Ankeny Fanatic

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Ex-Ankeny star Bayless shines in Division I debut as Niagara falls at Maryland

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Former Ankeny basketball standout Braxton Bayless made an impressive debut for Niagara. The junior guard scored a team-high 14 points in the Purple Eagles' 71-49 loss at Maryland in their season opener on Monday. He also had a team-high six rebounds and six assists. Bayless made a buzzer-beating jumper at the end of the first half to cut the Terps' … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny star Bayless shines in Division I debut as Niagara falls at Maryland

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carley Craighead, Ankeny Christian volleyball

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Sophomore outside hitter Carley Craighead helped the Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team to the Class 1A state title last week at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The seventh-ranked Eagles won their last 18 matches and finished with a 39-3 record. Craighead pounded 20 kills as ACA outlasted No. 4 Gladbrook-Reinbeck in five sets in Thursday's championship … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carley Craighead, Ankeny Christian volleyball

A COMEBACK FOR THE AGES: Eagles rally for 5-set win, claim ACA’s first crown

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The Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball squad was expected to contend for the school's first state championship in any team sport in the next couple of years. The young Eagles decided that they didn't want to wait to make some history. Seventh-ranked ACA, which starts five sophomores, used a miraculous rally to defeat No. 4 Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the … [Read more...] about A COMEBACK FOR THE AGES: Eagles rally for 5-set win, claim ACA’s first crown

Eagles pull off stunning upset, will play for school’s 1st state title in any sport

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A stunning upset has put Ankeny Christian Academy on the brink of its first state championship in any team sport. The seventh-ranked Eagles advanced to the Class 1A final at the state volleyball tournament with a 25-10, 25-19, 25-22 victory over No. 1 Springville in Wednesday's semifinals at Xtream Arena in Coralville. It was the 17th consecutive win … [Read more...] about Eagles pull off stunning upset, will play for school’s 1st state title in any sport

WreckEm: Ankeny’s Johnson verbally commits to play softball at Texas Tech

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Junior Cassie Johnson of Ankeny has verbally committed to play softball at Texas Tech. Johnson announced her decision via Twitter earlier this week. "RAIDER NATION, I'M COMING FOR YOU!! #WreckEm" she tweeted. Johnson plays for the Iowa Premier Fastpitch travel club. She is a power-hitting catcher. "I talked to a lot of great schools, but Texas … [Read more...] about WreckEm: Ankeny’s Johnson verbally commits to play softball at Texas Tech

Eagles rout Don Bosco in tourney debut, will play No. 1 Springville in 1A semifinals

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Ankeny Christian Academy's state volleyball tournament debut was a smashing success. The seventh-ranked Eagles got off to a fast start and never looked back in a Class 1A quarterfinal against No. 8 Don Bosco on Tuesday night. They rolled to a 25-16, 25-23, 25-14 victory at Xtream Arena in Coralville. "It was crazy," said ACA setter Katie Quick. "It's … [Read more...] about Eagles rout Don Bosco in tourney debut, will play No. 1 Springville in 1A semifinals

‘We have work to do and aren’t done!’: Eagles look to make deep run at state

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A year ago, the Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team couldn't get over the hump in a Class 1A regional final. On Wednesday at Atlantic, the seventh-ranked Eagles didn't let another opportunity to make some history slip away. Ankeny Christian Academy advanced to the state tournament for the first time ever with a sweep over No. 11 Sidney. The Eagles … [Read more...] about ‘We have work to do and aren’t done!’: Eagles look to make deep run at state

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Katie Quick, Ankeny Christian volleyball

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Sophomore setter Katie Quick has helped lead the Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team to a No. 7 ranking in Class 1A. The Eagles won the Bluegrass Conference tournament on Thursday at Moravia to extend their winning streak to 12 matches. Quick leads the entire state with 99 aces and ranks 11th in Class 1A with 646 assists. She was recently honored for … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Katie Quick, Ankeny Christian volleyball

Suicide Prevention Month: An interview with Drew Martel

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Because September is Suicide Prevention Month, Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm has interviewed a variety of guests in an effort to promote awareness of the topic. He will also be interviewing two other guests on the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast. Here is his interview with Drew Martel, the Chief Clinical and Training Officer at Foundation 2 in Cedar … [Read more...] about Suicide Prevention Month: An interview with Drew Martel

