It's already been a successful fall for the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team. Wednesday's CIML Conference meet at Johnston was just another sign of the Jaguars' progress this season. Ninth-ranked Centennial placed fourth in the nine-team field with 105 points. The Jaguars had finished eighth, seventh and sixth in the previous CIML meets since … [Read more...] about ‘It was a good night for us’: Jaguars place 4th, earn highest finish ever at CIML meet
‘It was another great day for racing’: Jags place 3rd, Ankeny takes 7th at CIML meet
The Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team was hoping to win its first CIML Conference title since 2022, which was also the last time the meet was held at Johnston. After placing second behind Johnston in each of the last two years, the third-ranked Jaguars raced to a third-place finish on Wednesday. They finished with 67 points. No. 2 Waukee … [Read more...] about ‘It was another great day for racing’: Jags place 3rd, Ankeny takes 7th at CIML meet
‘It was just to have fun’: Seniors race their coaches following victory over S.E. Polk
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Madi Trosper anchored the final relay of the night on behalf of the Ankeny girls' swimming team, and it came down to a photo finish on Tuesday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. But by that point, seventh-ranked Ankeny had already defeated No. 17 Southeast Polk, 136-50, for its first CIML Conference victory of the … [Read more...] about ‘It was just to have fun’: Seniors race their coaches following victory over S.E. Polk
‘That sealed the deal’: Northern St. lands Ankeny’s Brandhorst after game day visit
The Northern State University football program has landed a verbal commitment from Ankeny's leading receiver. Senior Andrew Brandhorst has committed to play for the Wolves, an NCAA Division II program located in Aberdeen, S.D. "I looked at a lot of schools, but it wasn’t necessarily a tough decision," said Brandhorst. "Coach (Kyle) Weisman, the … [Read more...] about ‘That sealed the deal’: Northern St. lands Ankeny’s Brandhorst after game day visit
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 321
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Legacy Realty of Iowa and Revive Dermatology Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm breaks down Friday's huge football games with assistant coaches Rob Luther of Ankeny, Mike Fontana of Dowling Catholic and Taylor Anderson of Ankeny Centennial. Revive owner Stef Gatica also stops by for a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 321
‘We are on a mission’: Jaguars sweep S.E. Polk in potential preview of regional final
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team still needs to win two matches in order to qualify for the Class 5A state tournament, but the Jaguars appear to be well on their way to Coralville. The second-ranked Jaguars closed out the regular season on Tuesday with a 25-10, 25-15, 25-15 sweep at Southeast Polk. The two teams could meet again in a regional final … [Read more...] about ‘We are on a mission’: Jaguars sweep S.E. Polk in potential preview of regional final
‘It was a complete team effort’: Hawkettes cruise past Urbandale on Senior Night
The Ankeny volleyball team celebrated its Senior Night on Tuesday with a convincing sweep. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes closed out the regular season by cruising to a 25-8, 25-16, 25-5 victory over visiting Urbandale. "It was a fantastic night to celebrate our seniors against an opponent we are familiar with," said Ankeny coach Liz Baethke, who coached … [Read more...] about ‘It was a complete team effort’: Hawkettes cruise past Urbandale on Senior Night
‘I’ll always have great memories’: Miller closes out career by tying for 58th place
Ankeny Centennial's McCoy Miller finished in a tie for 58th place in the boys' Class 4A state golf meet on Tuesday at Hyperion Field Club in Johnston. Miller shot an 8-over-par 80 in the final round to post a 36-hole total of 163. He had tied for 27th at last year's meet with a 157 total. "At the end of the day I am not happy with how I played, but I … [Read more...] about ‘I’ll always have great memories’: Miller closes out career by tying for 58th place
Jaguars’ Miller shoots an 83 in opening round of boys’ Class 4A state golf meet
Ankeny Centennial's McCoy Miller carded an 11-over-par 83 in the opening round of the boys' Class 4A state golf meet on Monday at Hyperion Field Club in Johnston. He is part of an eight-way tie for 57th place in the field of 82 golfers. Miller began his round on the back nine and got off to a good start, making a par on each of the first three holes. But … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ Miller shoots an 83 in opening round of boys’ Class 4A state golf meet
‘Today was huge!’: Jags get over semifinal hump, top No. 4 PV to win Westside Invite
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team finally got over the semifinal hump at the Westside Invitational. The second-ranked Jaguars captured the title at the Cedar Rapids Jefferson tournament on Saturday with a 25-19, 25-17 victory over No. 4 Pleasant Valley. They raised their record to 29-5 by sweeping all six of their opponents on the day. Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘Today was huge!’: Jags get over semifinal hump, top No. 4 PV to win Westside Invite
