Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

After sluggish start, Hawks roll past Waukee behind Williams’ 3 2nd-half TDs

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Ankeny football coach Rick Nelson didn't know what his team was doing during the first half of Friday's season opener at Waukee. The Hawks were intercepted three times before the half and went to the locker room trailing, 7-0. "We did some really extreme things," said Nelson. "I'll have to watch the film. I don't know sometimes what we were doing. I'm … [Read more...] about After sluggish start, Hawks roll past Waukee behind Williams’ 3 2nd-half TDs

‘Too little and too late’: Jaguars’ rally falls short against Kluver, Indianola

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A late rally fell short for the Ankeny Centennial football team in its season opener on Friday. The Jaguars scored two touchdowns in the final 4 1/2 minutes before visiting Indianola recovered an onside kick to preserve a 26-20 victory at Ankeny Stadium. "The second half was just too little and too late," said Centennial co-head coach Ryan Pezzetti. "I … [Read more...] about ‘Too little and too late’: Jaguars’ rally falls short against Kluver, Indianola

TWIN WINS: Ankeny’s Zuber, Hill race to victories in opening meet of season

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The Ankeny boys' cross country team captured a pair of individual titles in the Ankeny Centennial Invitational on Thursday at DMACC. The Hawks nearly won a division crown as well. Ethan Zuber raced to an impressive victory in the 9/10 race, then teammate Levi Hill followed with another win in the 11/12 race. "Any time you get a meet champion, that … [Read more...] about TWIN WINS: Ankeny’s Zuber, Hill race to victories in opening meet of season

Jaguars win 9/10 title at Centennial Invite; Ankeny captures 11/12 crown

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Thursday's season-opening Ankeny Centennial Invitational featured three of the top 10 girls' cross country teams in Class 4A. Sixth-ranked Ankeny won the 11/12 division with 44 points, while No. 7 Centennial captured the 9/10 division with 27 points. No. 9 Valley took second in both divisions and won the overall title with 40 points, edging the Jaguars by … [Read more...] about Jaguars win 9/10 title at Centennial Invite; Ankeny captures 11/12 crown

Led by Kohl, No. 1 Hawks look to contend for 2nd state title in 3 years

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There's been a lot of hype surrounding the Ankeny football team the last couple of seasons. It might be time to take the hype up another notch. The Hawks are No. 1 in the Class 5A preseason rankings by The Des Moines Register. They return several standouts from last year's state runner-up squad--and have also added some talented newcomers. "It's a … [Read more...] about Led by Kohl, No. 1 Hawks look to contend for 2nd state title in 3 years

‘It was fun’: Hawkettes top Centennial to win Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational

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The Ankeny volleyball team is off to a good start. Ankeny Centennial has plenty of reasons to be optimistic, too. Both squads opened their season on Tuesday by competing in the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational. Fifth-ranked Ankeny won the round-robin tournament with a 4-0 record, while No. 11 Centennial took second with a 3-1 mark. "It’s always … [Read more...] about ‘It was fun’: Hawkettes top Centennial to win Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational

‘Our strength is going to be our defense’: Jaguars to rely on experienced unit

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The key to Ankeny Centennial's success on the football field this fall will be the Jaguars' ability to prevent their opponents from reaching the end zone. "When you look at our team from a year ago and we've looked at how to build a competitive team, we knew right away that our strength is going to be our defense," said Centennial co-head coach Ryan … [Read more...] about ‘Our strength is going to be our defense’: Jaguars to rely on experienced unit

‘Ankeny has lost a true champion of girls’ athletics’: Dickey passes away at 63

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Toni Dickey was much more than a coach to the golfers who played for her. Dickey, the longtime coach of the Ankeny girls' golf team, died on Monday at the age of 63. "Coach Dickey was exactly the coach I needed in high school," said Abbi (Sunner) Rickelman, a former standout for the Hawkettes. "She knew what we all needed. That was to not just be … [Read more...] about ‘Ankeny has lost a true champion of girls’ athletics’: Dickey passes away at 63

‘The boys battled’: Jaguars edge SEP, Valley in triangular at Copper Creek

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A week ago, the Southeast Polk boys' golf team traveled to Ankeny and defeated Ankeny Centennial on its home course to win the Jesse Peck Invitational at Briarwood Golf Club. On Monday, the Jaguars returned the favor. Centennial shot a 311 to win a CIML Conference triangular meet at Copper Creek. The Rams placed second on their home course with a 314, … [Read more...] about ‘The boys battled’: Jaguars edge SEP, Valley in triangular at Copper Creek

‘This team can do big things’: Jaguars ready to compete in new conference

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Throughout most of her tenure as the Ankeny Centennial volleyball coach, Jessica Rinehart has had some of the state's best players on her roster--from Jaali Winters to Kenna Sauer to Devyn Robinson just to name a few. Now, the Jaguars will head into the 2022 season without even one returning all-conference player. Centennial posted a 30-10 record last … [Read more...] about ‘This team can do big things’: Jaguars ready to compete in new conference

Hawkettes’ new head coach ‘blown away’ by team’s progress in preseason

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When Dave Whims retired as the Ankeny volleyball coach, he left behind a talented roster. New head coach Dani Kohut Lynch inherits a team that boasts five returning varsity regulars, led by junior outside hitter Aowyn Schrader. Also back are senior setter Jesa Wallace, senior middle hitter Myra Carlson, senior outside hitter Hannah Baier and junior … [Read more...] about Hawkettes’ new head coach ‘blown away’ by team’s progress in preseason

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

Despite heavy losses to graduation, Jaguars seek 3rd straight trip to state

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This could be a rebuilding season for the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team. The Jaguars placed 14th in last year's Class 4A state meet with 307 points. It was their second straight state-meet appearance, but four of the top seven runners from that squad graduated, including Tyler Schermerhorn. Schermerhorn was Centennial's No. 1 runner for … [Read more...] about Despite heavy losses to graduation, Jaguars seek 3rd straight trip to state

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Lawson Hachmeister, ACHS boys’ golf

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Senior Lawson Hachmeister helped the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team to a runner-up finish in the Jesse Peck Invitational on Aug. 15 at Briarwood Golf Club. He carded a 77 to place 10th as an individual. On Wednesday, Hachmeister shot a 1-over-par 73 to finish fifth in a triangular meet at The Legacy Golf Club in Norwalk. He had five birdies for the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Lawson Hachmeister, ACHS boys’ golf

Centennial goalkeeper Bergan to play soccer at Carnegie Mellon University

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Ankeny Centennial goalkeeper Kate Bergan has verbally committed to play for the Carnegie Mellon University women's soccer team in Pittsburgh, Pa. Bergan, a senior-to-be, announced her decision via Twitter on Friday. The Tartans are members of the NCAA Division III University Athletic Association. "I started off looking at a lot of schools earlier on, … [Read more...] about Centennial goalkeeper Bergan to play soccer at Carnegie Mellon University

‘I think we could have done better’: Hawks fall short in opener against SEP

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On a near perfect day for golf, the Ankeny boys' team opened its season on Thursday with a 299-302 loss to visiting Southeast Polk in a CIML Conference dual meet at Otter Creek. The Hawks posted five scores in the 70s, but it wasn't good enough to knock off Southeast Polk, which was coming off a victory in the Jesse Peck Invitational on Monday at … [Read more...] about ‘I think we could have done better’: Hawks fall short in opener against SEP