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Ankeny plays with Dodger ties

—Submitted photo Fort Dodge graduates Kevin Wehde (far left) and Kim (Boyington) Wehde (far right) stand with their sons Kole and Karson in the Dodger gym ater Ankeny qualified for the state tournament.

DES MOINES — The road to state for the Ankeny boys had a strong connection to Fort Dodge.

The Hawks (18-5 overall) begin play in the Class 4A quarterfinals here on Wednesday inside Wells Fargo Arena vs. Iowa City West (21-2). Tip is set for 10:30 a.m.

Kevin and Kim (Boyington) Wehde, Fort Dodge Senior High graduates and former Dodger athletes, have two boys on the Ankeny roster in Kole and Karson.

Last week during the substate round of play, the Hawks were paired against Sioux City East in a final. The location of that game? The Fort Dodge Senior High gym.

“It was crazy how getting to state for Ankeny played out,” Kevin Wehde said. “We actually played Fort Dodge at home for our first substate game, which always makes me feel weird having played for the Dodgers.”

During his time in red and black, Wehde played basketball, football, and was a top bowler. He earned the top senior award on the hardwood in 1994, while his wife graduated a year later.

The Hawks posted a 73-67 victory over East for their four consecutive win and a spot in the elite eight.

“It was super cool to have my boys in the gym I grew up playing in,” Wehde said. “I think my parents (Brad and Val) might have been even more excited to have us play and make it to state on that same court.”

Wehde’s sister, Julie Ulrich, is a teacher at Fort Dodge Middle School.

The trip back home was the first time Wehde was able to show the gym to his sons, adding, “it brought back a lot of good memories.”

“The gym looks great,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll be back for future games.”

Kim, a four-year swimmer for the Dodgers, had just one added request.

“She wanted to get into the pool area,” he said. “That was the first think she asked.”

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