Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Norwalk’s Birmingham pours in 39 points, leads No. 3 Warriors past Centennial girls
Norwalk’s Birmingham pours in 39 points, leads No. 3 Warriors past Centennial girls

Norwalk’s Birmingham pours in 39 points, leads No. 3 Warriors past Centennial girls

by

The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team simply didn't have an answer for Norwalk star Braylyn Birmingham. Birmingham erupted for 39 points and 10 rebounds to lead Norwalk to a 61-46 victory over the visiting Jaguars in a non-conference game on Saturday. The Warriors, who are ranked third in Class 4A, raised their record to 8-1. Birmingham, a … [Read more...] about Norwalk’s Birmingham pours in 39 points, leads No. 3 Warriors past Centennial girls

HEADED TO HAPPY VALLEY: Ex-Hawk Quigley follows Campbell to Penn State

by

Former Iowa State assistant football coach Xavier Quigley is headed to Happy Valley to join Matt Campbell's staff at Penn State. Quigley, a former Ankeny standout, was a part of the Cyclones' staff in Ames for the last six seasons. He was the director of college scouting/offense in 2025. "I'm not sure exactly what the new title will be," Quigley wrote … [Read more...] about HEADED TO HAPPY VALLEY: Ex-Hawk Quigley follows Campbell to Penn State

‘I loved the way they trained’: Dhabolt picks Iowa State over Iowa, OU, Okla. St.

by

The recruiting battle for Ankeny Centennial wrestling star Max Dhabolt has come to an end. Dhabolt, a 175-pound junior, has verbally committed to Iowa State. He will follow in the footsteps of senior teammate Cale Vandermark, who signed a letter of intent with the Cyclones in November. Dhabolt was pursued by some of the nation's top collegiate … [Read more...] about ‘I loved the way they trained’: Dhabolt picks Iowa State over Iowa, OU, Okla. St.

No. 2 Maroons outlast No. 3 Ankeny girls in showdown for 2nd place in CIML race

by

Friday's showdown between two of the top three girls' basketball teams in Class 5A turned out to be a game of runs. In the end, second-ranked Dowling Catholic held off No. 3 Ankeny's final rally to post a 64-57 victory on the road. The Hawkettes lost despite shooting 61.1 percent from 3-point range (11-of-18). "We just got down by a little too much to … [Read more...] about No. 2 Maroons outlast No. 3 Ankeny girls in showdown for 2nd place in CIML race

‘We played right with them’: Centennial boys drop 54-46 decision to No. 6 Waukee

by

(Story by Stephen McDaniel) There was nothing the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team would’ve loved more than opening 2026 with a big upset victory. But despite a blazing hot start to the game, the Jaguars eventually fell behind in the second half and suffered a 54-46 loss to sixth-ranked Waukee on Friday night at Centennial. “We came out of … [Read more...] about ‘We played right with them’: Centennial boys drop 54-46 decision to No. 6 Waukee

‘Everything was just clicking’: Jaguars lead from start to finish in victory over Waukee

by

(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team couldn’t have possibly asked for a better start to the new year. The Jaguars harnessed a total team effort coming out of the holiday break and kicked off the 2026 portion of their schedule by defeating 13th-ranked Waukee, 61-48, on Friday night at Centennial. “That’s the … [Read more...] about ‘Everything was just clicking’: Jaguars lead from start to finish in victory over Waukee

Patton to enter transfer portal; Miller, Welsch, Simonsen to stay with Cyclones

by

Former Ankeny star Jamison Patton is among the more than 40 Iowa State football players who have entered the transfer portal following the departure of longtime head coach Matt Campbell earlier this month. Patton announced his decision via Twitter on Sunday. "Thank you to coach Campbell and the entire staff for believing in me and investing so much … [Read more...] about Patton to enter transfer portal; Miller, Welsch, Simonsen to stay with Cyclones

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kolby Bechen, Centennial boys’ basketball

by

Senior guard Kolby Bechen has helped the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a 1-4 record. He is averaging 3.8 points per game and leads the squad with 10 assists. Bechen scored six points on 2-of-5 shooting from 3-point range as the Jaguars posted a 63-45 win over visiting Valley on Dec. 19 for their first victory of the season. He also grabbed … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kolby Bechen, Centennial boys’ basketball

Goode, Kumm help Vikings to second consecutive NAIA national championship

by

Wide receivers Peyton Goode and Jordan Kumm helped the Grand View football team to a second consecutive NAIA national championship on Saturday at Crowley ISD Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The top-seeded Vikings posted a 22-16 victory over No. 2 seed Keiser to finish the season with a perfect 14-0 record. It was a rematch of the 2024 title game, which was … [Read more...] about Goode, Kumm help Vikings to second consecutive NAIA national championship