Suicide Prevention Month: An interview with David Holm

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Because September is Suicide Prevention Month, Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm has interviewed a variety of guests in an effort to promote awareness of the topic. He will also be interviewing two other guests on the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast. Here is his interview with his nephew David Holm, who lost his cousin--Jeffrey Czapla--to suicide a little … [Read more...] about Suicide Prevention Month: An interview with David Holm

Suicide Prevention Month: An interview with Michelle Stout

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Because September is Suicide Prevention Month, Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm has interviewed a variety of guests in an effort to promote awareness of the topic. He will also be interviewing two other guests on the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast. Here is his interview with former Ankeny girls' swimming coach Michelle Stout, who lost her daughter Jessie … [Read more...] about Suicide Prevention Month: An interview with Michelle Stout

Loras’ Talmadge named ARC Special Teams Player of Week for 2nd time

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Former Ankeny Centennial place-kicker Scott Talmadge has been named the American Rivers Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time in his career. Talmadge, a sophomore, was a perfect 7-for-7 on PAT attempts to help Loras College to a 49-31 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan in its home opener on Saturday. Those seven makes now rank as the … [Read more...] about Loras’ Talmadge named ARC Special Teams Player of Week for 2nd time

Op-Ed: Bad behavior by coaches, parents and fans toward officials must stop

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(This Op-Ed is by Dr. Karissa Niehoff, chief executive officer of the National Federation of State High School Associations; Tom Keating, executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association; and Jean Berger, executive director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.) There’s an unfortunate trend continuing in Iowa and across … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: Bad behavior by coaches, parents and fans toward officials must stop

‘Emma was very impressive’: Iowa’s Gordon races to win at Hawkeye Invite

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Former Ankeny Centennial standout Emma Gordon raced to a victory on her home course Friday as the University of Iowa cross country teams opened their season with a sweep of the competition at the 2022 Hawkeye Invite at the Ashton Cross Country Course. Gordon, a senior, posted a time of 14:12.9 in the 4k race to set a personal record. It was her first win … [Read more...] about ‘Emma was very impressive’: Iowa’s Gordon races to win at Hawkeye Invite

Q & A with former Ankeny youth soccer coach Candice Fabry

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One of my favorite guests ever on the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast was Candice Fabry, who appeared on Episode 24 in November of 2018 to discuss the #MeTooMovement. Here is a link to that podcast: Candice, who lived in Ankeny at the time, was previously the general manager and coach of the Iowa Rush Soccer Club. She coached, recruited and retained … [Read more...] about Q & A with former Ankeny youth soccer coach Candice Fabry

Bruce, Brecht, Kumm looking to make impact for depleted receiving corps

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Perhaps no position group on the Iowa football team has more question marks than the wide receivers. A trio of former Ankeny stars--Arland Bruce IV, Brody Brecht and Jordan Kumm--will try to provide some answers. Bruce, a sophomore, is currently listed at a second-team spot behind senior Nico Ragaini. Brecht, a redshirt freshman, and Kumm, a sophomore … [Read more...] about Bruce, Brecht, Kumm looking to make impact for depleted receiving corps

‘We’re just ready to play some football’: Iowa’s Moss gears up for final season

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Throughout most of last fall, Riley Moss thought he was leaving for the National Football League. Iowa's star defensive back had already accomplished about everything that he could at the collegiate level. "I was leaning probably 75 percent of the season to leave, but when you're staring into the barrel of the gun and it's decision time, I really … [Read more...] about ‘We’re just ready to play some football’: Iowa’s Moss gears up for final season

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (pre-Pezzetti era)

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Ankeny's success on the football field didn't begin with coach Jerry Pezzetti's arrival in 1969. In the previous four decades, Ankeny racked up 11 undefeated seasons, including five in a row from 1933-37 that resulted in a 44-game winning streak. The Hawks also went unbeaten in 1943, 1946, 1950, 1957, 1959 and 1961. Unlike today, most of the stars of … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (pre-Pezzetti era)