Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Top Sports Stories

‘I was kind of just locked in’: Workhorse Alberhasky leads Wartburg to ARC crown

by

During his high school career on the Ankeny Centennial baseball team, Emerson Alberhasky was often overshadowed by fellow 2024 graduate Joey Oakie, who is now pitching in the Cleveland Guardians' organization. Now, Alberhasky has become a star on the mound, too. The sophomore righthander recorded seven strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings to lead Wartburg … [Read more...] about ‘I was kind of just locked in’: Workhorse Alberhasky leads Wartburg to ARC crown

Ex-Jaguar star Miller named freshman athlete of the year at Wayne State College

by

Former Ankeny Centennial volleyball star Delaney Miller has been named the freshman athlete of the year at Wayne State College. Miller, an outside hitter, enjoyed a record-setting freshman season last fall. She was earlier selected to the 2025 Division II all-American third team by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Miller led Wayne State and … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguar star Miller named freshman athlete of the year at Wayne State College

‘UND felt right during the visit’: Ex-Jaguar star Winkel commits to Fighting Hawks

by

It didn't take long for Luke Winkel to find a landing spot. The former Ankeny Centennial basketball star has committed to play for North Dakota, a member of the Summit League. The sophomore guard will make the jump to Division I after spending his first two years at Division II St. Cloud State. "I received a lot of interest from a lot of great … [Read more...] about ‘UND felt right during the visit’: Ex-Jaguar star Winkel commits to Fighting Hawks

Ex-Ankeny lefty Winfrey selected Pitcher of the Week in Southland Conference

by

After a 2-0 weekend in the circle to secure the conference series over Houston Christian, former Ankeny pitcher Kendra Winfrey of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team took home Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week honors, the league office announced on Monday. Winfrey was pivotal in the Islanders' series at HCU, tossing a complete game to … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny lefty Winfrey selected Pitcher of the Week in Southland Conference

Rathjen’s run at NCAA Championships comes to end short of blood round

by

Caleb Rathjen's run at the NCAA Division I Championships came to an end on Friday at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, one match shy of reaching the crucial blood round. The former Ankeny wrestling star dropped a 10-1 major decision to 21st-seeded Gabe Willochel of Wyoming in a third-round consolation match at 149 pounds. Rathjen, a Northern Iowa senior who was … [Read more...] about Rathjen’s run at NCAA Championships comes to end short of blood round

‘I have officially entered into the transfer portal’: Winkel likely headed to Division I

by

Former Ankeny Centennial basketball star Luke Winkel is looking for a new home. The St. Cloud State sophomore guard announced his departure via social media on Thursday. "I have officially entered into the transfer portal," Winkel tweeted on X. Winkel led St. Cloud State to an historic season. The 25th-ranked Huskies won the regular-season title in … [Read more...] about ‘I have officially entered into the transfer portal’: Winkel likely headed to Division I

UNI’s Rathjen advances to 2nd round of NCAA Championships before falling in OT

by

All five of Northern Iowa's wrestlers stayed alive on the first day of the NCAA Division I Championships on Thursday at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, including former Ankeny star Caleb Rathjen at 149 pounds. The 14th-seeded Rathjen opened the tournament with a 3-1 victory over No. 19 Brock Herman of Little Rock. He then dropped an 8-5 decision to No. 3 Cross … [Read more...] about UNI’s Rathjen advances to 2nd round of NCAA Championships before falling in OT

NIACC women nearly pull off huge upset in quarterfinals of NJCAA Div. II tourney

by

The North Iowa Area Community College women's basketball team was hoping to pull off a major upset on Thursday. And the Trojans nearly did it. Eighth-seeded NIACC battled No. 1 and defending national champion Johnson County CC down to the wire before dropping a 79-77 decision in the NJCAA Division II quarterfinals at the Tarlton Complex on the … [Read more...] about NIACC women nearly pull off huge upset in quarterfinals of NJCAA Div. II tourney

Cornell libero Becker named recipient of 2025-26 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

by

Former Ankeny Centennial volleyball standout Ella Becker of Cornell College has been named recipient of the 2025-26 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The NCAA awards $10,000 postgraduate scholarships to 42 exceptional student-athletes, representing fall sports across all three NCAA divisions, who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements, athletic … [Read more...] about Cornell libero Becker named recipient of 2025-26 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

