Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Winter

Ankeny girls look for up-tempo attack to overcome lack of height

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When the Ankeny girls' basketball team opens the season on Friday against visiting Mason City, the Hawkettes will try to make up for their lack of height with an up-tempo attack. Ankeny will no longer be able to rely on all-state forward Sara McCullough, who is now playing for Northern Iowa. The Hawkettes will also be without junior forward Abby Johnson … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls look for up-tempo attack to overcome lack of height

‘I can’t wait to wear the Black and Gold!”: Ankeny’s Rathjen chooses Hawkeyes

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Ankeny's Caleb Rathjen wrestles with an aggressive mentality that fits perfectly with the Iowa wrestling style. In a couple of years, Rathjen will get his chance to wrestle for the Hawkeyes. Rathjen announced on Thursday via Twitter that he has verbally committed to join Iowa's program in 2021. "I'm very proud and excited to announce my commitment … [Read more...] about ‘I can’t wait to wear the Black and Gold!”: Ankeny’s Rathjen chooses Hawkeyes

Ankeny’s Kallem to wrestle for NAIA powerhouse Grand View

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Ankeny wrestler Sam Kallem has decided to follow in the footsteps of former teammate Killyan Green. Kallem announced earlier this week via Twitter that he has verbally committed to Grand View, where Green is a sophomore on the Vikings' roster. "I'd like to announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at Grand View University!" … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Kallem to wrestle for NAIA powerhouse Grand View

Ankeny boys’ quartet, Rumley earn all-American swimming honors

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Five Ankeny swimmers have received all-American honors from the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association for the 2018-19 season. Boys' standouts Trent Frandson, Max Martin, Jae Swanepoel and Adam Vaske were honored along with girls' standout Jasmine Rumley. Frandson, a sophomore, earned all-American honors in four events. He led the Hawks to … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys’ quartet, Rumley earn all-American swimming honors

Ankeny’s Rathjen places 4th at Cadet freestyle world team trials

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Caleb Rathjen proved once again this weekend that he belongs on the national wrestling stage. The Ankeny High School junior-to-be placed fourth at 60 kilos (132 pounds) in the Cadet freestyle world team trials at Akron, Ohio. He posted a 6-2 record at the trials, which were held at the Louis and Freda Stile Athletic Field House. "I thought my … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Rathjen places 4th at Cadet freestyle world team trials

Centennial’s Owens to join ISU wrestling program as preferred walk-on

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Eric Owens celebrated his birthday on Wednesday night with a trip to Hickory Park. In the next few years, the Ankeny Centennial senior will have plenty of opportunities to visit the landmark Ames restaurant. Owens verbally committed earlier this week to wrestle for Iowa State next year. He will join the Cyclones' program as a preferred walk-on. "It … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Owens to join ISU wrestling program as preferred walk-on

Anderson, Rathjen drop overtime matches in War at West Gym

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Ankeny wrestling standouts Trever Anderson and Caleb Rathjen both participated in the War at West Gym on Saturday in Cedar Falls. The state champion duo both competed for Team Blue, which suffered a 32-10 loss to Team Red. The event featured 26 of the state's top boys' and girls' wrestlers. The meet was sponsored by IAWrestle.com. Anderson dropped a … [Read more...] about Anderson, Rathjen drop overtime matches in War at West Gym

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Caleb Grizzle, ACA boys’ basketball

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Senior center Caleb Grizzle led the Ankeny Christian Academy boys' basketball team to a 23-1 record. He had 15 points, nine rebounds, seven blocks and four assists as the Eagles ended their season with a 58-56 loss to Council Bluffs St. Albert in a Class 1A substate final on Feb. 25 at Adel. The 6-foot-7 Grizzle averaged a team-high 17.0 points, 8.3 … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Caleb Grizzle, ACA boys’ basketball

Ankeny duo named to all-conference first team along with McCullough

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The CIML Central Conference boys' basketball first team includes a trio of players from Ankeny. Senior guard Dillon Carlson and junior guard Braxton Bayless of Ankeny were both named to the team along with junior forward Cody McCullough of Ankeny Centennial. The all-conference teams were selected by the league's coaches. Bayless led the Hawks to a 13-8 … [Read more...] about Ankeny duo named to all-conference first team along with McCullough

