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Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Landon Curtis, Ankeny Christian baseball

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Junior pitcher and infielder Landon Curtis helped the Ankeny Christian Academy baseball team to a 15-11 record. The Eagles closed out their season on Tuesday with a 6-2 loss to defending state champion Lynnville-Sully in a Class 1A substate final at Newton. Curtis batted .365 with eight doubles and 17 RBIs. On the mound, he compiled a 4-1 mark with a 2.47 … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Landon Curtis, Ankeny Christian baseball

Defending state champ Lynnville-Sully ends Eagles’ season for 3rd straight year

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Christian Academy baseball team feels like it's on the cusp of making its first Class 1A state tournament in program history. But the Lynnville-Sully Hawks continue to be the major roadblock that the Eagles have yet to break through. ACA had its season ended with a close game in substate play against the Hawks … [Read more...] about Defending state champ Lynnville-Sully ends Eagles’ season for 3rd straight year

‘You tip your cap to her’: Newman pitcher Kruckenberg shuts down Eagles, 2-0

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The Ankeny Christian Academy softball team entered Monday's game at Mason City Newman having scored a total of 220 runs in the previous 19 contests. But the Eagles hadn't seen a pitcher like Newman righthander Sami Kruckenberg. The hard-throwing junior tossed a two-hitter and had 12 strikeouts to lead the ninth-ranked Knights to a 2-0 victory over No. … [Read more...] about ‘You tip your cap to her’: Newman pitcher Kruckenberg shuts down Eagles, 2-0

‘Landon was incredible’: Eagles advance to substate final behind Curtis’ 1-hitter

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Ankeny Christian Academy's Landon Curtis promised that he would be better on the mound than his previous outing. The junior righthander delivered a masterpiece. Curtis tossed a one-hitter and had 10 strikeouts to lead the Eagles to a 6-0 victory over Baxter in a Class 1A district baseball final on Saturday at Lynnville-Sully. "We played great," said … [Read more...] about ‘Landon was incredible’: Eagles advance to substate final behind Curtis’ 1-hitter

Eagles top BCLUW, will play at Mason City Newman for trip to 1A state tournament

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Ankeny Christian Academy's Katie Quick was surprised when BCLUW elected to pitch to her during the third inning of Saturday's softball game at North Polk Middle School. The senior quickly made the Comets pay for that decision. Quick hit a three-run homer on the first pitch from Kiayre Gallentine to break a scoreless tie, and the 11th-ranked Eagles went … [Read more...] about Eagles top BCLUW, will play at Mason City Newman for trip to 1A state tournament

QUICK WORK: Eagles rout AGWSR in 4 innings behind senior’s slam, no-hitter

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Ankeny Christian Academy's Katie Quick enjoyed a night to remember on Wednesday. The senor hit a grand slam and also tossed a no-hitter to lead the 11th-ranked Eagles to a 15-0 victory over AGWSR in four innings in a Class 1A regional softball quarterfinal at North Polk Middle School. "It feels really good," said Quick, who finished with five RBIs. "I … [Read more...] about QUICK WORK: Eagles rout AGWSR in 4 innings behind senior’s slam, no-hitter

‘I’m pretty proud of them’: Eagles outlast SE Warren in 9 innings, reach district final

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With only one senior on its roster, the Ankeny Christian Academy baseball team didn't have a lot of expectations this season. But the Eagles are growing up fast. First baseman Tyson Fincham hit a two-run single in the ninth inning and ACA moved two wins away from its first trip to the Class 1A state tournament with a 5-3 victory at Southeast Warren in … [Read more...] about ‘I’m pretty proud of them’: Eagles outlast SE Warren in 9 innings, reach district final

Eagles roll past Melcher-Dallas, will play in Class 1A district semifinal on Tuesday

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The Ankeny Christian Academy baseball team used a six-run third inning to defeat Melcher-Dallas, 9-2, in a Class 1A district quarterfinal on Saturday at Southeast Warren. The Eagles (13-10) pounded out 12 hits off three Melcher-Dallas pitchers. Lucas Erickson went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and was also the winning pitcher, combining with Landon Curtis on a … [Read more...] about Eagles roll past Melcher-Dallas, will play in Class 1A district semifinal on Tuesday

‘It’s a really cool opportunity’: Riordan named Central men’s basketball coach

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Former Ankeny basketball standout Conor Riordan got a call less than two weeks ago that changed his life. On the other end of the phone was Central College men's basketball coach Joe Steinkamp, who told his assistant coach that he was considering stepping down. "Not many people have given the Central program what he has. He's been an incredible mentor … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a really cool opportunity’: Riordan named Central men’s basketball coach

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Katelyn Weathers, Ankeny Christian softball

