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Reynolds earns repeat all-tournament honors after leading Ankeny to semifinals

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Ankeny volleyball standout Ava Reynolds has been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team for the second straight year. Reynolds had 19 kills, 11 digs and four blocks in the Hawkettes' loss to eventual champion Pleasant Valley in Wednesday's semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. On Monday, she pounded 27 kills as Ankeny rallied for … [Read more...] about Reynolds earns repeat all-tournament honors after leading Ankeny to semifinals

Soccer standouts Brown, Gray, Whitaker honored by Big Ten Conference

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The soccer careers of Olivia Brown, Megan Gray and Riley Whitaker didn't end without the former Ankeny standouts earning one more honor. All three players were winners of the Sportsmanship Award from the Big Ten Conference, which recognized one athlete from each of the league's 14 teams for the honor. The students chosen are individuals who have … [Read more...] about Soccer standouts Brown, Gray, Whitaker honored by Big Ten Conference

‘We fell to a better team’: Hawkettes’ bid for repeat crown ends with loss to PV

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A talented squad with a lot of motivation proved to be a bad combination for the Ankeny volleyball team on Wednesday. Second-ranked Pleasant Valley posted a 25-16, 32-30, 15-25, 25-17 victory over the No. 3 Hawkettes in the Class 5A semifinals at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. The Spartans avenged last year's five-set loss to Ankeny in the … [Read more...] about ‘We fell to a better team’: Hawkettes’ bid for repeat crown ends with loss to PV

Another 5-setter?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

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If Wednesday's semifinal matches in the Class 5A state volleyball tournament are half as entertaining as Monday's quarterfinal matches, then the fans at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse will be in for a treat. Monday's action included a pair of five-set thrillers. Third-ranked Ankeny outlasted No. 6 Urbandale despite scoring five fewer points overall, while … [Read more...] about Another 5-setter?: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

‘It’s a bummer’: Pleasant Valley knocks out Centennial, earns rematch vs. Ankeny

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team was hoping to erase the memory of last year's four-set loss to Ankeny in the Class 5A quarterfinals. Instead, the Jaguars suffered a similar fate. Second-ranked Pleasant Valley scored 33 of the last 48 points and posted a 25-16, 19-25, 25-20, 25-12 victory over No. 7 Centennial in a Class 5A quarterfinal on Monday … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a bummer’: Pleasant Valley knocks out Centennial, earns rematch vs. Ankeny

SURVIVE AND ADVANCE: Hawkettes outlast Urbandale, Dykstra in 5 sets

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University of Minnesota football coach PJ Fleck provided some inspiration for the Ankeny volleyball team on Monday. After the third-ranked Hawkettes lost two of the first three sets against No. 6 Urbandale in the Class 5A quarterfinals, Ankeny coach Dave Whims channeled his inner Fleck before the fourth set. "The girls were kind of down after losing … [Read more...] about SURVIVE AND ADVANCE: Hawkettes outlast Urbandale, Dykstra in 5 sets

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Peyton Mitchell, Ankeny Centennial volleyball

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Senior middle hitter Peyton Mitchell has helped the seventh-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team to a 30-9 record. She had four kills and two aces as the Jaguars swept No. 11 Cedar Rapids Prairie in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday to advance to the state tournament. Mitchell has racked up 117 kills and 45 blocks this season. She has compiled a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Peyton Mitchell, Ankeny Centennial volleyball

State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals

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The state volleyball tournament gets under way on Monday at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. We already know that at least one CIML team will advance to the Class 5A semifinals on Wednesday. Defending champion Ankeny will face CIML rival Urbandale in one of the four quarterfinal matchups. Three other CIML teams are in the Class 5A field, … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals

Hawks pull away from Waukee Northwest with dominant 2nd half

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(Story by David Klockenga) The Ankeny football players knew they were in a battle with visiting Waukee Northwest on Friday before the third-ranked Hawks pulled away in the second half for a 42-3 victory in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs. Ankeny (8-2) led by just 14-3 at halftime before outscoring the Wolves, 28-0, in the final two … [Read more...] about Hawks pull away from Waukee Northwest with dominant 2nd half