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Isabelle Vacek, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Isabelle Vacek was one of the top reserves on the Ankeny girls' basketball team. The junior post player helped the Hawkettes to a 9-12 record this season. She scored a career-high 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 63-24 victory over visiting Des Moines North on Nov. 27. Vacek averaged 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. She made 63.9 … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Isabelle Vacek, Ankeny girls’ basketball

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Drake Bennett, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Drake Bennett is a member of the Ankeny boys' basketball team. The senior forward helped Ankeny to a 13-8 record, including a 5-5 mark in the CIML Central Conference. The Hawks ended their season with a 68-64 loss to visiting Des Moines Roosevelt in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal on Monday. Bennett averaged 2.0 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. He … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Drake Bennett, Ankeny boys’ basketball

Late rally falls short; Hawks end season with loss to Roosevelt

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Every time the Ankeny boys' basketball team suffered a loss this season, head coach Brant Carlson was hoping that it would be a learning lesson for the Hawks. When Ankeny closed out the regular season on Friday with a 71-68 loss at Mason City, Carlson was again hoping that his team could bounce back with the start of postseason play three days … [Read more...] about Late rally falls short; Hawks end season with loss to Roosevelt

Postseason play begins tonight at home for Hawks, Jaguars

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If the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams want to experience some March Madness, they'll first have to pull off some upsets in February. Both squads will begin postseason play on Monday at home, but the Hawks and Jaguars will then likely have to defeat two higher-seeded teams to qualify for the state tournament, which will be held on … [Read more...] about Postseason play begins tonight at home for Hawks, Jaguars

SOLID GOLD: Ankeny’s Rathjen, Anderson capture state wrestling titles

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall waited six years to crown his first individual state champion. He only had to wait about 30 minutes for his second one. Ankeny's top-ranked duo of Trever Anderson and Caleb Rathjen each won a title in the Class 3A state tournament on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena, leading the Hawks to their best finish since the … [Read more...] about SOLID GOLD: Ankeny’s Rathjen, Anderson capture state wrestling titles

McCullough scores 1,000th career point in Hawkettes’ season-ending loss to East

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Dru McAnelly is a big fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, who defeated Rutgers on Saturday on a miracle 3-pointer at the buzzer. About 30 minutes before Joe Weiskamp banked in the game-winner for the Hawkeyes from the corner, McAnelly's Ankeny girls' basketball team was in a similar position, down two points with the ball in the final seconds. However, the … [Read more...] about McCullough scores 1,000th career point in Hawkettes’ season-ending loss to East

Ankeny’s Kallem earns 7th-place finish at state wrestling tourney

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Sam Kallem got a taste of what the state wrestling tournament is all about this week. The Ankeny junior is looking to go back for more next year. The seventh-ranked Kallem earned a seventh-place finish in Class 3A at 132 pounds on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. He posted a 7-1 decision over No. 8 Christian Stanek of Cedar Rapids Xavier in the … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Kallem earns 7th-place finish at state wrestling tourney

Hawks stumble to 71-68 loss at Mason City in regular-season finale

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Fortunately for the Ankeny boys' basketball team, Friday's game at Mason City was essentially meaningless. The Hawks dropped a 71-68 decision in their regular-season finale, giving them a couple of days to prepare for Monday's Class 4A substate quarterfinal against visiting Des Moines Roosevelt. "It wasn't fun at all, but what do you do?" said … [Read more...] about Hawks stumble to 71-68 loss at Mason City in regular-season finale

Anderson, Rathjen could capture twin titles for Hawk wrestlers

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Ankeny's Caleb Rathjen watched from the bowels of Wells Fargo Arena as Trever Anderson turned in a dominating performance in the semifinals of the Class 3A state wrestling tournament on Friday afternoon. A few minutes later, Rathjen joined his teammate in earning a trip to Saturday night's finals, giving the top-ranked duo a chance to capture twin … [Read more...] about Anderson, Rathjen could capture twin titles for Hawk wrestlers