In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm interviews Justin Crouch about his decision to resign as the Ankeny boys' and girls' swimming coach and discusses the girls' soccer season with coach Chris Allen and senior midfielder Alanna Pennington of Ankeny Centennial. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 220
Justin Crouch
Swanepoel captures 2 state titles, leads Hawk swimmers to 4th-place finish
Saturday was an unforgettable day for Lance Swanepoel, coach Justin Crouch and the Ankeny boys' swimming team. Swanepoel capped off his illustrious high school career by winning a pair of individual titles in the state meet at the University of Iowa's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in Iowa City. He also swam on Ankeny's runner-up 200 and 400 … [Read more...] about Swanepoel captures 2 state titles, leads Hawk swimmers to 4th-place finish
Swanepoel smashes state record in 100 butterfly, closes in on 50 freestyle mark
Ankeny swimmer Lance Swanepoel called his shot a week ago. After winning the 100 butterfly at a district meet in 48.75 seconds, Swanepoel said that a time of 46.8 was calling his name for the state meet. On Friday night during the preliminaries of the state meet at the University of Iowa's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in Iowa City, the senior … [Read more...] about Swanepoel smashes state record in 100 butterfly, closes in on 50 freestyle mark
Ankeny swimmers respond to adversity, earn runner-up finish at district meet
Saturday's district meet at Ames went pretty smoothly for the Ankeny boys' swimming team--with one notable exception. Owen Schwebach was disqualified for a false start in the 50 freestyle, but he then rebounded with a personal best in the 100 butterfly and helped seventh-ranked Ankeny to a runner-up finish in the eight-team field. The Hawks scored 438 … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers respond to adversity, earn runner-up finish at district meet
Ankeny swimmers pick events out of a hat, then place 3rd at conference meet
For the most part, Ankeny boys' swimming coach Justin Crouch didn't enter his varsity swimmers in their best events for the CIML Conference meet on Saturday at Southeast Polk. He picked his lineup at random. "We decided to swim off events," said Crouch. "Considering we drew events out of a hat, we were able to finish third. I thought it was a great … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers pick events out of a hat, then place 3rd at conference meet
Hawk swimmers edge Linn-Mar in battle of top-5 teams, finish 4-3-1 in duals
Saturday's non-conference dual meet at Linn-Mar (Marion) was a good test for the Ankeny boys' swimming team. The fourth-ranked Hawks, who will return to eastern Iowa in four weeks for the state meet, earned perhaps their biggest win of the season with a 90-80 victory over No. 5 Linn-Mar. They finished the dual-meet schedule with an overall record to … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers edge Linn-Mar in battle of top-5 teams, finish 4-3-1 in duals
Ankeny swimmers beat S.E. Polk to even their records, will face Linn-Mar next
It's been a good week thus far for the Ankeny boys' swimming team. After rolling to a non-conference win over visiting Indianola on Tuesday, the fourth-ranked Hawks traveled to Southeast Polk on Thursday and dominated a CIML Conference dual meet. Ankeny won all 11 events and romped to a 132-38 victory over the No. 18 Rams. The Hawks evened their … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers beat S.E. Polk to even their records, will face Linn-Mar next
‘The boys had a fun time competing’: Hawk swimmers cruise past Indianola
The Ankeny boys' swimming team is trending in the right direction. That was the assessment of coach Justin Crouch following the fourth-ranked Hawks' 128-42 victory over No. 19 Indianola in a non-conference meet on Tuesday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. "The boys had a fun time competing tonight," said Crouch. "It was good to get a win, but even … [Read more...] about ‘The boys had a fun time competing’: Hawk swimmers cruise past Indianola
Ankeny swimmers celebrate Senior Night with 114-56 victory over Johnston
The seniors on the Ankeny boys' swimming team were hungry for a dual-meet victory. There was no better time to get one than on Senior Night. The fifth-ranked Hawks dominated from start to finish and defeated No. 14 Johnston, 114-56, in a CIML Conference dual meet on Thursday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. It was the first win of the season for … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers celebrate Senior Night with 114-56 victory over Johnston
Swanepoel returns, but Valley sets 4 pool records and tops Ankeny swimmers
On paper, Thursday's dual meet between the fifth-ranked Ankeny boys' swimming team and No. 4 Valley appeared to be a toss-up. The two squads entered the CIML Conference matchup separated by just four points in the latest power rankings of the state's top teams. In the end, though, host Valley dominated the meet, winning seven of the 11 events and … [Read more...] about Swanepoel returns, but Valley sets 4 pool records and tops Ankeny swimmers
