Despite mixing up its lineup, the Ankeny girls' swimming team rolled to a 133-50 victory over visiting Council Bluffs Lewis Central on Thursday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. Ankeny won eight of the 12 events to raise its record to 5-1. The Titans fell to 1-4 on the season. "It was great to compete against Lewis Central in a fun non-conference meet!" … [Read more...] about ‘I am excited where we are at as a team’: Swimmers rout Titans, raise mark to 5-1
Dustin Rhoads
‘The energy of the team was awesome’: Swimmers defeat Valley in home opener
Despite winning only three of the 12 events, the Ankeny girls' swimming team relied on its depth to defeat Valley, 100-86, in its home opener on Tuesday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. Ankeny avenged last year's 95-90 loss to the Tigers. "We had a fun home opener!" said Ankeny coach Dustin Rhoads. "The energy of the team was awesome. Valley is always … [Read more...] about ‘The energy of the team was awesome’: Swimmers defeat Valley in home opener
Ankeny swimmers dominate Grinnell Quadrangular for second straight year
The Ankeny girls' swimming team dominated the Grinnell Quadrangular on Thursday for the second year in a row. Ankeny won six events and racked up 405 points, 172 more than runner-up Newton. Grinnell was third with 214 points, followed by Indianola with 118. "We had a good meet!" said Ankeny coach Dustin Rhoads, whose team is now 3-1 on the season. "It … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers dominate Grinnell Quadrangular for second straight year
‘We will only get better from here’: Ankeny swimmers drop season opener to Wolves
The Ankeny girls' swimming team got wins from two of its newcomers during a season-opening dual meet against Waukee Northwest on Tuesday. Holland Villhauer won the 100 butterfly in a time of 1:03.57, while fellow freshman Rowen Hutzell captured the 100 breaststroke in 1:15.32. It wasn't enough, though, as the Wolves posted a 106-80 victory at the Waukee … [Read more...] about ‘We will only get better from here’: Ankeny swimmers drop season opener to Wolves
‘We are excited about the team we have’: Ankeny swimmers set some big goals
With the bulk of its qualifiers returning from last year's state meet, the Ankeny girls' swimming team enters the 2026 season with some higher expectations. Ankeny placed 27th at the state meet with 17 points after finishing 29th in 2024. Coach Dustin Rhoads' team saw some improvement, but still has a long way to go to again become a top-10 … [Read more...] about ‘We are excited about the team we have’: Ankeny swimmers set some big goals
‘We had a great meet’: Ankeny swimmers place 17th at state despite DQ in last race
Ankeny senior Bryer Pearson earned a spot on the awards podium in his final boys' high school state swimming meet. Pearson placed third in the 100 butterfly on Saturday at the University of Iowa's Campus Recreation & Wellness Center. He set a personal record of 49.60 after breaking the 50-second mark for the first time during Friday's preliminaries, … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great meet’: Ankeny swimmers place 17th at state despite DQ in last race
‘We had a great day’: Ankeny places 2nd at district, qualifies for state in 9 events
The Ankeny boys' swimming team qualified for the state meet in nine events with a strong performance in a district meet on Saturday at Mason City. Tenth-ranked Ankeny placed second in the eight-team field with 433 points. No. 7 Valley captured the team title with 458. "We had a great day at the pool," said Ankeny coach Dustin Rhoads, who along with his … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great day’: Ankeny places 2nd at district, qualifies for state in 9 events
‘We had a very fun dual’: Ankeny tankers edged by No. 4 Linn-Mar in final relay
The Ankeny boys' swimming team nearly knocked off one of the state's top squads on Saturday. Eighth-ranked Ankeny held a two-point lead going into the final event before No. 4 Linn-Mar (Marion) went 1-3 in the 400 freestyle relay to escape with an 87-83 victory in a non-conference dual meet at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The Lions improved to 10-5 on the … [Read more...] about ‘We had a very fun dual’: Ankeny tankers edged by No. 4 Linn-Mar in final relay
‘That was the team I know’: Swimmers’ depth pays off with 94-76 win at S.E. Polk
The ninth-ranked Ankeny boys' swimming team relied on its depth to post a 94-76 victory at No. 11 Southeast Polk on Thursday. The Rams won six of the 11 events, but Ankeny had seven runner-up finishes, 10 third-place finishes and swept the top three places in the 200 individual medley to earn the win. Coach Dustin Rhoads' team improved to 2-3 in the … [Read more...] about ‘That was the team I know’: Swimmers’ depth pays off with 94-76 win at S.E. Polk
‘We have to be better to be successful’: Swimmers win 3 events in loss at Dowling
The Ankeny boys' swimming team got two wins from Jake Smith and another one from Bryer Pearson during Tuesday's CIML Conference dual meet at Dowling Catholic. Unfortunately, the sixth-ranked Maroons won the other eight events and posted a 101-69 victory. They improved to 2-1 in the league and 14-4 overall, while No. 9 Ankeny's records dropped to 1-3 and … [Read more...] about ‘We have to be better to be successful’: Swimmers win 3 events in loss at Dowling
‘The whole team was motivated to swim fast’: Ankeny routs Johnston on Sr. Night
