Because September is Suicide Prevention Month, Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm has interviewed a variety of guests in an effort to promote awareness of the topic. He will also be interviewing two other guests on the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast. Here is his interview with former Ankeny girls' swimming coach Michelle Stout, who lost her daughter Jessie … [Read more...] about Suicide Prevention Month: An interview with Michelle Stout
Michelle Stout
Ankeny girls’ swimming coach Stout announces retirement after 15 seasons
Ankeny girls' swimming coach Michelle Stout wanted to leave her program in a good place. She has certainly done that. The longtime coach of the Hawkettes has announced her retirement. "I always knew I wanted to be sure I retired at a time when the team was in a position to succeed after my departure," said Stout, who has also been an assistant … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ swimming coach Stout announces retirement after 15 seasons
Stout: 5th-place finish at state ‘a huge accomplishment’ for Ankeny swimmers
The Ankeny girls' swimming team has been ranked among the top five squads in the state most of the season. The Hawkettes capped off a successful campaign with a fifth-place finish in the state meet on Saturday at Marshalltown. They finished with 168 points, edging CIML rival Johnston by six points for fifth place. "Finishing fifth was a huge … [Read more...] about Stout: 5th-place finish at state ‘a huge accomplishment’ for Ankeny swimmers
Ankeny swimmers dominate regional meet, advance to state in every event
Nine other schools came to Trail Point Aquatics Center on Saturday to take on host Ankeny in a girls' regional swimming meet. None of them could match the Hawkettes' depth. Ankeny won nine of the 11 swimming events after Erica Peters won the diving event on Thursday at Johnston, and the Hawkettes cruised to the team title with 541.5 points. Newton was … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers dominate regional meet, advance to state in every event
Hawkettes place 2nd at Iowa Conference meet behind potent Ames squad
The latest Iowa high school girls' swimming rankings show Ankeny in the No. 5 position, just one spot behind CIML rival Ames. The gap between the two teams, though, still appears to be significant. The Little Cyclones, who have captured nine of the last 11 state titles, dominated the CIML Iowa Conference meet on Thursday at Marshalltown. They won all … [Read more...] about Hawkettes place 2nd at Iowa Conference meet behind potent Ames squad
Ankeny diver Peters wins her 2nd straight CIML Iowa Conference crown
Thanks to a strong performance by its divers, the Ankeny girls' swimming team is off to a good start in the CIML Iowa Conference meet. Erica Peters won her second consecutive conference title on Tuesday at Marshalltown, while teammates Hannah Kolars and Lydia Boehlert also placed among the top seven finishers. The swimming portion of the meet will be held … [Read more...] about Ankeny diver Peters wins her 2nd straight CIML Iowa Conference crown
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 156
Ankeny girls' swimming coach Michelle Stout and standout diver Erica Peters joined realtor Tom Butler of Coldwell Banker Mid-America as the guests on the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 156
Hawkettes rack up season-high 3,672 power points in loss to No. 1 Waukee
A week ago, the Ankeny girls' swimming team lost to an Ames squad that has won nine of the last 11 state titles. On Tuesday, the fifth-ranked Hawkettes fell to another CIML opponent that may have the best chance to end the Little Cyclones' dynasty. No. 1 Waukee visited Ankeny for a dual meet against the Hawkettes and posted a 114-72 victory at Trail … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rack up season-high 3,672 power points in loss to No. 1 Waukee
Ankeny swimmers make some progress despite loss to No. 3 Little Cyclones
Sometimes, a team can benefit from a loss. That may have been the case on Tuesday for the seventh-ranked Ankeny girls' swimming team, which dropped a 105-81 decision at No. 3 Ames in a CIML Iowa Conference dual meet. A year ago, the Little Cyclones--who have won nine of the last 11 state titles--posted a 119-67 victory over Ankeny. "Tonight we … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers make some progress despite loss to No. 3 Little Cyclones
Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ swimming team
When the Ankeny girls' swimming program was launched in 1989, the Hawkettes suffered through some growing pains. Ankeny had three winless campaigns in its first seven seasons and went just 10-52 in dual meets through 1995. The Hawkettes had no state qualifiers in two of those years and placed no higher than 30th at the state meet during that … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ swimming team
Hawkettes win 10 of 12 events on Senior Night, cruise past Mason City
