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‘I felt so at peace with Northwestern’: Ankeny’s Billings to play for Red Raiders

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Ankeny softball player Ashtyn Billings is headed to Orange City. The senior pitcher has verbally committed to play for Northwestern College. She picked the Red Raiders over Simpson College and a few junior colleges. "It was not a tough decision for me," said Billings. "I felt so at peace with Northwestern the second I set foot on campus!" Billings … [Read more...] about ‘I felt so at peace with Northwestern’: Ankeny’s Billings to play for Red Raiders

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Sophie Loeffler, Ankeny girls’ swimming

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Freshman Sophie Loeffler helped the Ankeny girls' swimming to a fifth-place finish in the state meet on Saturday at Marshalltown. She placed sixth in the 200 freestyle (1:55.68) and 11th in the 500 freestyle (5:13.43). Loeffler helped the Hawkettes to a ninth-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay, swimming the anchor leg in 24.42 seconds. She swam the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Sophie Loeffler, Ankeny girls’ swimming

Stout: 5th-place finish at state ‘a huge accomplishment’ for Ankeny swimmers

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The Ankeny girls' swimming team has been ranked among the top five squads in the state most of the season. The Hawkettes capped off a successful campaign with a fifth-place finish in the state meet on Saturday at Marshalltown. They finished with 168 points, edging CIML rival Johnston by six points for fifth place. "Finishing fifth was a huge … [Read more...] about Stout: 5th-place finish at state ‘a huge accomplishment’ for Ankeny swimmers

‘We just wanted to avenge that loss’: Hawks pound Valley, soar into title game

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Nobody can blame Mason Morrow if he has some nightmares this week. The Valley quarterback was running for his life Friday all over the UNI-Dome turf. Ankeny used a suffocating defensive effort to limit Morrow and the Tigers to 248 total yards and rolled to a 35-13 victory in the Class 5A semifinals at Cedar Falls. The Hawks avenged an earlier 38-35 … [Read more...] about ‘We just wanted to avenge that loss’: Hawks pound Valley, soar into title game

Kadolph, Hawks avenge loss to Valley, will play S.E. Polk for Class 5A crown

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Colin Kadolph and the Ankeny football team are one win away from defending their state title. Kadolph rushed for 183 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the Hawks to a 35-13 victory over Valley in the Class 5A semifinals on Friday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. "He makes me so proud," Ankeny defensive lineman Braden Simonsen said of Kadolph. "He … [Read more...] about Kadolph, Hawks avenge loss to Valley, will play S.E. Polk for Class 5A crown

‘I just loved the coaching staff’: Ankeny’s Anderson to wrestle for Northern Iowa

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Two-time state wrestling champion Trever Anderson of Ankeny has made his college plans. Anderson verbally committed to Northern Iowa on Friday. He picked the Panthers over Iowa, Northern Illinois and Edinboro. "It was a tough decision at first because I really liked all the programs that were recruiting me," Anderson said. Anderson boasts a career … [Read more...] about ‘I just loved the coaching staff’: Ankeny’s Anderson to wrestle for Northern Iowa

Peters dives to 6th-place finish; 4 Ankeny swimmers advance to finals in 2 events

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The Ankeny girls' swimming team sits in eighth place with 13 points after the diving portion of the state meet on Friday at Marshalltown. Senior Erica Peters capped off her high school career with a second consecutive sixth-place finish. She scored a total of 447.55 points in the 11-dive event. "I'm pretty happy," said Peters. "I definitely wanted a … [Read more...] about Peters dives to 6th-place finish; 4 Ankeny swimmers advance to finals in 2 events

Ankeny is No. 9 in Class 3A preseason rankings from IAwrestle.com

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The Ankeny wrestling team is ninth in Class 3A in the preseason rankings from IAwrestle.com. The Hawks boast eight ranked individuals, while Ankeny Centennial has six. Ankeny's highest ranked wrestler is two-time state champion Trever Anderson. Anderson, who won the 106-pound title as a freshman in 2019 and the 120-pound crown last season, is ranked … [Read more...] about Ankeny is No. 9 in Class 3A preseason rankings from IAwrestle.com

