Katie Petersen got together with some of her Ankeny Centennial teammates on Thursday night to continue preparing for what she thought would be her final high school track season. "I was just at the track with a few friends, and we were talking about our new meet schedules and who was going to be on our shuttle (hurdle relay)," said Petersen, one of the … [Read more...] about ‘Some things we can’t control’: Athletes, coaches react to cancellation of sports
Simon Brown
CANCELLED: COVID-19 wipes out spring high school activities
The Ankeny girls' soccer team won't have a chance to defend its Class 3A state title. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced on Friday that all schools will remain closed through the end of the school year due to the ongoing threat of the coronavirus. All spring high school activities have now been cancelled. "I'm just setting up meetings now with the kids … [Read more...] about CANCELLED: COVID-19 wipes out spring high school activities
Updated schedule provides glimmer of hope for spring sport athletes, coaches
A glimmer of hope arrived earlier this week for Will Blevins, Jaci Webb and the rest of the spring sport athletes throughout the state of Iowa. On Monday, an updated schedule for spring sports was released in a joint statement from the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association. All spring activities had … [Read more...] about Updated schedule provides glimmer of hope for spring sport athletes, coaches
Ankeny’s Brown promoted to head men’s soccer coach at William Penn
Ankeny girls' soccer coach Simon Brown has been promoted to head men's soccer coach at William Penn University, where he had been the associate head men's and women's coach for the last three years. Brown, who led the Hawkettes to the Class 3A state title in his first season last year, said he hopes to keep both coaching jobs for a long time. "There's … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Brown promoted to head men’s soccer coach at William Penn
‘I’ve got more soccer in me’: Ankeny goalkeeper Frederick to play for Simpson
Ankeny's Brenny Frederick wasn't sure if she wanted to continue playing soccer. Once she decided that she did, it wasn't difficult for the senior goalkeeper to make her future plans. Frederick has committed to play for Simpson College next year. "Playing soccer was the tough decision. Playing for Simpson was an easy decision," said Frederick. … [Read more...] about ‘I’ve got more soccer in me’: Ankeny goalkeeper Frederick to play for Simpson
Ankeny star Kooker named Miss Iowa Soccer for 2019
When the Ankeny girls' soccer team captured the Class 3A state title earlier this month, it appeared to be the perfect way for senior defender Chloee Kooker to close out her illustrious high school career. Kooker was named to the all-tournament team for the second straight year after the Hawkettes won the fourth state championship in school history. She … [Read more...] about Ankeny star Kooker named Miss Iowa Soccer for 2019
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 51
Check out the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by the Ankeny office of Iowa Realty. Ankeny girls' soccer coach Simon Brown and senior Saige Adamson stopped by to discuss the Hawkettes' state championship run with Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm, who also interviewed Ankeny Centennial seniors Kenzie Langstraat and Olivia Wee … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 51
GOAAAAAAAAL!!!! Ankeny girls claim crown on Adamson’s game-winner
Saige Adamson never thought she'd score the game-winning goal in a state championship soccer game. As a defender, she always figured she'd be the one to stop the other team from scoring. On Saturday, Ankeny's senior captain managed to do both. While recording another clean sheet, Adamson also took advantage of a rare scoring opportunity in the box, … [Read more...] about GOAAAAAAAAL!!!! Ankeny girls claim crown on Adamson’s game-winner
VIDEO: Adamson’s late goal lifts Hawkettes to state championship
The Ankeny girls’ soccer team got a goal from Saige Adamson with less than 2 minutes left and defeated top-ranked Waukee, 1-0, in the Class 3A title game on Saturday. The Hawkettes finished the season with seven straight shutouts. … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Adamson’s late goal lifts Hawkettes to state championship
Hawkettes flip their way back to title game, will play Waukee for 3A crown
The Ankeny girls' soccer team is headed back to the Class 3A state championship game. And if there was any doubt, the Hawkettes are pretty flipping excited. After sixth-ranked Ankeny posted a 2-0 victory over No. 7 Dowling Catholic in the Class 3A semifinals on Friday at Cownie Soccer Complex, senior defender Chloee Kooker celebrated the win by doing a … [Read more...] about Hawkettes flip their way back to title game, will play Waukee for 3A crown
Brown’s gamble pays off: Hawkettes dominate 2nd half against Linn-Mar
