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Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Avlyn Davis, Ankeny Christian volleyball

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Sophomore setter Avlyn Davis has helped the Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team to a 28-1 record and a No. 1 ranking in Class 1A. The Eagles defeated five opponents on Saturday to win the Madrid Pink Out Tournament, capped off by a 19-21, 21-7, 15-12 victory over Webster City. Davis has recorded 325 assists, 160 digs and 49 aces this season. She … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Avlyn Davis, Ankeny Christian volleyball

Jackson’s 99-yard kickoff return for TD helps Iowa to thrilling win at Big House

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The hype surrounding Braeden Jackson is likely only to grow even larger this week. The former Ankeny Centennial star returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and racked up 138 all-purpose yards as the 17th-ranked Iowa football team went on to defeat No. 18 Michigan, 20-19, on a last-second touchdown reception by Reece Vander Zee on Saturday at Michigan … [Read more...] about Jackson’s 99-yard kickoff return for TD helps Iowa to thrilling win at Big House

Jackson enjoys breakout performance in Hawkeyes’ win with 149 total yards, 2 TDs

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Braeden Jackson always knew that he could compete at the Division I level. Now, the former Ankeny Centennial football star is proving it. The second-year running back had a breakout performance for 18th-ranked Iowa on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium, where he racked up 149 total yards and two touchdowns in the Hawkeyes' 55-0 victory over Northern Iowa. And … [Read more...] about Jackson enjoys breakout performance in Hawkeyes’ win with 149 total yards, 2 TDs

Miller scores his first collegiate TD to help Cyclones roll past SEMO in Rogers’ debut

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Former Ankeny Centennial standout Easton Miller scored his first collegiate touchdown on Saturday to help the Iowa State football team begin the Jimmy Rogers era with a 38-10 victory over Southeast Missouri at Jack Trice Stadium. Miller caught a 10-yard scoring pass from Jaylen Raynor to give the Cyclones a 28-7 lead with 2 minutes 50 seconds left in the … [Read more...] about Miller scores his first collegiate TD to help Cyclones roll past SEMO in Rogers’ debut

Ankeny Christian takes over top spot in Class 1A volleyball rankings from IGHSAU

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After winning the Albia Invitational on Saturday, Ankeny Christian Academy is the new No. 1 volleyball team in Class 1A in the latest rankings from the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. The Eagles (7-1), who were fourth in the preseason rankings, swept all five of their opponents at the tournament, winning 10 consecutive sets. They then followed … [Read more...] about Ankeny Christian takes over top spot in Class 1A volleyball rankings from IGHSAU

Legendary coaches Pezzetti, Sharp, Smith honored by Ankeny Historical Society

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(Compiled by Bob Fontana) On Sunday, Aug. 23, the Ankeny Historical Society honored legendary Ankeny coaches Jerry Pezzetti, Bob Sharp and Fred Smith during the annual Ice Cream Social. Each coach was presented by a former student-athlete as a biography was read, along with stories and comments. There were 70 former student-athletes in attendance … [Read more...] about Legendary coaches Pezzetti, Sharp, Smith honored by Ankeny Historical Society

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Breeze Bentz, Ankeny Christian Academy softball

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Sophomore shortstop Breeze Bentz helped the Ankeny Christian Academy softball team to a 22-4 record in its third season as a varsity program. She was named to the Class 1A all-state second team and to the Class 1A South Central all-district team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Bentz led Class 1A with a .648 batting average, and she led Class 1A … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Breeze Bentz, Ankeny Christian Academy softball

Ankeny Christian’s Bentz sisters, Crosby earn all-district softball honors from IGCA

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Ankeny Christian Academy softball standouts Breeze Bentz, Brette Bentz and Sicily Crosby have been named to the Class 1A South Central all-district team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. ACA coach James Crosby was also honored. He was named the district coach of the year after guiding the Eagles to a 22-4 record this season. Brette Bentz, a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Christian’s Bentz sisters, Crosby earn all-district softball honors from IGCA

Curtis, Fincham named to all-district first team; ACA trio earns 2nd-team honors

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Five Ankeny Christian Academy baseball players have earned all-district honors from the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. Senior pitcher Landon Curtis and senior first baseman Tyson Fincham were both named to the Central District first team. Senior pitcher Lucas Erickson, sophomore second baseman Tyler Davis and senior outfielder Lucas Herbel … [Read more...] about Curtis, Fincham named to all-district first team; ACA trio earns 2nd-team honors