The seniors on the Ankeny boys' swimming team celebrated their special night with a dominating victory. Eighth-ranked Ankeny won all 11 events and rolled to a 132-38 victory over No. 16 Johnston on Thursday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. It was Senior Night for coach Dustin Rhoads' team, which improved to 1-2 in the CIML Conference and 5-6 overall. … [Read more...] about ‘The whole team was motivated to swim fast’: Ankeny routs Johnston on Sr. Night
Pearson, Smith combine for 3 victories in Ankeny’s loss to No. 5 Valley swimmers
Despite two wins from Bryer Pearson and another from Jake Smith, the eighth-ranked Ankeny boys' swimming team dropped a 95-75 decision to No. 5 Valley on Tuesday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The Tigers won eight of the 11 events to improve to 2-0 in the CIML Conference and 7-2-1 overall. Ankeny's records dropped to 0-2 and 4-6. "We battled a very … [Read more...] about Pearson, Smith combine for 3 victories in Ankeny’s loss to No. 5 Valley swimmers
Ankeny swimmers roll to 136-32 victory over Grinnell at one of state’s best pools
The Ankeny boys' swimming team cruised to a 136-32 victory over Grinnell in a non-conference meet on Tuesday at the Grinnell College Natatorium. Ankeny won all 11 events while raising its overall record to 4-5. The Tigers dropped to 6-4. "It was awesome to be at one of the best pools in the state of Iowa!" said Ankeny coach Dustin Rhoads. "We were able … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers roll to 136-32 victory over Grinnell at one of state’s best pools
‘I thought we competed hard’: Ankeny swimmers suffer 104-66 loss to Waukee
The Ankeny boys' swimming team faced visiting Waukee for the second time in 10 days. After placing fifth behind the runner-up Warriors in the Ankeny Sprint Invitational on Nov. 25, the Hawks collided with Waukee again in the CIML Conference opener for both teams on Thursday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The Warriors won 10 of the 11 events and posted … [Read more...] about ‘I thought we competed hard’: Ankeny swimmers suffer 104-66 loss to Waukee
Pearson wins 50 butterfly, leads Ankeny boys to 5th-place finish at Sprint Invite
The Ankeny boys' swimming team was only three points away from reaching its goal. Coach Dustin Rhoads' squad opened the season on Tuesday by placing fifth among eight teams in the Ankeny Sprint Invitational at Trail Point Aquatics Center. Ankeny scored 293.5 points and finished just behind fourth-place Dowling Catholic, which ended up with 296. "This … [Read more...] about Pearson wins 50 butterfly, leads Ankeny boys to 5th-place finish at Sprint Invite
‘I am excited for this group’: Ankeny boys’ swimming team returns 6 state qualifiers
It won't be easy to replace the duo of Brock Peterson and Finn Stukerjurgen, but the Ankeny boys' swimming team returns a solid nucleus from last year's squad. Six state qualifiers are back from a team that tied with Dowling Catholic for 13th place in the state meet with 67 points. "It will be tough to replace Finn and Brock and the impact they … [Read more...] about ‘I am excited for this group’: Ankeny boys’ swimming team returns 6 state qualifiers
Ankeny swimmers place 2nd at regional meet, advance 8 girls to state meet
The Ankeny girls' swimming team has qualified a total of eight girls for next week's state meet in Iowa City. Ninth-ranked Ankeny placed second in a regional meet on Saturday at Johnston, where coach Dustin Rhoads' team qualified for state in all three relays and every individual event except for the 100 breaststroke. "I was so happy with our … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers place 2nd at regional meet, advance 8 girls to state meet
‘I’m proud of the girls’: Ankeny swimmers avenge losses, place 4th at CIML meet
The Ankeny girls' swimming team avenged a pair of dual-meet losses during the regular season while placing fourth in the CIML Conference meet on Saturday at the Waukee Natatorium. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes racked up 309 points to finish far ahead of No. 11 Valley (199 points) and No. 5 Johnston (152), two teams that they lost to last month. "We had … [Read more...] about ‘I’m proud of the girls’: Ankeny swimmers avenge losses, place 4th at CIML meet
‘It was just to have fun’: Seniors race their coaches following victory over S.E. Polk
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Madi Trosper anchored the final relay of the night on behalf of the Ankeny girls' swimming team, and it came down to a photo finish on Tuesday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. But by that point, seventh-ranked Ankeny had already defeated No. 17 Southeast Polk, 136-50, for its first CIML Conference victory of the … [Read more...] about ‘It was just to have fun’: Seniors race their coaches following victory over S.E. Polk
Villhauer posts automatic state qualifying time in 100 butterfly at Johnston Invite
Ankeny sophomore Charlie Villhauer punched her ticket to the girls' state swimming meet with a fifth-place finish in the 100 butterfly on Saturday in the Johnston Invitational at Summit Middle School. Villhauer posted an automatic state qualifying time of 59.48 seconds, dropping more than 2 seconds off her previous season-best of 1:01.54. She had been … [Read more...] about Villhauer posts automatic state qualifying time in 100 butterfly at Johnston Invite