It’s no secret that Ankeny High School has many high-performing athletes. From the basketball court to the softball field, talented athletes consistently put on a show for Ankeny High fans. One thing you may not see, however, is the work that comes in the offseason.

Club sports start early in Ankeny, with opportunities for kids to get a ball in their hand before they can even go to preschool. This was the case for senior basketball standout Savannah Gage, who said

“I probably started playing organized basketball when I was four, but I feel like I was touching a ball maybe around two or three, so forever, for a really long time.”

High school participation in sports doesn’t start until eighth grade, so club sports are a great way for kids to start.

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“Club, basically that’s where I started, those are the coaches that helped get me to where I am now,” said senior softball player Kaylyn Miller.

Miller has been playing softball since she was six and recently committed to Coe College in Cedar Rapids.

Club sports are very beneficial to advancing athletic careers, but they also help athletes gain other life skills.

“I feel like it’s helped me also with people, just getting more comfortable around people,” said Miller. “When you’re with new girls, you have to figure out how they work, how they move, all that kind of stuff.”

As kids grow up, the intensity of these sports also begins to rise. Clubs often practice a few times a week for a couple of hours, which can start to add up. Some athletes even choose to travel for their club. 

“Club for basketball is in the summer so you are spending a lot of time [on it],” Gage said. “Some of the girls, me, Jayla [Williams], and Amani Jenkins had to go to Omaha to practice, that obviously takes a lot of time.”

On top of these practices, large tournaments meant to help athletes get seen by top scouts from schools across the country, don’t often take place in central Iowa.

“Travelling a lot is not for everybody,” Gage said. “I’m one to get homesick when I’m super far away from home so those July tournaments when we’re gone for two weeks at a time are really difficult.”

But for many athletes, their efforts pay off. Gage is currently committed to play Division 1 Women’s Basketball at St. Thomas in Minnesota and won a national championship on the Adidas 3SSB circuit with her club team, ETG Midwest.

“I was on a very very talented team, so I came off the bench. All five starters were going to Power 5 schools so it was super cool to be a part of and learn from them too,” said Gage.

Club sports also create lasting friendships and connections. Some of the favorite memories from club sports for many people stem from simple team bonding with teammates in a hotel or at a team meal. Club sports allow athletes to connect with different coaches and people to help them along their journey to college athletics. These can play a big part in choosing where to play club.

“I play for Softball Club of Iowa, SCI, and I went there because the coach is the old Drake coach so that was a big thing for me. I know he’s very knowledgeable… and that’s what I wanted, like someone who can help with recruiting as well,” said Miller on her choice to play for her current club team.

Overall, club sports require many sacrifices, but can be an unforgettable experience and help athletes get where they want to be.