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Noah Kearney, Ankeny boys’ swimming

by

Senior Noah Kearney has helped the ninth-ranked Ankeny boys' swimming team to a 1-2 record in the CIML Conference. The squad is now 10-7 overall after placing second in the seven-team field in the Little Hawk Invitational on Saturday at Mercer Park Aquatic Center in Iowa City. Kearney won two events and also swam on two winning relays as Ankeny defeated … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Noah Kearney, Ankeny boys’ swimming

Vandermark captures 4th straight title at Miller Invite; Sodergren also wins crown

by

Ankeny Centennial wrestling standout Cale Vandermark captured a fourth consecutive title in the Don Miller Invitational on Saturday at Fort Dodge, where he helped the Jaguars to a sixth-place finish in the 11-team field. Vandermark, who is ranked No. 1 at 126 pounds in Class 3A, posted a 2-1 decision over No. 9 Matthew Tran of Iowa City West in the finals … [Read more...] about Vandermark captures 4th straight title at Miller Invite; Sodergren also wins crown

‘It’s a privilege to wrestle in this event’: Hawks place 9th at Battle of Waterloo

by

The holiday break is coming at a good time for the Ankeny wrestlers. The Hawks turned in a strong performance at the Battle of Waterloo, where they defeated all three of their opponents on Saturday to win Pool 3 and place ninth overall in the 32-team field. "It's a privilege to wrestle in this event," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall, whose team improved … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a privilege to wrestle in this event’: Hawks place 9th at Battle of Waterloo

‘I am so proud of our staff’: Asst. coaches guide Ankeny to DC-G Holiday Duals title

by

The Ankeny girls' wrestling team defended its title on Saturday by going 5-0 at the Dallas Center-Grimes Holiday Duals. Fourth-ranked Ankeny competed most of the day without coach Dustin Roland, who left after the first dual to watch his son wrestle in another tournament. "I am so proud of our staff and their continued willingness to do whatever I ask … [Read more...] about ‘I am so proud of our staff’: Asst. coaches guide Ankeny to DC-G Holiday Duals title

Beam scores career-high 21 points, but Jaguars fall to 1-4 with loss to No. 4 Valley

by

(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team was hoping to build off of its win over Urbandale a week ago and head into the holiday break with some positive momentum. But a matchup against fourth-ranked Valley ended the Jaguars' December slate with a 29-point loss. Centennial struggled to get its offense going in the … [Read more...] about Beam scores career-high 21 points, but Jaguars fall to 1-4 with loss to No. 4 Valley

‘It feels so good!’: Jaguars pull away in 2nd half, defeat Valley for first win of season

by

(Story by Stephen McDaniel) With about 50 seconds left in Friday’s game against visiting Valley, Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Matt Delger walked in front of his bench with a wide grin on his face and asked the reserves that don’t get much playing time if they wanted to close out the final minute. Delger’s smile quickly spread up and down … [Read more...] about ‘It feels so good!’: Jaguars pull away in 2nd half, defeat Valley for first win of season

‘I didn’t mean to bank it!’: Kiene’s 3-pointer at buzzer lifts Hawkettes past Cedar Falls

by

Ainsley Kiene wasn't supposed to take the final shot for the Ankeny girls' basketball team. But with time running out and the ball in her hands from well beyond the arc, Kiene knew that she had no other choice. The senior guard banked in a 3-point goal from the top of the key as time expired to give the third-ranked Hawkettes a 50-47 victory at No. 8 … [Read more...] about ‘I didn’t mean to bank it!’: Kiene’s 3-pointer at buzzer lifts Hawkettes past Cedar Falls

‘We just didn’t shoot very well’: Hawks drop to 3-3 with 53-38 loss at Cedar Falls

by

The offensive struggles continued on Friday for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. After being held to 46 points in a loss to Southeast Polk on Tuesday, the Hawks traveled to Cedar Falls for their final game before the holiday break and dropped a 53-38 decision in a non-conference matchup. "We're 3-3 now, and that's the reality of it," said Ankeny coach … [Read more...] about ‘We just didn’t shoot very well’: Hawks drop to 3-3 with 53-38 loss at Cedar Falls

Hawks take 3rd in pool, will wrestle for 9th through 12th place at Battle of Waterloo

by

The Ankeny wrestling team went 2-1 in Bracket B and placed third in its pool on Friday at the Battle of Waterloo. The Hawks opened the tournament with a 37-32 victory over Waverly-Shell Rock. They then dropped a 41-31 decision to Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, one of the top teams in Class 2A, in the semifinals. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows avenged a 54-25 loss to … [Read more...] about Hawks take 3rd in pool, will wrestle for 9th through 12th place at Battle of Waterloo