Ankeny Fanatic

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‘PLAY BALL!’: Gov. Reynolds approves high school summer sports

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The suspension of high school athletics due to COVID-19 will come to an end next month. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced on Wednesday at her daily press briefing that summer athletic seasons may be conducted for high school baseball and softball following a two-month activities suspension due to the coronavirus. The announcement approved the … [Read more...] about ‘PLAY BALL!’: Gov. Reynolds approves high school summer sports

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Roland Agyeman, Centennial boys’ soccer

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Roland Agyeman is a senior on the Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team. He would have been one of the Jaguars' top returning players this season. Agyeman started 10 games for Centennial a year ago. He helped the Jaguars to a 13-4 record. Here is some inside info on Agyeman: How are you dealing with the pandemic? Are you getting used to the "new … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Roland Agyeman, Centennial boys’ soccer

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny boys’ swimming team

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The history of Ankeny boys' swimming dates back to the 1980s--before the Ankeny YMCA was even built. Mike Johnson graduated before Ankeny had an indoor swimming pool, so he traveled to Dowling High School twice a day for a pair of three-hour practices. He participated in high school meets in order to qualify for the state meet by swimming in Valley's … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny boys’ swimming team

‘A long time coming’: Cyclone fan Quigley named to GA position on Campbell’s staff

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Xavier Quigley always wanted to play for the Iowa State football team. Although he never got that chance, the former Ankeny offensive lineman still had a desire to be part of the Cyclones' program. Now, he's getting that opportunity. Quigley has been named to a graduate assistant position on head coach Matt Campbell's staff. He will help coach the … [Read more...] about ‘A long time coming’: Cyclone fan Quigley named to GA position on Campbell’s staff

Iowa Central’s Pruisner named to 2020 USA Rugby Men’s Under-20 team

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When Lane Pruisner was a junior at Ankeny Centennial, the football and wrestling standout wasn't sure if he wanted to compete at the collegiate level. "I was thinking I wasn't even going to play sports in college," he said. "But I got to my senior year and I thought to myself, 'I can't give up being an athlete.' So then I decided to play rugby, and I'm … [Read more...] about Iowa Central’s Pruisner named to 2020 USA Rugby Men’s Under-20 team

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jacob Baier, Ankeny boys’ track

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Senior Jacob Baier was expected to have a big season for the Ankeny boys' track team. He placed sixth in the discus at last year's Class 4A state meet with a throw of 153 feet 9 inches, helping the Hawks to a sixth-place finish. Baier was also a standout on the football field last fall, when he helped Ankeny to an 8-3 record and a Class 4A quarterfinal … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jacob Baier, Ankeny boys’ track

Ankeny QB Bauer plans to make decision after his senior season

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The buzz around Ankeny quarterback Jase Bauer is beginning to grow, even during these uncertain times. Bauer helped lead the Hawks to a 7-4 record and a Class 4A quarterfinal appearance last season. He passed for 2,207 yards and 20 touchdowns while completing 61.5 percent of his passes (126-of-205). Bauer was named to the Class 4A all-state first team … [Read more...] about Ankeny QB Bauer plans to make decision after his senior season

‘I like how it’s close to home’: DeAngelo to continue track career at Drake

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An opportunity to keep running on the blue oval was one that Dylan DeAngelo couldn't pass up. The Ankeny Centennial senior verbally committed earlier this week to continue his track career at Drake University. The standout hurdler picked the Bulldogs over the University of Missouri-Kansas City. "It was a very tough decision," said DeAngelo. "I really … [Read more...] about ‘I like how it’s close to home’: DeAngelo to continue track career at Drake

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny wrestling team

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is dedicated to longtime Des Moines Register wrestling reporter Dan McCool, who died on Monday at the age of 60. Dan was a legend in the wrestling community and will be sorely missed. I was working for the Register as a correspondent in the 80s and one of the first big events that I was asked to cover was to help out Dan with state … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny wrestling team

Ankeny’s Reynolds, Centennial’s Hron to play soccer at Simpson College

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Two more Ankeny-area soccer players have decided to spend the next four years in Indianola. Ankeny senior Ben Reynolds has committed to play for Simpson College. He joins his teammate Colby Cheney, who previously committed to the Storm. "The fact that I already knew Colby was going to Simpson helped me in knowing that I would be going along with a … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Reynolds, Centennial’s Hron to play soccer at Simpson College

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Grace Nemmers, Centennial girls’ tennis

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Senior Grace Nemmers was one of the top returning players on the Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis team, which had its season cancelled last month due to the coronavirus. Nemmers helped the Jaguars to an 8-5 record in 2019. She posted a 6-6 mark at the No. 5 singles position and went 5-4 in doubles. Here is some inside info on Nemmers: You've had a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Grace Nemmers, Centennial girls’ tennis

Centennial’s Sease: ‘Choosing Wartburg was an easy decision for me’

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Ankeny Centennial's Lauren Sease didn't need another season of golf to figure out where she wanted to play in college. She had already made up her mind. Sease, who verbally committed to Wartburg College last fall, is still convinced that she made the right choice. "Choosing Wartburg was an easy decision for me," Sease said. "I only visited one … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Sease: ‘Choosing Wartburg was an easy decision for me’

First-year coaches Varnum, Espinosa deal with devastation of lost season

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Perhaps nobody was more excited to coach his team this spring than Ankeny boys' soccer coach Marcus Varnum. Unless it was Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis coach Armando Espinosa. Both Espinosa and Varnum were first-year head coaches who had their debut seasons wiped out by the coronavirus. Espinosa, the head tennis professional at Ames Fitness Center, … [Read more...] about First-year coaches Varnum, Espinosa deal with devastation of lost season

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ basketball team

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Last week, Ankeny Fanatic unveiled its all-time Ankeny boys' basketball team. Now, it's the girls' turn. Ankeny has a rich tradition in girls' basketball, boasting more than 40 all-state players dating back to 1940. The community has won a total of 10 state championships. The history of Ankeny girls' basketball can be broken down into three distinct … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ basketball team

Ex-Centennial kicker to play final season at Louisiana-Monroe

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Hunter Pinegar has decided to finish his collegiate football career in the Pelican State. The former Ankeny Centennial kicker has verbally committed to play for the University of Louisiana-Monroe, a Division I school. He spent the last season at Sam Houston State, an FCS program in Huntsville, Texas. "I'm looking for a fresh start," said Pinegar, who … [Read more...] about Ex-Centennial kicker to play final season at Louisiana-Monroe

Jaguars’ Pieper earns National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award

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Ankeny Centennial defensive lineman Lucas Pieper has been named a winner of the National Football Foundation's Iowa Chapter Scholar Athlete Award for 2020. This award recognizes high school football players who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in their communities. Pieper helped the Jaguars to an 8-2 record … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ Pieper earns National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award

Ex-Ankeny guard Riordan named Simpson College Male Athlete of Year

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Former Ankeny basketball standout Conor Riordan has been named the Simpson College Male Athlete of the Year after previously earning several postseason honors. Riordan, a senior guard, was selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-West District and D3hoops.com All-West Region second team. He was also named a first-team Academic … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny guard Riordan named Simpson College Male Athlete of Year