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Winkel earns repeat all-NSIC first-team honors after helping SCSU to league title

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Former Ankeny Centennial basketball star Luke Winkel has been named to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference first team for the second year in a row, becoming the first St. Cloud State player since Anthony Roberts in 2021-22 to earn first-team honors in consecutive seasons. A sophomore point guard, Winkel has taken on a bigger role this season for … [Read more...] about Winkel earns repeat all-NSIC first-team honors after helping SCSU to league title

Former Ankeny standout Palmer leads way in hot start for Huskies’ softball team

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Former Ankeny softball standout Kennedy Palmer is off to a good start in her first season at St. Cloud State. The junior second baseman has helped the Huskies to a 9-1 record after transferring from Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. She leads the team with a .480 batting average. Palmer hit .471 last weekend, going 8-for-17 at the plate, as … [Read more...] about Former Ankeny standout Palmer leads way in hot start for Huskies’ softball team

‘I’m proud of our guys’: Eagles start strong, but eventually tumble to No. 1 St. Edmond

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The Ankeny Christian Academy boys' basketball team got off to a promising start in Tuesday's game at Fort Dodge St. Edmond. The early momentum, though, didn't last. The top-ranked Gaels used a 12-0 run to erase a 10-8 deficit and went on to post a 78-58 victory in a Class 1A district final. The loss ended a seven-game winning streak for the Eagles, who … [Read more...] about ‘I’m proud of our guys’: Eagles start strong, but eventually tumble to No. 1 St. Edmond

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jed Rood, Ankeny Christian boys’ basketball

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Junior guard Jed Rood scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had two blocks to lead the Ankeny Christian Academy boys' basketball team to a 50-49 victory over visiting Southeast Warren in a Class 1A district semifinal on Friday. He made a layup with 12 seconds left for the go-ahead basket. Rood has helped the Eagles to a 20-4 record. He averages a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jed Rood, Ankeny Christian boys’ basketball

Eagles edge Southeast Warren in thriller, will play No. 1 Gaels for District 14 title

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Survive and advance. That's what it's all about in the basketball postseason. The second-seeded Ankeny Christian Academy boys' team overcame its poor outside shooting to defeat visiting Southeast Warren, 50-49, in a Class 1A District 14 semifinal on Friday. "We weren’t our best offensively, but we found a way to win on the defensive end," said ACA … [Read more...] about Eagles edge Southeast Warren in thriller, will play No. 1 Gaels for District 14 title

‘It was a good game for us offensively’: Eagles roll to victory in district quarterfinal

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Sharing the ball with your teammates usually produces a good outcome. The second-seeded Ankeny Christian Academy boys' basketball team placed four players in double figures and rolled past visiting Glidden-Ralston, 83-44, in a Class 1A district quarterfinal on Monday. "I loved how our team distributed the ball with 19 assists on 30 made field goals," … [Read more...] about ‘It was a good game for us offensively’: Eagles roll to victory in district quarterfinal

‘I would’ve rather gotten the win’: Johnson scores 1,000th point in loss at Omaha

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Carson Johnson and the Denver men's basketball team just couldn't get over the hump. After trailing by as many as 14 points, the visiting Pioneers rallied in the second half and closed to within three points before Omaha held on for an 83-76 victory on Sunday afternoon before a crowd of 3,291 at Baxter Arena. "We came out kind of slow. We were fighting … [Read more...] about ‘I would’ve rather gotten the win’: Johnson scores 1,000th point in loss at Omaha

ACA girls’ team finishes season with 11-10 record after losing at West Bend-Mallard

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The Ankeny Christian Academy girls' basketball team closed out its season on Thursday with a 58-38 loss at West Bend-Mallard in the opening round of a Class 1A regional tournament. The Eagles finished with an 11-10 record. West Bend-Mallard (9-13) outscored ACA in the second quarter, 21-11, to build a 31-19 lead at halftime. The Wolverines continued to … [Read more...] about ACA girls’ team finishes season with 11-10 record after losing at West Bend-Mallard

‘It was just a great feeling’: Johnson erupts for 33 points, leads Pioneers past ORU