Ankeny swimmers could battle CIML rival Dowling for 4th place at state meet

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It appears that this year's girls' state swimming meet is shaping up to be a three-team race. On paper, anyway. Based on the seeds going into the state meet--which will be held on Friday and Saturday at Marshalltown--it looks like Ames, Iowa City West and Waukee will fight for the crown. Ankeny could battle CIML rival Dowling Catholic for fourth … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers could battle CIML rival Dowling for 4th place at state meet

A title game rematch?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

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The Class 5A football playoffs are down to the Final Four, and that means it's time to head to the Dome. Ankeny, last year's Class 4A champion, is back in the semifinals for the second straight year along with Southeast Polk, last year's runner-up. The Hawks and Rams will be joined at the Dome by two other traditional powers, Valley and Iowa City … [Read more...] about A title game rematch?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Olivia Harpenau, Ankeny volleyball

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Senior middle hitter Olivia Harpenau helped the Ankeny volleyball team to a 40-6 record this season. She had three kills and a match-high five blocks on Wednesday in the Hawkettes' loss to Pleasant Valley in the Class 5A semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. Harpenau placed third on the team with 195 kills. She was second among the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Olivia Harpenau, Ankeny volleyball

Ankeny swimmers dominate regional meet, advance to state in every event

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Nine other schools came to Trail Point Aquatics Center on Saturday to take on host Ankeny in a girls' regional swimming meet. None of them could match the Hawkettes' depth. Ankeny won nine of the 11 swimming events after Erica Peters won the diving event on Thursday at Johnston, and the Hawkettes cruised to the team title with 541.5 points. Newton was … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers dominate regional meet, advance to state in every event

DIG THIS: Ex-Jag Macke becomes Drake’s all-time leader with her 2,424th dig

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Former Ankeny Centennial standout Kylee Macke already owned three of the top 11 single-season dig totals in Drake volleyball history. Now, the redshirt senior libero is the Bulldogs' all-time leader as well. Macke recorded 12 digs on Saturday during Drake's sweep over visiting Southern Illinois at the Knapp Center. She became the Bulldogs' career digs … [Read more...] about DIG THIS: Ex-Jag Macke becomes Drake’s all-time leader with her 2,424th dig

DOMEWARD BOUND!: Hawks throttle C.R. Prairie, will play Valley in semifinals

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On a windy night in Cedar Rapids, the Ankeny football team turned to its power running game to earn another trip to the UNI-Dome. Colin Kadolph rushed for 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the second half, and the fifth-seeded Hawks dominated the final two quarters to defeat fourth-seeded Cedar Rapids Prairie, 37-7, in the Class 5A quarterfinals on … [Read more...] about DOMEWARD BOUND!: Hawks throttle C.R. Prairie, will play Valley in semifinals

Reynolds joins Anderson, Mirembe as repeat picks on all-conference first team

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The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams each placed three players on the CIML Iowa Conference first team. The Hawkettes and Jaguars, who tied for the league crown with newcomer Waukee Northwest, had six of the eight first-team selections. Ankeny was represented by senior outside hitter Ava Reynolds, senior libero Lexi Stephens and sophomore … [Read more...] about Reynolds joins Anderson, Mirembe as repeat picks on all-conference first team

‘It was a no-brainer for me’: AHS swimmer Swanepoel commits to Wisconsin

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The Ankeny boys' swimming program has cranked out another high-level recruit. Junior Lance Swanepoel has verbally committed to Wisconsin. He follows in the footsteps of former teammate Trent Frandson, who is now a freshman at California. Swanepoel picked the Badgers over Louisville. He also took official visits to Florida State and Notre Dame. "It … [Read more...] about ‘It was a no-brainer for me’: AHS swimmer Swanepoel commits to Wisconsin

Ankeny’s Peters wins regional diving crown; Kolars also qualifies for state

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Ankeny's Erica Peters is headed to the state diving meet for the fourth consecutive year. Teammate Hannah Kolars will be making her second straight trip. Both divers advanced to the state meet with strong performances on Thursday in a regional meet at Summit Middle School, which hosted both the Ankeny and Johnston regionals. Another Ankeny diver, Lydia … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Peters wins regional diving crown; Kolars also qualifies for state