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
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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
Jackson erupts for 372 all-purpose yards, 6 TDs in Jaguars’ win over Iowa City High
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Braeden Jackson felt pretty good when he woke up on Friday, and that turned out to be the worst possible news for the Iowa City Little Hawks. Ankeny Centennial’s standout running back delivered an historic performance as he amassed 372 all-purpose yards and six total touchdowns to lead the seventh-seeded Jaguars to a 52-28 … [Read more...] about Jackson erupts for 372 all-purpose yards, 6 TDs in Jaguars’ win over Iowa City High
‘It’s the greatest feeling ever’: Zuber wins 2nd title, leads Hawks to 8th-place finish
Ankeny's Ethan Zuber raised his arms in triumph as he crossed the finish line on Friday. The senior pulled away in the final half mile to defend his boys' Class 4A state cross country title at Fort Dodge. He posted a time of 15:01.2 in the 5K race. "It's the greatest feeling ever to come across with that win," said Zuber. "I'm very excited to see how … [Read more...] about ‘It’s the greatest feeling ever’: Zuber wins 2nd title, leads Hawks to 8th-place finish
Centennial’s Vander Wilt, Moll nearly cross finish line together in boys’ Class 4A race
It wasn't planned, but the Ankeny Centennial duo of Brayden Vander Wilt and Cohen Moll nearly crossed the finish line together during the boys' Class 4A state cross country meet on Friday at Fort Dodge. Vander Wilt, a senior, closed out his career with a 73rd-place finish. He posted a time of 16:39.6 on the 5K course. "I don't knew where I finished, … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Vander Wilt, Moll nearly cross finish line together in boys’ Class 4A race
‘It was an amazing day of racing!’: Jaguars place 4th, Hawkettes take 7th in Class 4A
The Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team did everything it could to capture a trophy on Friday. The fourth-ranked Jaguars simply lost to three better squads. Centennial placed fourth in the Class 4A state meet at Fort Dodge with 145 points. The Jaguars finished 12 points behind No. 3 Dubuque Senior for the third-place trophy. No. 1 Pleasant … [Read more...] about ‘It was an amazing day of racing!’: Jaguars place 4th, Hawkettes take 7th in Class 4A
‘It’s kind of a relief’: Two-time defending champ Eagles move closer to threepeat
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Eagles are soaring back to Coralville with a chance to make history. Two-time reigning Class 1A state volleyball champion Ankeny Christian Academy has its sights set on a threepeat, and the top-ranked Eagles are one step closer to that goal after sweeping Southeast Warren, 25-15, 25-14, 25-11, in the Region 1 … [Read more...] about ‘It’s kind of a relief’: Two-time defending champ Eagles move closer to threepeat
‘It’s one of the best feelings ever’: No. 2 Jaguars are headed back to Coralville
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) By no means is the Ankeny Centennial volleyball program charting unfamiliar territory. But that doesn’t mean the feeling of winning a region championship and punching its ticket back to the Class 5A state tournament isn’t still one of the greatest feelings on the planet. “Honestly, it’s one of the best feelings ever,” … [Read more...] about ‘It’s one of the best feelings ever’: No. 2 Jaguars are headed back to Coralville
‘It’s just really special’: Hawkettes sweep Iowa City High, earn another trip to state
The players on the Ankeny volleyball team aren't just teammates. They're also best friends--and perhaps that's a big part of their success. The third-ranked Hawkettes advanced to the state tournament for the seventh consecutive year by sweeping No. 11 Iowa City High, 25-15, 25-10, 27-25, in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Ankeny. "We're all … [Read more...] about ‘It’s just really special’: Hawkettes sweep Iowa City High, earn another trip to state