of big runs in the second and third quarters … [Read more...] about Hawks top No. 3 Dowling in season finale, spoil Maroons’ bid for share of CIML crown

Walsh, Rathjen advance to semifinals, but Hawks fall into tie for 12th in Class 3A

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The Ankeny wrestling team advanced the third-seeded duo of Ben Walsh and Calvin Rathjen into Friday night's semifinals of the Class 3A state tournament at the Casey's Center. The Hawks have scored 52.5 points, but their hopes for a top-10 finish took a major hit on Thursday when all five of their wrestlers in the consolation bracket were eliminated from … [Read more...] about Walsh, Rathjen advance to semifinals, but Hawks fall into tie for 12th in Class 3A

Hawks sit in 10th place in Class 3A; Jags advance 4 wrestlers into quarterfinals

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The Ankeny wrestling team sits in 10th place with 34.5 points heading into the second day of the Class 3A state tournament at the Casey's Center. Crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial, meanwhile, bounced back from a winless opening round on Wednesday to advance four wrestlers into Thursday's quarterfinals. The Jaguars are tied for 22nd place with 23 … [Read more...] about Hawks sit in 10th place in Class 3A; Jags advance 4 wrestlers into quarterfinals

‘I’m back feeling really confident’: Hawks end slide behind Campbell’s career night

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(Story by Jordan Wood) Not to be overshadowed by the earlier news of a substate No. 2 seed, the Ankeny boys' basketball team bounced back from a humbling 0-3 week to dominate visiting Dallas Center-Grimes, 78-51, in a non-conference game on Monday. The result won’t do much for their standing as they approach the postseason, but it is likely to give the … [Read more...] about ‘I’m back feeling really confident’: Hawks end slide behind Campbell’s career night

‘I thought we battled through adversity’: Ankeny bowlers take 5th at district meet

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A tough field awaited the Ankeny boys' bowling team in a Class 3A district meet on Monday. It was going to take a huge performance at Wayward Social in Marshalltown for Ankeny to qualify for the state tournament. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Coach Adam Booth's team placed fifth among the eight squads with a score of 2,713. "After a three-hour … [Read more...] about ‘I thought we battled through adversity’: Ankeny bowlers take 5th at district meet

Boys’ substate pairings announced: Hawks, Jaguars receive tough draws

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Both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams received tough postseason draws from the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The Class 4A substate pairings were announced on Monday. The Hawks (9-10) are the No. 2 seed in Substate 3, while the Jaguars (7-12) are the No. 3 seed in Substate 2. Centennial will host a substate quarterfinal … [Read more...] about Boys’ substate pairings announced: Hawks, Jaguars receive tough draws

THE MADNESS BEGINS: State wrestling tourney brackets announced by IHSAA

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The Class 3A state wrestling tournament brackets have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Four of Ankeny Centennial's 10 qualifiers earned a top-eight seed and will receive a first-round bye. Two of Ankeny's nine qualifiers earned a No. 3 seed and will also receive a first-round bye. The Class 3A tournament begins on Wednesday … [Read more...] about THE MADNESS BEGINS: State wrestling tourney brackets announced by IHSAA