Ankeny Centennial senior Kohen Bollwinkel has verbally committed to play baseball at Southwestern Community College in Creston. Bollwinkel said he picked the Spartans over a handful of other programs. "I had a few schools in mind--some four-year schools around Iowa and several junior colleges--before I made my decision," said Bollwinkel, an outfielder. … [Read more...] about ‘I felt like I could be myself’: Bollwinkel commits to play baseball at Southwestern
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Overberg, Gophers to host Jackrabbits in first round of NCAA Tournament Friday
Elizabeth Overberg and the Minnesota soccer team are headed to the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers received an at-large berth to the 2024 NCAA Division I Championship on Monday afternoon. It's the program's first bid since 2018. Minnesota earned the No. 6 seed in the Columbia Regional and will host South Dakota State (15-4-2) on Friday at 6 p.m. at … [Read more...] about Overberg, Gophers to host Jackrabbits in first round of NCAA Tournament Friday
Centennial volleyball duo joins Ankeny’s star trio on CIML Conference first team
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball duo of Delaney Miller and Jaeden Pratt has been named to the CIML Conference first team along with fellow seniors Baileigh Carlsen, Reagan Hanfelt and Kamryn Scheib of Ankeny. Pratt, an outside hitter, earned first-team honors for the third time. Miller, an outside hitter, was also a repeat pick. Pratt and Miller led … [Read more...] about Centennial volleyball duo joins Ankeny’s star trio on CIML Conference first team
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Morgan Fincham, Ankeny Christian volleyball
Senior middle hitter Morgan Fincham helped the Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team to a 40-5 record and a third consecutive Class 1A state championship this season. She had five kills, two aces, six digs and two blocks as the Eagles completed the threepeat with a sweep over BCLUW in the title match on Thursday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Fincham … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Morgan Fincham, Ankeny Christian volleyball
‘We had a great day at the pool!’: Ankeny swimmers qualify 9 girls for state meet
There's still a lot of work to do, but the Ankeny girls' swimming team could be in position to earn another top-10 finish at the state meet. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes placed second in a regional meet on Saturday at Mason City. They finished with 401.5 points in the eight-team field, while No. 1 Dowling Catholic easily claimed the title with … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great day at the pool!’: Ankeny swimmers qualify 9 girls for state meet
‘We didn’t play our best’: Hawks close out season with 21-13 loss at Iowa City Liberty
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After coming off a Class 5A championship game appearance, the Ankeny Hawks planned on finishing their 2024 football season at the UNI-Dome. Things didn’t necessarily end up happening how the Hawks wanted to as their season ended about 83 miles southeast of Cedar Falls in Iowa City, just one game shy of returning to the … [Read more...] about ‘We didn’t play our best’: Hawks close out season with 21-13 loss at Iowa City Liberty
Dowling uses two late defensive stands to hold on for 14-10 victory over Jaguars
Friday's rematch between the Ankeny Centennial and Dowling Catholic football teams didn't feature as many points as last month's meeting at Valley Stadium. But there was still plenty of drama. The second-ranked Maroons made two late defensive stops in the fourth quarter and held on for a 14-10 victory over No. 7 Centennial in the Class 5A quarterfinals … [Read more...] about Dowling uses two late defensive stands to hold on for 14-10 victory over Jaguars
‘I feel really lucky’: Winters becomes 4th Ankeny player in Volleyball Hall of Fame
Thursday night was a celebration of Ankeny volleyball at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Prior to the Class 1A championship match that saw Ankeny Christian Academy win its third consecutive state title, former Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial star Jaali Winters was inducted into the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union Volleyball Hall of Fame along with two … [Read more...] about ‘I feel really lucky’: Winters becomes 4th Ankeny player in Volleyball Hall of Fame
ACA’s Nehring, Quick earn academic all-state honors along with Ankeny’s Moser
Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball stars Macey Nehring and Katie Quick have been named to the academic all-state team along with fellow senior Jade Moser of Ankeny. The team was selected by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Nehring and Quick helped the Eagles to a 40-5 record and a third consecutive Class 1A state championship. Quick was named the … [Read more...] about ACA’s Nehring, Quick earn academic all-state honors along with Ankeny’s Moser
‘Miranda had great confidence’: Ankeny diver Gagne qualifies for state swim meet
Ankeny diver Miranda Gagne has qualified for next week's girls' state swim meet at Marshalltown. Gagne competed in a regional meet on Thursday at Johnston and posted a score of 324.75 points. She will be seeded 27th among the 32 state qualifiers. "Miranda had great confidence throughout the meet and really didn't make an error until her final dive," … [Read more...] about ‘Miranda had great confidence’: Ankeny diver Gagne qualifies for state swim meet
