Ankeny High School
Encyclopedia
Ankeny High School is a high school located in the suburban town of Ankeny, Iowa
. It is part of the Ankeny Community School District
, one of the fastest growing school districts in Iowa and Ankeny High School now serves over 12,000 students.
In March 2009, the Ankeny Board of Education decided that the school would in fact divide into two high schools in the 2013–2014 school year. At that time, it is estimated that Ankeny High School will then have an enrollment of between 950 and 1,000 students, with the other high school having a similar enrollment. Upon division, the first Ankeny High School will retain all mascots and colors from before division, but the second school, called Ankeny Centennial, will feature a new Jaguar mascot, created upon survey of students that will be affected by the change.
Though this change will cause some discrepancies, everyone attending Ankeny High Schools will remain a hawk.
Ankeny girls athletics rose in prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s under Coach Dick Rasmussen, and his work with the basketball and softball programs. Under head coach Scott De Jong, the girls basketball team holds the record for the most consecutive state titles. They won the state championship in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005; in 2005 they rose as high as No. 2 in USA Today's Super 25 national rankings. The Hawkettes hold the record for the most state titles by a school in Iowa history, having won six championships under Coach De Jong in the five-girl era and another three under the old six-girl rules.
Ankeny also has a very successful football team, coached by Head Coach Jerry Pezzitti. Pezzitti has coached over 350 wins in his 50+ year career there including a state championship in 1997. Since 1998, under the tutelage of special teams coach Peter Rameh, four Hawk kickers have played college football
for teams in the Division I Bowl Subdivision, including former University of Miami All-American Todd Sievers.
The volleyball team also maintains a strong history. With several state appearances including four championship appearances in four years, Ankeny boasts three state titles in 2004, 2005 and 2008.
Baseball has also seen success, with graduate Benj Sampson pitching for the Minnesota Twins
, and graduate Todd Sears playing for the Twins and the San Diego Padres.
The Ankeny boys soccer team is headed by coach Rick Isaacson. They made their second appearance in the state tournament in 2007, where they won the state title in a 1–0 victory over Iowa City West after a last-minute goal by Jacob Misel. Their first appearance in the state tournament was the year before, losing to Bettendorf in the first round after a late goal.
Ankeny also has a club hockey team that is frequently among the top teams in the league. They won the league championship in 2007 and finished second in 2008. Curtis Newman holds the league record for most points and goals in a season, as well as in a career.
In recent years, Ankeny High School alumni have participated in NCAA Division I athletics in many sports, including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, women's golf, equestrian, men's and women's track and field, men's and women's swimming, softball, volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, and wrestling.
There are three show choirs at Ankeny High School; Visual Adrenaline (VA), Perpetual Motion (PM) and Intensity, VA and PM being coed, while Intensity is an all girls choir. Joy Augustine leads Intensity, Jim Cacciatore leads PM, while Lester Miller III is the director of VA.
The Drama department does three plays a year: a fall play, a children's play (that is led by the students) and a spring musical.
Ankeny, Iowa
Ankeny is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 45,562 in the 2010 census, an increase of 68% from the 27,117 population in the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. It is part of the Ankeny Community School District
Ankeny Community School District
The Ankeny Community School District is located in Polk County, Iowa and is from the capitol city, Des Moines. The district is well known in Iowa for accomplishments in academics, athletics and activities...
, one of the fastest growing school districts in Iowa and Ankeny High School now serves over 12,000 students.
In March 2009, the Ankeny Board of Education decided that the school would in fact divide into two high schools in the 2013–2014 school year. At that time, it is estimated that Ankeny High School will then have an enrollment of between 950 and 1,000 students, with the other high school having a similar enrollment. Upon division, the first Ankeny High School will retain all mascots and colors from before division, but the second school, called Ankeny Centennial, will feature a new Jaguar mascot, created upon survey of students that will be affected by the change.
Though this change will cause some discrepancies, everyone attending Ankeny High Schools will remain a hawk.