Ex-Jaguar Smith helps NIACC women to quarterfinals of NJCAA Div. II tournament

by

Former Ankeny Centennial player Tillie Smith and the North Iowa Area Community College women's basketball team are headed to the quarterfinals of the NJCAA Division II national tournament. Smith, a freshman guard, came off the bench and scored nine points to help the eighth-seeded Trojans to an 84-65 victory over ninth-seeded Lincoln Land CC Tuesday … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguar Smith helps NIACC women to quarterfinals of NJCAA Div. II tournament

Winkel surpasses 1,000-point mark, but SCSU falls to NSIC rival Minnesota Duluth

by

Minnesota Duluth continued its Cinderella run on Sunday night, spoiling a career milestone for St. Cloud State guard Luke Winkel. On a night when Winkel scored his 1,000th career point to become the 47th player in program history to achieve the feat, the 25th-ranked Huskies let a 14-point lead slip away and dropped a 61-55 decision to UMD in the second … [Read more...] about Winkel surpasses 1,000-point mark, but SCSU falls to NSIC rival Minnesota Duluth

Winkel leads SCSU past Missouri Western, into 2nd round of NCAA Div. II tournament

by

It didn't take long for Luke Winkel to make his presence felt during his NCAA Tournament debut. The former Ankeny Centennial star turned a steal into a layup just 30 seconds into the game, and St. Cloud State went on to defeat Missouri Western, 83-65, in the opening round of the Central Regional on Saturday night at Lee Arena in Topeka, Kan. "It was … [Read more...] about Winkel leads SCSU past Missouri Western, into 2nd round of NCAA Div. II tournament

Pratt, Redbirds dominate boards in win over Drake, advance to MVC semifinals

by

Jaeden Pratt and the Illinois State women's basketball team got their revenge. Eight days after Pratt went scoreless in the Redbirds' 73-55 loss at Drake, the former Ankeny Centennial standout nearly recorded a double-double on Friday as third-seeded Illinois State posted a 69-62 win over the sixth-seeded Bulldogs in the quarterfinals of the Missouri … [Read more...] about Pratt, Redbirds dominate boards in win over Drake, advance to MVC semifinals

‘I’M BACK’: Summit League Player of the Year Johnson to return to Mile High City

by

The Summit League Player of the Year is staying put in the Mile High City. Denver sophomore guard Carson Johnson announced on social media Thursday that he will return next year to play for the Pioneers. "I'm back," Johnson tweeted on X. Johnson, a former Ankeny star, would have been one of the biggest prizes in the transfer portal had he elected to … [Read more...] about ‘I’M BACK’: Summit League Player of the Year Johnson to return to Mile High City

Winkel, Huskies headed to Washburn as No. 4 seed in NCAA Div. II Central Regional

by

Luke Winkel and the St. Cloud State men's basketball team are headed to the NCAA Division II national tournament. The 19th-ranked Huskies (25-6) received an at-large berth to the 64-team tournament and are seeded fourth in the Central Regional. They will play No. 5 seed Missouri Western (21-11) in a first-round game on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Lee Arena in … [Read more...] about Winkel, Huskies headed to Washburn as No. 4 seed in NCAA Div. II Central Regional

UNI’s Rathjen takes 2nd at Big 12 tourney, earns 2nd trip to NCAA Championships

by

Former Ankeny wrestling standout Caleb Rathjen of Northern Iowa has earned his second career trip to the NCAA Championships. Rathjen, a senior, earned an automatic berth by placing second in the Big 12 Championships at 149 pounds on Saturday night at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. He led the Panthers to a 10th-place finish. Rathjen knocked off two … [Read more...] about UNI’s Rathjen takes 2nd at Big 12 tourney, earns 2nd trip to NCAA Championships

Season ends for Johnson, Pios with loss to N. Dakota in Summit League quarterfinals

by

Carson Johnson's historic season at the University of Denver came to an end on Friday night at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Johnson scored 17 points but also battled some foul problems as sixth-seeded Denver lost to third-seeded North Dakota, 83-67, in the quarterfinals of the Summit League tournament. The Pioneers finished the season with a … [Read more...] about Season ends for Johnson, Pios with loss to N. Dakota in Summit League quarterfinals