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Sophomore catcher/outfielder Katelyn Weathers has helped the Ankeny Christian Academy softball team to a 12-2 record, including an 8-1 mark in the West Division of the Bluegrass Conference. The Eagles are ranked fourth in Class 1A in their second season as a varsity program. Weathers is batting .697 with 23 hits in 33 at-bats, which is the second-highest … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Katelyn Weathers, Ankeny Christian softball

‘The bats are lively’: No. 4 Eagles erupt for school-record 21 runs, raise mark to 11-1

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The 2024 season was all about setting the foundation for the Ankeny Christian Academy softball team. Now, the process of building up one of Class 1A’s top programs is in motion. “It’s been great because we’ve got a lot of our players back and they already know the routine, know our drills and know what we’re looking for,” … [Read more...] about ‘The bats are lively’: No. 4 Eagles erupt for school-record 21 runs, raise mark to 11-1

Ex-Hawk Cummins named boys’ hoops coach at Bishop Heelan Catholic

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Former Ankeny boys' basketball player Trystan Cummins has been named the head boys' basketball coach at Bishop Heelan Catholic in Sioux City. Cummins, 27, will become one of the youngest head coaches in the state. "(My age) has its pros and cons," said Cummins, a 2016 AHS graduate. "I have a lot of energy to do it, but I obviously don't have all the … [Read more...] about Ex-Hawk Cummins named boys’ hoops coach at Bishop Heelan Catholic

ONE LAST STOP: Ex-Ankeny star Bayless to play his final season at Little Rock

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Braxton Bayless is heading a little closer to home. The former Ankeny basketball star announced earlier this week that he will play his final collegiate season at Little Rock, which is coached by former NBA player Darrell Walker, who previously coached the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards. "I'm excited to be around a coaching staff with NBA … [Read more...] about ONE LAST STOP: Ex-Ankeny star Bayless to play his final season at Little Rock

‘UNI was a perfect fit’: Rathjen to wrestle for Panthers, will reunite with Anderson

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Former Ankeny wrestling star Caleb Rathjen is heading to Cedar Falls. The two-time state champion announced that he will transfer to Northern Iowa. The ex-Iowa Hawkeye will have one season of eligibility remaining. "I was looking for a place close to home that I felt I fit on with the team and the culture, and UNI was a perfect fit," said … [Read more...] about ‘UNI was a perfect fit’: Rathjen to wrestle for Panthers, will reunite with Anderson

Northern Illinois tight end Schutty enters transfer portal after freshman season

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Former Ankeny Centennial football standout Chase Schutty has entered the transfer portal. Schutty, a redshirt freshman tight end at Northern Illinois, announced his decision on social media Wednesday. "Dear Huskie Nation, I would like to say thank you to coach Hammock, coach White and coach Woody for giving me the opportunity to play at NIU. I'd also … [Read more...] about Northern Illinois tight end Schutty enters transfer portal after freshman season

‘I love playing for him’: Ex-Hawk Johnson to follow coach Bergstraser to Denver

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Former Ankeny basketball standout Carson Johnson is headed to the Mile High City. Johnson has committed to play for the University of Denver, which has scheduled a press conference on Wednesday to introduce Tim Bergstraser as the Pioneers' new head coach. Bergstraser went 75-22 in three seasons as the head coach at Minnesota State Moorhead, where Johnson … [Read more...] about ‘I love playing for him’: Ex-Hawk Johnson to follow coach Bergstraser to Denver

‘The margins are so thin’: UNI’s Anderson falls one win shy of all-American status

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Former Ankeny wrestling star Trever Anderson nearly earned all-American honors in his NCAA Championship debut at 125 pounds. A redshirt sophomore at Northern Iowa, Anderson bounced back from a first-round loss on Thursday with three consecutive victories in the consolation bracket at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. He advanced to the blood round on … [Read more...] about ‘The margins are so thin’: UNI’s Anderson falls one win shy of all-American status

Postseason run ends for Johnson, MSU Moorhead with loss to No. 5 Ichabods

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The amazing postseason run for Carson Johnson and the MSU Moorhead men's basketball team came to an end on Tuesday night at Lee Arena. Johnson scored a team-high 17 points, but it wasn't nearly enough as the second-seeded Dragons dropped a 93-65 decision to top-seeded Washburn in the Central Regional championship of the NCAA Division II Tournament at … [Read more...] about Postseason run ends for Johnson, MSU Moorhead with loss to No. 5 Ichabods

Johnson scores 26 points, leads Dragons into Central Regional final vs. Washburn

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The MSU Moorhead men's basketball team is one win away from a trip to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Division II Tournament. Former Ankeny star Carson Johnson scored 26 points on Sunday to lead the second-seeded Dragons to a 70-59 victory over Winona State in the second round of the Central Regional at Topeka, Kan. The freshman guard went 8-of-21 from the field, … [Read more...] about Johnson scores 26 points, leads Dragons into Central Regional final vs. Washburn