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It often takes only one basket for former Ankeny star Carson Johnson to get on a roll. That was the case on Wednesday night inside Hamilton Gymnasium, where the University of Denver's sophomore point guard got off to a hot start and scored a season-high 33 points to lead the Pioneers to a 98-87 victory over Oral Roberts. Johnson went 9-of-16 from the … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a great feeling’: Johnson erupts for 33 points, leads Pioneers past ORU

‘I was aggressive and looking to score’: Bayless leads Trojans past Lindenwood

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Braxton Bayless is taking advantage of his sixth year of collegiate eligibility. The former Ankeny basketball star scored a season-high 21 points on Saturday to lead Little Rock to an 82-74 road victory over Lindenwood at Robert F. Hyland Arena in Saint Charles, Mo. The graduate guard also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out seven assists for the … [Read more...] about ‘I was aggressive and looking to score’: Bayless leads Trojans past Lindenwood

‘It’s a great fit and opportunity for me’: Former Ankeny star Kohl is headed to FIU

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Former Ankeny quarterback JJ Kohl has found a new home. Kohl has committed to play for Florida International University. He also visited FIU a year ago before transferring to Appalachian State, where he spent one season. "It's a great fit and opportunity for me," Kohl said. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound quarterback passed for 1,465 yards and 12 touchdowns … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a great fit and opportunity for me’: Former Ankeny star Kohl is headed to FIU

“WE ARE…..HOME!!”: Ex-Cyclone safety Patton follows Campbell to Penn State

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Like many of his teammates, Jamison Patton has decided to follow head football coach Matt Campbell to Penn State. Patton announced on Twitter Monday that he is headed to Happy Valley along with nearly 20 other former Iowa State players. "WE ARE.....HOME!!" Patton tweeted. Patton, a junior defensive back, helped the Cyclones to an 8-4 record in 2025. … [Read more...] about “WE ARE…..HOME!!”: Ex-Cyclone safety Patton follows Campbell to Penn State

Eagles’ late rally falls short at Madrid in rematch of last year’s substate final

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A late rally by the Ankeny Christian Academy boys' basketball team came up just a little short. The visiting Eagles cut a 16-point deficit down to one with about 2 minutes left before Madrid held on for a 66-58 victory in a non-conference game on Monday. "Madrid is always a very personal matchup to me," said ACA junior Jed Rood, who led the Eagles with … [Read more...] about Eagles’ late rally falls short at Madrid in rematch of last year’s substate final

HEADED TO HAPPY VALLEY: Ex-Hawk Quigley follows Campbell to Penn State

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Former Iowa State assistant football coach Xavier Quigley is headed to Happy Valley to join Matt Campbell's staff at Penn State. Quigley, a former Ankeny standout, was a part of the Cyclones' staff in Ames for the last six seasons. He was the director of college scouting/offense in 2025. "I'm not sure exactly what the new title will be," Quigley wrote … [Read more...] about HEADED TO HAPPY VALLEY: Ex-Hawk Quigley follows Campbell to Penn State

Patton to enter transfer portal; Miller, Welsch, Simonsen to stay with Cyclones

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Former Ankeny star Jamison Patton is among the more than 40 Iowa State football players who have entered the transfer portal following the departure of longtime head coach Matt Campbell earlier this month. Patton announced his decision via Twitter on Sunday. "Thank you to coach Campbell and the entire staff for believing in me and investing so much … [Read more...] about Patton to enter transfer portal; Miller, Welsch, Simonsen to stay with Cyclones

Goode, Kumm help Vikings to second consecutive NAIA national championship

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Wide receivers Peyton Goode and Jordan Kumm helped the Grand View football team to a second consecutive NAIA national championship on Saturday at Crowley ISD Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The top-seeded Vikings posted a 22-16 victory over No. 2 seed Keiser to finish the season with a perfect 14-0 record. It was a rematch of the 2024 title game, which was … [Read more...] about Goode, Kumm help Vikings to second consecutive NAIA national championship

Heckenlaible, Billikens reach College Cup for 17th time before falling to NC State

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In the span of seven days, former Ankeny Centennial soccer standout Andrew Heckenlaible experienced both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. After helping St. Louis to a stunning 3-2 win at Akron in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship on Dec. 6, Heckenlaible saw his sophomore season come to an end on Friday, when the Billikens dropped a … [Read more...] about Heckenlaible, Billikens reach College Cup for 17th time before falling to NC State