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The Student News Site of Ankeny High School

The Talon

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The Student News Site of Ankeny High School

The Talon

Related Content
The Student News Site of Ankeny High School

The Talon

Senior Grady Andersen keeps stats at an Ankeny Hawks baseball game. He’s been helping with the team since his freshman year, and added roles in basketball and football by sophomore year. “Grady has found a place,” said his dad, Kiron Andersen. “And I hope he's created an opportunity for someone else.” That sense of opportunity and support runs through everything Grady does—from filming plays to mentoring underclassmen. Photo published with permission from Dylan Shoemaker (@thefittestphotographer)

Grady Andersen: The man on the sideline

Lydia Gerety, Editor in Chief May 29, 2025

Whether it is in the dugout at a baseball game or running a camera for football film, Grady Andersen has become a fixture of Ankeny High athletics. What started as a nudge from his parents to get out of...

Codee Myers talks to senior Grace Buch during a break in play. Myers has coached for the girls’ basketball program since the 2021-22 season.

Codee Myers: helping students get their head in the game

Ashley Howard and Lydia Gerety May 12, 2025

You can feel the tension on the court as the clock counts down, and it seems as if every move you make could be the wrong one. You’ve done the play a hundred times, yet you can’t seem to focus, an...

Foreign exchange student Natali Bairamidi (far right) stands with her host family on a trip to Dyersville, Iowa. Photo published with permission from Natali Bairamidi.

‘Being here makes me feel like I am heard, seen, and understood.’

Levi Foster, Sports Editor April 14, 2025

Living in a country with unique cultures, languages, and traditions can be scary for most people. Despite this, FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange Program) students from all around the globe stay in various...

Leister smiling for the camera. Photo published with permission from Mary Kate Leister.

Merry Mary: New to the nest

Brogan Smith, Staff Reporter April 9, 2025

Every day, during every passing period, students migrate towards their next classes. The weights of exams and assignments sit heavy on their shoulders, with stress plastered on their faces as they push...

Graphic created by Olivia Luna using Canva.

Chamberland mines for curiosity

Olivia Luna, Staff Reporter April 8, 2025

If you walk into Ankeny High School, you may see kids rolling on scooters down the halls or dropping parachutes from the catwalk. These are most likely a byproduct of the school’s physics course. One...

Bing talking about the plan for the day with her students in one of her AP Biology courses. “If I wasn't passionate about working with students, I don't think [I’d stay in teaching], but no, it's absolutely the students that I have that [make it worth it,” Bing stated. Photo taken by Sylvia Bartlett.

A career in science: and supporting the next generation

Sylvia Bartlett, Staff Reporter April 1, 2025

Sunlight streams through the window, filtered through the mass of green leaves stretching toward it. Plants cover nearly every inch of available countertop, courtesy of the AP Biology classes that leave...

Ankeny High teacher Ms. Sherwood writes the plan for the day on the whiteboard. Photo by Savannah Dye

From student to teacher: Sydney Sherwood’s inspiring journey at Ankeny High School

Savannah Dye, Staff Reporter March 7, 2025

As the popular saying goes, "The student becomes the master." This perfectly describes Sydney Sherwood, who began her journey as a student teacher and is now a substitute teacher at Ankeny High School. New...

Savannah Gage (1, right) celebrates with teammates and fans during the Adidas 3SSB 17U Girls Basketball National Championship. ETG Midwest would go on to win the game in double overtime, creating a lasting memory for Gage and her teammates. (Photo published with permission from Savannah Gage)

‘It’s really fun to play a lot of talent from all over; it really helps grow my game.’

Ashley Howard and Rylie Jensen March 1, 2025

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...

Ankeny High School senior Andrew Haase walks off of the mat after a win at the Ankeny versus Centennial dual meet on Dec. 12, 2024. Photo published with permission by Andrew Haase, Photo by Dylan Shoemaker, The Fittest Photographer

Andrew Haase, the brotherhood of Ankeny wrestling

Brogan Smith, Staff Reporter February 15, 2025

Wrestling is commonly seen as an individual sport in which wrestlers compete in isolation, but is that truly the case? Ankeny High School (AHS) senior Andrew Haase wants to challenge that narrative and...

Ankeny High School senior Tyson Rauser holds three of his catches on Little River in Iowa. Photo permission by Tyson Rauser

A real catch

Julius Wiegand, Web Editor February 12, 2025

On a midwinter Saturday, you will find most students inside doing homework, watching a show, or entertaining themselves with a comfortable, preferably warm activity. But select others, like Ankeny High...

Ellie Bovee: A force to be reckoned with

Lynae Midkiff, Staff Reporter February 11, 2025

When dealing with an activity one has done for a long time, it can be hard for some to keep that burning passion alive. For others, that passion may never die. For the past 10 years, Ankeny High School...

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