TOO MUCH MORROW: Valley ends Jaguars’ season behind QB’s 5 TDs

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Valley quarterback Mason Morrow didn't take over the starting position last year until heralded transfer Jake Rubley was declared ineligible by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Rubley's departure may have been a blessing in disguise for the Tigers. Morrow, who has developed into a solid quarterback, passed for three touchdowns and ran for two … [Read more...] about TOO MUCH MORROW: Valley ends Jaguars’ season behind QB’s 5 TDs

ANOTHER CLOSE BATTLE: Ankeny boys edge Jaguars by 8 points for 13th place

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The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country teams were both hoping to earn top-10 finishes in the Class 4A state meet on Friday. In the end, the two squads waged a close battle for 13th place at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. Twelfth-ranked Ankeny finished with 299 points to edge No. 11 Centennial by eight points. "We're happy about it," … [Read more...] about ANOTHER CLOSE BATTLE: Ankeny boys edge Jaguars by 8 points for 13th place

IT’S ALL CHALK: Favorites prevail in opening round of Class 5A playoffs

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There were no upsets in the opening round of the Class 5A football playoffs as all eight of the higher seeded teams prevailed on Friday by an average margin of 26.75 points. Ankeny, the No. 5 team in the final RPI rankings, rolled to a 42-3 victory over visiting Waukee Northwest. The Hawks, who won last year's Class 4A championship, will play at Cedar … [Read more...] about IT’S ALL CHALK: Favorites prevail in opening round of Class 5A playoffs

Hawkettes place 6th for highest finish since 1988; Centennial girls take 10th

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Friday was a memorable day for the Ankeny girls' cross country team. It wasn't too bad for Ankeny Centennial, either. The 10th-ranked Hawkettes raced to a sixth-place finish in the Class 4A state meet at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. It was the second-best performance in school history, surpassed only by a fifth-place finish in 1988. "We're … [Read more...] about Hawkettes place 6th for highest finish since 1988; Centennial girls take 10th

THE END OF THE ROAD: Centennial, Ankeny runners gear up for state meet

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For the first time ever, all four of the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial cross country teams will be competing in the Class 4A state meet in the same year. The state meet will be held on Friday and Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. The Class 4A girls' race will be held on Friday at 10:30 a.m., with the Class 4A boys' race to follow at 11:15. … [Read more...] about THE END OF THE ROAD: Centennial, Ankeny runners gear up for state meet

Hawkettes roll past Iowa City High, will play Urbandale in 5A quarterfinals

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There was no chance that the Ankeny volleyball team was going to overlook Iowa City High on Tuesday. Not with a trip to the state tournament at stake. The third-ranked Hawkettes romped to a 25-12, 25-19, 25-9 victory over No. 13 City High in a Class 5A regional final at Ankeny. "It's an amazing feeling to be going back to the Cell (U.S. Cellular … [Read more...] about Hawkettes roll past Iowa City High, will play Urbandale in 5A quarterfinals

‘SHINE TIME’: Meyer, Jaguars sweep C.R. Prairie, advance to state tourney

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Marissa Meyer could barely contain her excitement following Tuesday's volleyball match against visiting Cedar Rapids Prairie. "I don't even have words (to describe it)," Meyer said. "I'm just so excited. We've worked for it the whole season. We had this saying the whole season, 'Grind time. Pride time. Shine time.' And we did shine." Nobody shined more … [Read more...] about ‘SHINE TIME’: Meyer, Jaguars sweep C.R. Prairie, advance to state tourney

AHS grad Hill among finalists for 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year Award

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Former Ankeny runner Naomi HIll is one of nine finalists for the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. Hill, a 2017 Ankeny High School graduate, competed in the triathlon at North Central College (Ill.). She contributed to team victories at the USA Triathlon Collegiate Club Division III National Championship in 2017 and 2018, including fourth-place … [Read more...] about AHS grad Hill among finalists for 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year Award

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Trey Porter, Ankeny Centennial football

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Senior Trey Porter has been a two-way standout this season for the Ankeny Centennial football team, helping the Jaguars to a 4-5 record. He ran for three touchdowns on Friday as the Jaguars clinched a berth in the Class 5A playoffs with a 63-6 victory at Des Moines East. Porter has rushed for 326 yards and four scores on 67 carries. As a defensive back, … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Trey Porter, Ankeny Centennial football