‘God really just blessed us’: ACA players thankful for first trip to state despite loss

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A year ago, the Ankeny Christian Academy softball team ended its season with a loss to Mason City Newman in a regional final. On Monday, the ACA baseball squad suffered a similar fate. This time it came at historic Merchants Park in Carroll, where the Eagles' first trip ever to the Class 1A state tournament came to an end with a 9-4 loss in the … [Read more...] about ‘God really just blessed us’: ACA players thankful for first trip to state despite loss

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Andrew Mora, Ankeny Christian Academy baseball

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Senior catcher Andrew Mora has helped the Ankeny Christian Academy baseball team to a 29-5 record. The Eagles advanced to the state tournament for the first time in program history by posting a 12-10 victory over third-ranked Saint Ansgar, the defending state champion, in a Class 1A substate final on Tuesday at Mason City. Mora, the team's leadoff hitter, … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Andrew Mora, Ankeny Christian Academy baseball

‘We were confident’: Eagles top defending champions, earn first trip to state tourney

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The Ankeny Christian Academy baseball players took the field on Tuesday with no fear of defending state champion Saint Ansgar. The third-ranked Saints entered the Class 1A substate final with a team ERA of 1.37 and had yet to allow a run in postseason play. All three of their previous losses came to larger schools--two to Class 3A Clear Lake and one to … [Read more...] about ‘We were confident’: Eagles top defending champions, earn first trip to state tourney

‘We can beat anybody’: ACA tops AGWSR, will play No. 3 Saint Ansgar for state berth

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The Ankeny Christian Academy baseball team has advanced to a Class 1A substate final for the third consecutive year. And this time, the Eagles won't have to play their longtime nemesis from Lynnville-Sully. ACA will face third-ranked Saint Ansgar on Tuesday at Clarion-Goldfield-Dows after rolling to a 9-2 victory over AGWSR in a district final on … [Read more...] about ‘We can beat anybody’: ACA tops AGWSR, will play No. 3 Saint Ansgar for state berth

‘It was a tough way to end the season’: ACA girls drop 8-0 decision to Blue Devils

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The Ankeny Christian Academy softball team entered Friday's Class 1A regional semifinal averaging about 10.7 runs per game. The Eagles had not lost since dropping a 9-1 decision at Southeast Warren on June 16, which marked the only time this season that they scored fewer than four runs. ACA's 11-game winning streak came to an end, though, with its … [Read more...] about ‘It was a tough way to end the season’: ACA girls drop 8-0 decision to Blue Devils

‘Things kind of went according to plan’: Eagles blank N. Tama in regional opener

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The Ankeny Christian Academy softball team is on a roll. After closing out the regular season with 10 consecutive victories, the Eagles opened postseason play on Wednesday and extended their winning streak with a 7-0 shutout over visiting North Tama in a Class 1A regional quarterfinal at North Polk Middle School. "We had a plan and executed it well," … [Read more...] about ‘Things kind of went according to plan’: Eagles blank N. Tama in regional opener

‘We’ll take any win we can get’: Eagles survive vs. Madrid, advance to district final

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Survive and advance. That's all that mattered for the Ankeny Christian Academy baseball team on Tuesday night. The Eagles survived a late rally by visiting Madrid and held on for an 8-7 victory in a Class 1A district semifinal at North Polk Middle School. The Tigers rallied for three runs in the seventh inning before Kolbie Owens popped out in foul … [Read more...] about ‘We’ll take any win we can get’: Eagles survive vs. Madrid, advance to district final

‘We respect every team we play’: Eagles roll past Mormon Trail to open postseason

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The Ankeny Christian Academy baseball players didn't overlook their first opponent in district play, even though the Eagles had routed Mormon Trail twice during the regular season. Anthony Abbas went 3-for-4, scored two runs and drove in three more to lead ACA to a 21-0 victory over the Saints in four innings in a Class 1A district quarterfinal on Monday … [Read more...] about ‘We respect every team we play’: Eagles roll past Mormon Trail to open postseason