Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Winter

‘I want to win a state dual championship’: Wignall sets lofty goal for Hawk wrestlers

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall is setting a huge goal for the Hawks this season. "I told the kids I want to win a state dual championship," said Wignall. "If we can't talk about it and set the bar high, then we will never do it. We talked about that the very first day of practice." Wignall's team posted a 17-6 dual record a year ago, including a … [Read more...] about ‘I want to win a state dual championship’: Wignall sets lofty goal for Hawk wrestlers

Baldwin, Schaapveld ignite Hawkettes’ fast start in win over Des Moines Christian

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A fast start lifted the eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 59-41 victory over visiting Des Moines Christian in a non-conference game on Monday. The Hawkettes (2-0) made five 3-point goals in the first quarter, three of them by Reagan Baldwin in the first 2 minutes 30 seconds, and jumped out to a 22-12 lead. Des Moines Christian (2-1), the … [Read more...] about Baldwin, Schaapveld ignite Hawkettes’ fast start in win over Des Moines Christian

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Reagan Baldwin, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Senior forward Reagan Baldwin made a pair of 3-point goals and scored eight points to help the eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 51-32 victory at Ames in its season opener on Nov. 22. Baldwin helped the Hawkettes to a 10-13 record as a junior, when she averaged 6.5 points per game and led the team with 40 3-pointers. She shot 38.5 percent … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Reagan Baldwin, Ankeny girls’ basketball

‘We can make a run at a trophy’: Talented Hawks return Aguirre, 3 other starters

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Ankeny boys' basketball standout Rio Aguirre proved a year ago that he can carry a team. Now, the senior guard will have to do it all over again--perhaps with even more attention from opposing defenses. Aguirre is one of four returning starters from a team that posted a 10-12 record last season. The others are senior forward Kael Roush, senior guard … [Read more...] about ‘We can make a run at a trophy’: Talented Hawks return Aguirre, 3 other starters

Pearson wins 50 butterfly, leads Ankeny boys to 5th-place finish at Sprint Invite

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The Ankeny boys' swimming team was only three points away from reaching its goal. Coach Dustin Rhoads' squad opened the season on Tuesday by placing fifth among eight teams in the Ankeny Sprint Invitational at Trail Point Aquatics Center. Ankeny scored 293.5 points and finished just behind fourth-place Dowling Catholic, which ended up with 296. "This … [Read more...] about Pearson wins 50 butterfly, leads Ankeny boys to 5th-place finish at Sprint Invite

‘I am excited for this group’: Ankeny boys’ swimming team returns 6 state qualifiers

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It won't be easy to replace the duo of Brock Peterson and Finn Stukerjurgen, but the Ankeny boys' swimming team returns a solid nucleus from last year's squad. Six state qualifiers are back from a team that tied with Dowling Catholic for 13th place in the state meet with 67 points. "It will be tough to replace Finn and Brock and the impact they … [Read more...] about ‘I am excited for this group’: Ankeny boys’ swimming team returns 6 state qualifiers

‘It wasn’t always pretty’: Hawkettes top Ames in turnover-plagued season opener

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Jayla Williams scored 20 points and had eight of her team's 20 steals as the eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball squad opened its season on Saturday with a 51-32 victory at Ames. Both teams used a full-court press to turn the non-conference game into a ragged affair. There were 54 combined turnovers and 50 deflections, according to Ankeny coach Nate … [Read more...] about ‘It wasn’t always pretty’: Hawkettes top Ames in turnover-plagued season opener

Dietz shines as Ankeny girls’ bowling squad falls to Waukee in season opener

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Brooklyn Dietz tied her career-high with a 326 series, but it wasn't enough as the Ankeny girls' bowling team opened its season on Thursday with a loss to Waukee in a CIML Conference dual meet at B-Roll Bowling. The Warriors won the meet by a score of 2,304 to 1,938. "I was pleased with how we bowled for our first meet," said Ankeny coach Adam Booth. … [Read more...] about Dietz shines as Ankeny girls’ bowling squad falls to Waukee in season opener

‘We have more depth than ever before’: Hawkettes enter season with high hopes

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team may not have to rely quite as heavily this winter on all-state guard Jayla Williams. Saturday's season opener at Ames could be an opportunity for Ankeny coach Nate Tobey to show off his deeper bench. The Hawkettes rolled past Ames, 66-28, in last year's opener. Tip-off for the matinee is at 2:30 p.m. "We have more … [Read more...] about ‘We have more depth than ever before’: Hawkettes enter season with high hopes