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Maggie Blackmore, Ankeny girls’ swimming
Ankeny sophomore Maggie Blackmore earned a pair of top-eight individual finishes in the Johnston Invitational girls' swimming meet on Saturday, helping her team to a fifth-place finish overall. She placed seventh in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:03.67 and finished sixth in the 100 freestyle in 57.69 seconds. Blackmore anchored Ankeny to a third-place … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Maggie Blackmore, Ankeny girls’ swimming
‘It was exactly what we needed’: Hawkette spikers finish 3-0 at Ankeny Quadrangular
The Ankeny volleyball team defeated one ranked opponent and outlasted two other foes in three sets to finish a perfect 3-0 in the Ankeny Quadrangular on Saturday. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes posted a 25-14, 25-19 win over Norwalk, the No. 5 team in Class 4A. They defeated Omaha (Neb.) Westside by scores of 25-18, 23-25, 15-13 and rallied for a 21-25, … [Read more...] about ‘It was exactly what we needed’: Hawkette spikers finish 3-0 at Ankeny Quadrangular
Villhauer posts automatic state qualifying time in 100 butterfly at Johnston Invite
Ankeny sophomore Charlie Villhauer punched her ticket to the girls' state swimming meet with a fifth-place finish in the 100 butterfly on Saturday in the Johnston Invitational at Summit Middle School. Villhauer posted an automatic state qualifying time of 59.48 seconds, dropping more than 2 seconds off her previous season-best of 1:01.54. She had been … [Read more...] about Villhauer posts automatic state qualifying time in 100 butterfly at Johnston Invite
‘We needed a game like this’: Hawks rout Little Cyclones in tune-up for No. 4 Valley
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Ankeny football coach Jeff Bauer just wanted to see his squad execute and handle business coming off the Hawks' loss to Johnston in a top-five showdown a week ago. And by the end of the first quarter on Friday in Ames, the Hawks were already pushing for a running clock. Seventh-ranked Ankeny got the bounce-back win and a … [Read more...] about ‘We needed a game like this’: Hawks rout Little Cyclones in tune-up for No. 4 Valley
Jaguars strengthen playoff hopes with dominant 2nd half in win over Indianola
Going into the final third of the regular season, the Ankeny Centennial football team didn't have much margin for error. That's what made Friday's contest against visiting Indianola a de facto playoff game for the Jaguars, who entered the night ranked 14th in the initial RPI rankings from the Iowa High School Athletic Association--one spot behind the … [Read more...] about Jaguars strengthen playoff hopes with dominant 2nd half in win over Indianola
‘We’re excited for the season’: Ex-Jaguar Churchman gets fresh start with Cougars
Former Ankeny Centennial all-stater Damin Churchman is happy to be back on the baseball field. For awhile, Churchman wasn't sure if he would ever play again. After graduating from Centennial in 2023, Churchman spent one year at Upper Iowa University--where he sat out the season as a redshirt due to arm problems. "I ultimately left because (Upper … [Read more...] about ‘We’re excited for the season’: Ex-Jaguar Churchman gets fresh start with Cougars
Centennial girls place 2nd at Fort Dodge; Hawkettes finish 11th behind Madetzke
Many of the girls' cross country teams competing in the Fort Dodge Invitational on Thursday will likely be back at Lakeside Golf Course on Nov. 1 for the Class 4A state meet. It provided a good test run for the fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial squad, which placed second among 25 teams with 90 points. No. 3 Waukee Northwest captured the team title with 57 … [Read more...] about Centennial girls place 2nd at Fort Dodge; Hawkettes finish 11th behind Madetzke
Centennial boys place 4th, Hawks take 12th in state meet preview at Fort Dodge
Thursday's Fort Dodge Invitational offered a little bit of a preview of next month's state cross country meet, which will also be held at Lakeside Golf Course. Both the Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny boys' teams are hoping to be back in Fort Dodge on Nov. 1. And Thursday's meet was another step forward in potentially meeting that goal. The eighth-ranked … [Read more...] about Centennial boys place 4th, Hawks take 12th in state meet preview at Fort Dodge
Ankeny swimmers top Newton, Roosevelt, Indianola to win Ankeny Quadrangular
The Ankeny girls' swimming team cruised to a first-place finish in the Ankeny Quadrangular on Thursday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes racked up 648 points while raising their overall record to 7-6 on the season. No. 24 Newton was second with 496 points, followed by Des Moines Roosevelt with 424 and Indianola with 323. "It … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers top Newton, Roosevelt, Indianola to win Ankeny Quadrangular
Regional volleyball pairings announced: Jags, Hawkettes, Eagles to start at home
The regional volleyball pairings were announced on Thursday by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. As expected, both Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny earned No. 1 seeds in Class 5A, meaning that the Jaguars and Hawkettes will only have to win two matches--both of them at home--to advance to the state tournament in Coralville. Second-ranked … [Read more...] about Regional volleyball pairings announced: Jags, Hawkettes, Eagles to start at home