A DYNASTIC ACHIEVEMENT: Dominant Eagles capture 3rd straight Class 1A title
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) In November of 2022, a core of confident sophomores stepped into the Xtream Arena in Coralville to proclaim that the Ankeny Christian Academy Eagles were the team to beat in Class 1A volleyball. But as that group of sophomores became juniors and now seniors, the message never changed over the course of those three … [Read more...] about A DYNASTIC ACHIEVEMENT: Dominant Eagles capture 3rd straight Class 1A title
‘We definitely brought our best’: Eagles survive tough test, advance to title match
Its biggest test thus far on the postseason trail still resulted in a sweep for the Ankeny Christian Academy volleyball team. The top-seeded Eagles moved one win away from a third consecutive state championship by defeating No. 4 Riverside, 25-12, 25-21, 25-18, in the Class 1A semifinals on Wednesday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The Bulldogs became the … [Read more...] about ‘We definitely brought our best’: Eagles survive tough test, advance to title match
Centennial’s Miller named to all-tourney team for 2nd consecutive year
Ankeny Centennial volleyball star Delaney Miller has been named to the Class 5A all-tournament team for the second consecutive year. Miller was honored on Thursday following Pleasant Valley's victory over defending champion Waukee Northwest in the Class 5A final at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The senior outside hitter helped the Jaguars to a semifinal … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Miller named to all-tourney team for 2nd consecutive year
‘I’m super proud of our team’: Jaguars rally from 2-0 hole, fall in 5 sets to Waukee NW
Jaeden Pratt and her Ankeny Centennial volleyball teammates left everything on the court. The second-ranked Jaguars just came up a little bit short. Centennial rallied from a two-set deficit before dropping a 25-21, 25-22, 16-25, 23-25, 18-16 decision to No. 6 Waukee Northwest in the Class 5A semifinals on Wednesday at Xtream Arena in … [Read more...] about ‘I’m super proud of our team’: Jaguars rally from 2-0 hole, fall in 5 sets to Waukee NW
‘I’m super excited’: Eagles romp past Don Bosco, will face Riverside in 1A semifinal
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Ankeny Christian Academy needed just three more wins to etch its name in the history books as a threepeat state volleyball champion. The magic number has been reduced to two as the top-seeded Eagles cruised to a 25-9, 25-16, 25-17 sweep over No. 8 Don Bosco in a Class 1A quarterfinal on Tuesday at Xtream Arena in … [Read more...] about ‘I’m super excited’: Eagles romp past Don Bosco, will face Riverside in 1A semifinal
Hawkettes’ 11-match winning streak ends with quarterfinal loss to reigning champs
One of the axioms in sports is that it's difficult to beat the same team three times. When that opponent is a talented young squad that has continued to get better throughout the season, it's even tougher to do it a fourth time. That proved to be the case for the Ankeny volleyball team on Monday in the Class 5A quarterfinals at the state … [Read more...] about Hawkettes’ 11-match winning streak ends with quarterfinal loss to reigning champs
Jaguars sweep Cedar Falls behind Miller’s 24 kills, earn 3rd straight trip to semifinals
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team is headed back to the Class 5A semifinals for the third consecutive year. The second-ranked Jaguars posted a 25-19, 25-22, 25-23 victory over No. 7 Cedar Falls in the quarterfinals of the state tournament on Monday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. "It feels incredible," said Centennial outside hitter Delaney Miller, … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep Cedar Falls behind Miller’s 24 kills, earn 3rd straight trip to semifinals
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Maya Ridgeway, Ankeny volleyball
Senior outside hitter Maya Ridgeway had seven kills to help the third-ranked Ankeny volleyball team to a 25-15, 25-10, 27-25 victory over visiting Iowa City High in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday. The Hawkettes (36-4) advanced to the state tournament for the seventh consecutive year. Ridgeway currently ranks fourth on the team with 217 kills in 583 … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Maya Ridgeway, Ankeny volleyball
‘I really liked the team and coaches’: Sickerson verbally commits to UNI
Ankeny sprinter Tyler Sickerson is fully healthy now, and he's made his college plans. The senior announced his verbal commitment over the weekend to join the Northern Iowa men's track and field program in the fall of 2025. "I really liked the team and coaches at UNI," said Sickerson. "I have a lot of teammates that I ran with in the past that already … [Read more...] about ‘I really liked the team and coaches’: Sickerson verbally commits to UNI
‘I knew he was ready to break out’: Larmie runs for 279 yards, 4 TDs in Hawks’ victory
Ankeny Centennial's Braeden Jackson put on a show Friday night at Ankeny Stadium. Over the next few hours, Ankeny's Daniel Larmie proved to be just as spectacular. The junior running back rushed for 279 yards and four touchdowns to lead the eighth-seeded Hawks to a 47-21 victory over No. 9 Linn-Mar (Marion) in the nightcap of a first-round Class 5A … [Read more...] about ‘I knew he was ready to break out’: Larmie runs for 279 yards, 4 TDs in Hawks’ victory