Ankeny swimmers tie Dowling Catholic after being DQ’d in 400 freestyle relay
A dual-meet victory got away from the Ankeny boys' swimming team on Thursday. The fifth-ranked Hawks battled No. 8 Dowling Catholic to an 85-85 tie in a CIML Conference matchup at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The Maroons won the final event, the 400 freestyle relay, to forge the tie. Ankeny held an 81-75 lead going into the last race, but the Hawks' … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers tie Dowling Catholic after being DQ’d in 400 freestyle relay
Schwebach wins 2 events, leads Ankeny to 3rd-place finish at Wittmer Invite
Only 62 points separated the top four teams in the Mike Wittmer Invitational boys' swimming meet on Saturday at Ames. Pleasant Valley won the team title with 378 points, edging defending champion Ames by 17 points. Ankeny was third in the eight-team field with 326 points, followed by Cedar Falls with 306. "It was definitely hit or miss in terms of … [Read more...] about Schwebach wins 2 events, leads Ankeny to 3rd-place finish at Wittmer Invite
Hawk swimmers place 3rd behind Waukee, Valley at Ankeny Sprint Invite
A strong field provided a good opening test for the Ankeny boys' swimming team as the Hawks hosted the Ankeny Sprint Invitational on Tuesday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. Waukee, the two-time defending state champion, easily won the meet with 453.5 points. Valley, last year's third-place finisher at state, took second with 379 points. Ankeny placed … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers place 3rd behind Waukee, Valley at Ankeny Sprint Invite
Butterfly state champ Swanepoel, 4 other qualifiers return for Hawk swimmers
Despite having only five returning state qualifiers, the Ankeny boys' swimming team can rebuild its lineup around one of the state's best swimmers. Senior Lance Swanepoel is the defending state champion in the 100 butterfly and a five-time all-American. He led the Hawks to a seventh-place finish at last year's state meet. "Lance made a great jump last … [Read more...] about Butterfly state champ Swanepoel, 4 other qualifiers return for Hawk swimmers
Hawkettes reach podium in 4 events, finish in tie for 7th place at state meet
The goal for the Ankeny girls' swimming team was to get on the podium in multiple events during the state meet on Saturday at the Marshalltown YMCA. The Hawkettes accomplished their goal. Ankeny earned a top-six finish in four different events and tied for seventh place overall with Cedar Falls with 108 points. The Hawkettes placed among the top 10 … [Read more...] about Hawkettes reach podium in 4 events, finish in tie for 7th place at state meet
‘We have a lot of opportunities to score points’: AHS advances 4 girls in 7 events
Four Ankeny swimmers qualified for the finals in a total of seven different events during the preliminaries of the girls' state meet on Friday at the Marshalltown YMCA. Anja Peck, Rachel Rolow and Caroline Walker each qualified in a pair of events. Gracie Lindaman qualified in the 50 freestyle and just missed qualifying in the 100 freestyle. "It was a … [Read more...] about ‘We have a lot of opportunities to score points’: AHS advances 4 girls in 7 events
With a chip on their shoulder, Hawkettes seek another top-10 finish at state
The Ankeny girls' swimming team is seeking a ninth consecutive top-10 finish at the state meet. It won't be easy, however, as the sixth-ranked Hawkettes are projected to finish in 11th place based on where their qualifiers would finish according to their seedings. The state meet will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Marshalltown YMCA, beginning with … [Read more...] about With a chip on their shoulder, Hawkettes seek another top-10 finish at state
Ankeny swimmers place 2nd at regional meet, qualify for state in every event
The Ankeny girls' swimming team has qualified for the state meet in every event. The Hawkettes placed second in a regional meet on Saturday at Summit Middle School in Johnston. The host Dragons won the 10-team meet with 492 points, finishing 47 points ahead of Ankeny. "We had a lot of good swims," said Ankeny coach Justin Crouch. "I was really proud of … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers place 2nd at regional meet, qualify for state in every event
‘The girls stepped up and swam their best’: Hawkettes place 3rd at CIML meet
The Ankeny girls' swimming team wasn't at full strength for this week's CIML Conference meet. Competing without swimmer Rachel Rolow and diver Lydia Boehlert, the sixth-ranked Hawkettes still managed to earn a third-place finish on Saturday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The six-team field included five of the top nine squads in the state. "Getting … [Read more...] about ‘The girls stepped up and swam their best’: Hawkettes place 3rd at CIML meet
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 200
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm interviews Ankeny girls' swimming coach Justin Crouch and two of his team's seniors, Caroline Walker and Hannah Kolars. Ankeny boys' golfer Evan Hodapp and Coldwell Banker realtor Andy Logan also make appearances. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 200