Ankeny girls are No. 8 in preseason Class 5A basketball rankings from IGHSAU

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team is eighth in the preseason Class 5A rankings released on Wednesday by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Ankeny returns four starters from a team that posted a 10-13 record last year, led by all-state guard and Creighton commit Jayla Williams. The Hawkettes will open their season on Saturday with a non-conference … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls are No. 8 in preseason Class 5A basketball rankings from IGHSAU

‘We have really good athletes to work with’: Booth takes over as bowling coach

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The high school bowling season will have a different look this winter. While the girls' teams have already been practicing since early November, the boys' squads didn't begin practice until this week. The Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association will hold separate state tournaments at the end of the … [Read more...] about ‘We have really good athletes to work with’: Booth takes over as bowling coach

‘I see it being a really good fit’: Ankeny star Aguirre commits to play for Sioux Falls

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Ankeny basketball star Rio Aguirre has verbally committed to play for the University of Sioux Falls. Aguirre, a guard, will join the Cougars' program in the fall of 2026. "I had been on a few other visits, but I don’t think this was a tough decision for me at all," said Aguirre. "(Assistant) coach (Drew) Guebert and (head) coach (Chris) Johnson really … [Read more...] about ‘I see it being a really good fit’: Ankeny star Aguirre commits to play for Sioux Falls

‘I hope I can make an impact there’: Williams picks Bluejays over Buffaloes

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After narrowing down her list of schools to a top five, Ankeny basketball standout Jayla Williams picked the one that was closest to home. Even though the location wasn't much of a factor. "I actually didn't really want to go that close to home," Williams said on Tuesday after committing to play for Creighton. The senior-to-be is considered Iowa's … [Read more...] about ‘I hope I can make an impact there’: Williams picks Bluejays over Buffaloes

Ankeny basketball standout Williams verbally commits to play for Creighton

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One of Iowa's top girls' basketball players in the Class of 2026 has made her college decision. Ankeny wing Jayla Williams announced on Tuesday she has verbally committed to Creighton. The senior-to-be held more than a dozen offers from Division I schools and had previously narrowed her list down to five schools, which also included Colorado, Columbia, … [Read more...] about Ankeny basketball standout Williams verbally commits to play for Creighton

IHSAA: Boys’ state basketball tournament will move to Hilton Coliseum in 2027

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Hilton Magic is coming to the Iowa boys' state basketball tournament. Here is a press release from the Iowa High School Athletic Association announcing that its annual hoops tournament will move to Hilton Coliseum in Ames beginning in 2027: A century after playing championships inside State Gym, the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and … [Read more...] about IHSAA: Boys’ state basketball tournament will move to Hilton Coliseum in 2027

Ankeny’s Aguirre named to boys’ Class 4A all-state 2nd team by IBCA and IPSWA

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Ankeny boys' basketball standout Rio Aguirre has been named to the Class 4A all-state second team by the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association and the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. Aguirre, a junior guard, led the Hawks to a 10-12 record this season. He was earlier a unanimous pick to the CIML Conference first team. Aguirre averaged a team-high … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Aguirre named to boys’ Class 4A all-state 2nd team by IBCA and IPSWA

Ankeny’s Aguirre among 4 unanimous picks to boys’ CIML Conference first team

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Ankeny boys' basketball standout Rio Aguirre has been unanimously selected to the CIML Conference first team. Aguirre, a junior guard, led the Hawks to a 10-12 record this season. He averaged a team-high 20.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game--the only player in Class 4A to average 20, 5 and 5 in those three categories. Aguirre also led his … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Aguirre among 4 unanimous picks to boys’ CIML Conference first team

Crawford, Pratt, Williams earn all-state honors from Iowa Print Sports Writers

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Girls' basketball standouts Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt of Ankeny Centennial have earned some more all-state honors along with Ankeny star Jayla Williams. Crawford was a repeat selection to the Class 5A first team by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. Pratt was named to the Class 5A second team for the third consecutive year, while Williams was … [Read more...] about Crawford, Pratt, Williams earn all-state honors from Iowa Print Sports Writers

Crawford again named to 5A 1st team; Two others earn repeat 2nd-team honors

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There were a lot of familiar names on the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association's all-state girls' basketball teams that were announced on Monday. Some of the players were named to the same squads for the second year in a row, including senior stars Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt of Ankeny Centennial and versatile junior Jayla Williams of Ankeny. Crawford was … [Read more...] about Crawford again named to 5A 1st team; Two others earn repeat 2nd-team honors