Ankeny girls' swimming coach Michelle Stout is never going to forget this year's senior class. The 14 seniors were recognized on Tuesday during the Hawkettes' 131-54 victory over visiting Mason City at Trail Point Aquatics Center. "This is one of the largest group of senior girls that I can remember," Stout said. "They have shown great leadership and … [Read more...] about Hawkettes win 10 of 12 events on Senior Night, cruise past Mason City
Hawkettes rack up season-high 3,351 power points in win at Marshalltown
The Ankeny girls' swimming team has been spending a lot of time on the bus. After traveling to Fort Dodge on Sept. 14 and then going to Iowa City on Saturday for the Little Hawk Invitational, the Hawkettes hit the road again on Tuesday and rolled to a 147-38 victory at Marshalltown. They improved their records to 2-0 in the CIML Iowa Conference and 4-1 … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rack up season-high 3,351 power points in win at Marshalltown
‘The talent level at this meet was sky high’: Hawkettes finish 3rd in Iowa City
Saturday's Little Hawk Invitational at the Mercer Park Aquatic Center in Iowa City attracted some of the state's top girls' swimming teams. Top-ranked Waukee won the meet with 490 points, finishing 67 points ahead of No. 2 Iowa City West. No. 7 Ankeny took third in the eight-team field with 349 points. "The talent level at this meet was sky high," said … [Read more...] about ‘The talent level at this meet was sky high’: Hawkettes finish 3rd in Iowa City
Henning wins 4 events, leads Hawkettes to 128-42 victory at Fort Dodge
Ankeny swimmer Alexis Henning appears to be rounding into midseason form. Her teammates aren't looking too bad, either. Henning won two individual events and also swam on two winning relays to lead the seventh-ranked Hawkettes to a 128-42 victory at Fort Dodge in their CIML Iowa Conference opener on Tuesday. "The girls had a convincing win," said … [Read more...] about Henning wins 4 events, leads Hawkettes to 128-42 victory at Fort Dodge
Hawkettes adjust to 25-meter pool, cruise to 113-57 victory at Newton
The Ankeny girls' swimming team adjusted to a different pool and cruised to a 113-57 victory at Newton in a non-conference dual meet on Thursday. It was the second convincing win in three nights for the fifth-ranked Hawkettes, who are now 2-1 on the season. "This meet is in a 25-meter pool which is slightly longer than the 25-yard pool that we … [Read more...] about Hawkettes adjust to 25-meter pool, cruise to 113-57 victory at Newton
Ankeny swimmers win all 12 events, cruise to 150-32 victory over Ottumwa
Tuesday's dual meet against visiting Ottumwa turned out to be more of an intrasquad scrimmage for the Ankeny girls' swimming team. The Hawkettes dominated the non-conference meet, winning every event en route to a 150-32 victory at Trail Point Aquatics Center. They evened their record at 1-1. Ankeny swept the top two or three places in most of the … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers win all 12 events, cruise to 150-32 victory over Ottumwa
Hawkettes drop 104-82 decision to Johnston in their dual-meet opener
The Ankeny girls' swimming team has had some good battles with Johnston over the last couple of years. The Hawkettes opened last season with a 102-84 victory over Johnston before the Dragons later edged Ankeny by four points to win the regional meet at Johnston. The Dragons then placed fifth at the state meet with 173 points, while Ankeny finished seventh … [Read more...] about Hawkettes drop 104-82 decision to Johnston in their dual-meet opener
Peters, Ankeny divers defend their titles at Johnston Invitational
Last year, the Ankeny girls' swimming team had three divers among the top 13 finishers at the state meet. The Hawkettes might be able to duplicate that feat this season. Even though Dasha Toth has graduated, Ankeny showed off its diving depth on Monday at the Johnston Invitational. The Hawkettes placed three girls among the top six finishers in the … [Read more...] about Peters, Ankeny divers defend their titles at Johnston Invitational
‘We have a great pool of athletes’: AHS swimmers return 10 state qualifiers
Many of the top performers from last year's Ankeny girls' swimming team are back this season. The Hawkettes have also added some talented newcomers. "We have one of the largest teams I've coached," said longtime Ankeny coach Michelle Stout, who has 45 girls on the roster. "It's common to get a spike in interest in an Olympic year, and this (year) was … [Read more...] about ‘We have a great pool of athletes’: AHS swimmers return 10 state qualifiers
Part-time runner helps Ankeny swimmers to 7th-place finish at state meet
A freshman who didn't even focus on swimming full-time this fall helped the Ankeny girls' swimming team to a seventh-place finish in the state meet on Saturday at Marshalltown. Anja Peck, who was also one of the top runners on the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country squad, placed seventh in the 100 breaststroke in her state-meet debut. She posted a … [Read more...] about Part-time runner helps Ankeny swimmers to 7th-place finish at state meet