On Friday nights in Ankeny, the stadium fills with energy as players, musicians, cheerleaders, dancers, and families gather to join around 5,000 fans creating a sea of unifying colors in the stands. The community is coming together for their shared love of football. From touchdowns to stressful endings, every game is a celebration. Every cheer echoes in the air representing a city devoted to competition.

The thrill of competition: Ankeny turns competition into a unified community

As the excitement of the game fills the air, it is clear that the impact of sports extends beyond the field. The sense of unity and belonging extends far beyond the players themselves, reaching everyone in the stands and around the community. 

When it comes to sports, “[Ankeny] is a naturally competitive town,” Ankeny School Board member Sarah Barthole said.

Competition encourages athletes to be the best role models. The football team and cheerleaders travel to the elementary and middle schools throughout the season to spread the excitement, inspire younger students, and unify the Ankeny community. Ankeny students and fans show up to games united by one theme.

Navigating pressure and finding motivation within the sports community

Even with all the good that sports do contribute to, some worry that negative comments, stress, and the pressure of playing competitive sports are harmful.

“You have to learn to work for yourself [referring to being on the swim team],” senior Finn Stukerjurgen said. “You have to learn to work for the people who do care like your teammates around you.” 

Finding motivation within yourself while feeling supported by fans, coaches, and teammates is essential. The pure passion coming from Ankeny fanatics could also be seen as an obsession, but one that builds community through a shared connection.

“We’re bringing together the community around sports as long as it’s not dividing people,” Stukerjurgen said. “I don’t feel like obsession is necessarily a bad thing. It brings the community together and teaches a lot of young people a good lesson.” 

Fostering the community through game day themes and tribute events

The Ankeny community seemingly strives to make everyone feel supported and included. One way Ankeny does this is with the game-day themes. Themes give everyone a chance to fit in and feel supported while supporting others. 

The theme for the senior night football game was a purple-out dedicated to AHS student Evie McLeish, who would have been a senior the 2024-2025 school year. McLeish passed away over the summer due to cancer. Students wanted to honor her legacy of kindness. To commemorate her, they designed special t-shirts for the game featuring hearts drawn by Evie herself. This tribute underscores how deeply each individual is valued in the Ankeny community.

“I love the themes. With Evie and senior night, you get one color, one school,” Johnson said. “It brings people together for something that’s bigger than themselves.” 

This sense of unity and pride is a powerful force in the community, transcending individual differences and creating lasting connections. Sporting events are a unifying experience for the Ankeny community. 

“Sports are unique, especially with high school football games,” Stukerjurgen said.“It’s the only time a whole community is together during the week. It is the perfect time to make a statement.”

Given that Ankeny rallies together at every sporting event, it is an opportunity to make a meaningful statement or honor something significant, knowing that the large crowd will be there to witness it.

“You see good things that happen at sporting events after a tragic event and it really tends to bring people together,” Vos said. 

Building lasting connections between sports and community involvement

Sports help foster relationships throughout the Ankeny community and school district.

“The entirety of life is based on human interaction and sports can provide you with the right relationships,” Vos said. “Everywhere you look, it brings people together, no matter what sport you’re playing.” 

Being a part of the community is not just limited to participating in sporting events.

“Try to get involved in an activity,” senior Ben Taylor said. “You never know if those people you meet could become your best friends. It creates interactions and builds the community at Ankeny High School.”

Any activity provides more human interaction and enhances your high school experience.

“[Ben Taylor] knows everyone on the football and baseball teams, and since I’m close with him, I can go and talk to everyone on the football and baseball teams,” Stukerjurgen said. “I feel like this spirals throughout the whole school building a community.” 

The positive impact of sports on personal growth and community connection

Athletes reportedly believe that sports have made them better people and impacted their lives in a good way.

“Sports have kind of opened my eyes to see so many different perspectives of people,” Taylor said. “It helps me see the community as a whole.”

Sports have a unique way of broadening perspectives and fostering connections among people. 

“It really does create a community aspect,” Vos said. “It gives you people to be around, it gives you something to do.”