Ankeny girls' soccer coach Simon Brown noticed that Linn-Mar (Marion) wasn't substituting during the first half of Thursday's Class 3A quarterfinal at Cownie Soccer Complex. Brown started rotating in some of his own reserves, hoping that the third-ranked Lions would eventually run out of gas on an 87-degree afternoon. His gamble paid off in the second … [Read more...] about Brown’s gamble pays off: Hawkettes dominate 2nd half against Linn-Mar
Jaguars, Hawkettes gear up for rematches in Class 3A quarterfinals
The girls' Class 3A state soccer tournament has a familiar look to it. All eight qualifiers are back from last year's tournament. Even more amazing, all four of Thursday's quarterfinal games are rematches from 2018. Fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial (15-3), the defending champion, will play No. 5 Council Bluffs Lincoln (16-2) at 4:15 p.m. on Field 8 at … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawkettes gear up for rematches in Class 3A quarterfinals
Gretz, Sharar lead Hawkettes past C.R. Prairie, back to state tournament
It was going to take a lot more than a little rain to stop the Ankeny girls' soccer team. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes took the lead less than a minute into the game and went on to defeat No. 10 Cedar Rapids Prairie, 4-0, in a Class 3A regional final on Monday at Ankeny. The game was played in a steady rain. "It's such an amazing feeling to be going back … [Read more...] about Gretz, Sharar lead Hawkettes past C.R. Prairie, back to state tournament
Hawkettes foil Mason City’s strategy, advance to Monday’s regional final
The Ankeny girls' soccer team didn't have to play much defense against Mason City on Wednesday. The visiting Mohawks loaded the box in an effort to frustrate Ankeny, but the strategy only worked to keep the score down. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes got three goals in the first 10 minutes and went on to post a 5-0 victory in a Class 3A regional … [Read more...] about Hawkettes foil Mason City’s strategy, advance to Monday’s regional final
‘Best feeling in the world’: Sharar’s goal lifts Hawkettes past No. 2 Waukee
Some wins are a little sweeter than others. That was the case on Monday for the sixth-ranked Ankeny girls' soccer team, which traveled to Waukee for its regular-season finale and posted a 1-0 victory over the No. 2 Warriors. Ankeny won the game with some of its key players on the bench. "We had to do without Chloee (Kooker) for most of the second … [Read more...] about ‘Best feeling in the world’: Sharar’s goal lifts Hawkettes past No. 2 Waukee
Ankeny girls pummel Huskies as seniors steal the spotlight
All nine of the seniors on the Ankeny girls' soccer team started Tuesday's game against visiting Des Moines Hoover, including Malerie Rohweder. Rohweder suffered a knee injury last month and recently underwent season-ending surgery. "Tonight was all about the seniors," said Ankeny coach Simon Brown. "That was a special moment when the officials and … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls pummel Huskies as seniors steal the spotlight
Ankeny girls’ soccer team suffers costly 2-0 loss to Little Cyclones
On Friday night, the Ankeny girls' soccer team looked like a state championship contender during a 5-1 victory at Johnston. Just 72 hours later, the Hawkettes looked like a completely different team. Fifth-ranked Ankeny followed up its best performance of the season with arguably its worst, dropping a 2-0 decision at No. 14 Ames in a rescheduled game. … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ soccer team suffers costly 2-0 loss to Little Cyclones
Hawkettes, Jaguars post road wins, remain tied for league lead
The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer teams remained in a tie for first place atop the CIML Central Conference as both squads posted road victories on Friday. Fourth-ranked Centennial recorded a 1-0 overtime win at Urbandale, while No. 5 Ankeny rolled to a 5-1 triumph at No. 10 Johnston. The Hawkettes and Jaguars are both 3-1 in the league with … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars post road wins, remain tied for league lead
A JUMP FOR JOY: Jaguars hold off Ankeny, move into tie for league lead
Chris Allen's game plan didn't go according to script on Tuesday night. But somehow, his Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team still emerged with a win over its archrival. The sixth-ranked Jaguars got a goal from Elizabeth Overberg in the 45th minute and defeated No. 3 Ankeny, 1-0, in a CIML Central Conference showdown at Centennial. "We had some … [Read more...] about A JUMP FOR JOY: Jaguars hold off Ankeny, move into tie for league lead
Crosstown rivals gear up for top-10 showdowns at Ankeny Derby
Tuesday's Ankeny Derby will feature a pair of top-10 soccer showdowns at Ankeny Centennial. In the opener, the sixth-ranked Centennial girls' team (1-1, 8-3) will host No. 3 Ankeny (2-0, 10-2) at 6 p.m. It will be a rematch of last year's Class 3A championship game, which was won by the Jaguars, 3-2. "I'm sure Ankeny will be fired up and rightfully … [Read more...] about Crosstown rivals gear up for top-10 showdowns at Ankeny Derby