Sports
For purposes of athletic and activities competition, Ankeny High School is classified in the state of Iowa as "4A." The school mascots are the Hawks (Men) and the Hawkettes (Women). Ankeny is part of the Central Iowa Metro League or CIML. They are extremely competitive in the state with sports, music, and other activities.Ankeny girls athletics rose in prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s under Coach Dick Rasmussen, and his work with the basketball and softball programs. Under head coach Scott De Jong, the girls basketball team holds the record for the most consecutive state titles. They won the state championship in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005; in 2005 they rose as high as No. 2 in USA Today's Super 25 national rankings. The Hawkettes hold the record for the most state titles by a school in Iowa history, having won six championships under Coach De Jong in the five-girl era and another three under the old six-girl rules.
Ankeny also has a very successful football team, coached by Head Coach Jerry Pezzitti. Pezzitti has coached over 350 wins in his 50+ year career there including a state championship in 1997. Since 1998, under the tutelage of special teams coach Peter Rameh, four Hawk kickers have played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for teams in the Division I Bowl Subdivision, including former University of Miami All-American Todd Sievers.
The volleyball team also maintains a strong history. With several state appearances including four championship appearances in four years, Ankeny boasts three state titles in 2004, 2005 and 2008.
Baseball has also seen success, with graduate Benj Sampson pitching for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, and graduate Todd Sears playing for the Twins and the San Diego Padres.
The Ankeny boys soccer team is headed by coach Rick Isaacson. They made their second appearance in the state tournament in 2007, where they won the state title in a 1–0 victory over Iowa City West after a last-minute goal by Jacob Misel. Their first appearance in the state tournament was the year before, losing to Bettendorf in the first round after a late goal.
Ankeny also has a club hockey team that is frequently among the top teams in the league. They won the league championship in 2007 and finished second in 2008. Curtis Newman holds the league record for most points and goals in a season, as well as in a career.
In recent years, Ankeny High School alumni have participated in NCAA Division I athletics in many sports, including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, women's golf, equestrian, men's and women's track and field, men's and women's swimming, softball, volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, and wrestling.
The Talon
The Talon is the high-school newspaper. Published bimonthly, it is published by students in the Journalism class. It was been transitioning from a printed publication to an online publication as of the 2011-2012 school year. Mandy Davenport is currently the teacher adviser for The TalonFine arts
The Ankeny Bands frequently earn Division I ratings in state contests, with most, if not all, of their students participating in various solo competitions. The school also has two jazz bands, Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab, and one marching band, the Marching Hawks. The Jazz bands are conducted by Joel Poppen.There are three show choirs at Ankeny High School; Visual Adrenaline (VA), Perpetual Motion (PM) and Intensity, VA and PM being coed, while Intensity is an all girls choir. Joy Augustine leads Intensity, Jim Cacciatore leads PM, while Lester Miller III is the director of VA.
The Drama department does three plays a year: a fall play, a children's play (that is led by the students) and a spring musical.
Notable alumni
- Dennis Albaugh, Owner of Albaugh Chemical, No. 468 on the 2009 The World's Billionaires list published by Forbes
- Chris FehnChris FehnChristopher Michael "Chris" Fehn , or known by his number #3, is an American musician known as one of the two custom percussionists of the Grammy Award winning nu metal band Slipknot and is the current bassist for the band Will Haven.-Personal life and career:Fehn was born and raised in Des Moines,...
and Jim RootJim RootJames Donald "Jim" Root , also known by his number #4, is an American musician known for being the rhythm/lead guitarist of the heavy metal band, Slipknot, and the lead guitarist for rock band, Stone Sour...
, members of Slipknot - Paul RhoadsPaul RhoadsPaul Rhoads is an American college football head coach at Iowa State University. Rhoads was formerly the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach of the Auburn University football team before then-head coach Tommy Tuberville was forced to resign at the 2008 season's end...
, head coach of the Iowa State football teamIowa State Cyclones footballThe Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University in college football. The Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. ISU started playing football in 1892, however, it did not become an official sport until 1894... - Connie YoriConnie YoriConnie Yori is the current head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers women's basketball team representing the University of Nebraska in NCAA Division I competition. She formerly coached Loras College from 1990–92 and Creighton from 1992–2002...
, head basketball coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers women's basketballNebraska Cornhuskers women's basketballThe Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in women's college basketball.-History:Women’s basketball started as a club sport in 1970 and five years later it became a varsity sport when scholarships were offered...
team and recipient of the 2010 Naismith College Coach of the YearNaismith College Coach of the YearNaismith College Coach of the Year Award is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I collegiate coach each season since 1987...
award