The Class 3A state wrestling tournament brackets have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Four of Ankeny Centennial's 10 qualifiers earned a top-eight seed and will receive a first-round bye. Two of Ankeny's nine qualifiers earned a No. 3 seed and will also receive a first-round bye. The Class 3A tournament begins on Wednesday … [Read more...] about THE MADNESS BEGINS: State wrestling tourney brackets announced by IHSAA
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jake Smith, Ankeny boys’ swimming
Sophomore Jake Smith helped the Ankeny boys' swimming team to a 17th-place finish in the state meet on Friday and Saturday at the University of Iowa's Campus Recreation & Wellness Center in Iowa City. He scored points in both of his individual events. Smith placed 15th in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:46.54. He later took ninth in the 500 … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jake Smith, Ankeny boys’ swimming
‘That was a super tough district’: Hawks advance 9 wrestlers to state tournament
Whatever advantage the Ankeny wrestling team enjoyed by hosting a Class 3A district tournament on Saturday was offset by a loaded field that provided a huge challenge for the Hawks. Ankeny placed third in the eight-team field with 185.5 points and qualified nine wrestlers for the state tournament. Linn-Mar (Marion) captured the district crown with 218 … [Read more...] about ‘That was a super tough district’: Hawks advance 9 wrestlers to state tournament
‘We had a great meet’: Ankeny swimmers place 17th at state despite DQ in last race
Ankeny senior Bryer Pearson earned a spot on the awards podium in his final boys' high school state swimming meet. Pearson placed third in the 100 butterfly on Saturday at the University of Iowa's Campus Recreation & Wellness Center. He set a personal record of 49.60 after breaking the 50-second mark for the first time during Friday's preliminaries, … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great meet’: Ankeny swimmers place 17th at state despite DQ in last race
‘The game was very physical’: Jaguars sink 22 free throws in victory at Waterloo West
The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team has earned back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Fresh off a 17-point victory over visiting Southeast Polk on Friday, the Jaguars traveled to Waterloo West on Saturday afternoon for a non-conference game and defeated the Wahawks, 57-51. "This was a nice, hard-fought win for us," said Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘The game was very physical’: Jaguars sink 22 free throws in victory at Waterloo West
‘We had a great final round’: Jaguars place 2nd at district, qualify 10 for state tourney
The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers picked a good time to have one of their best days of the season. The Jaguars placed second among eight teams in a Class 3A district tournament on Saturday at Iowa City High. More importantly, they qualified 10 wrestlers for the state tournament. "It's been a long season," said Centennial coach Jay Groth. "We've … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great final round’: Jaguars place 2nd at district, qualify 10 for state tourney
‘It’s maybe the story of our season’: Hawks’ late lead slips away against Johnston
A late scoring drought resulted in a third consecutive loss for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. The seventh-ranked Hawks were held to just one basket in the final 4 minutes and dropped a 54-52 decision to visiting Johnston on Friday. It was the fourth straight win for the Dragons, who avenged an earlier five-point loss while wrapping up a fifth-place … [Read more...] about ‘It’s maybe the story of our season’: Hawks’ late lead slips away against Johnston
Hawkettes slow pace, but No. 1 Johnston prevails to earn 73rd consecutive victory
The Ankeny girls' basketball team held top-ranked Johnston to just 50 points in the regular-season finale on Friday at Ankeny, one of the Dragons' worst offensive performances of the year. But the two-time defending Class 5A state champions still managed to extend their winning streak to 73 games. The Dragons limited No. 5 Ankeny to its lowest scoring … [Read more...] about Hawkettes slow pace, but No. 1 Johnston prevails to earn 73rd consecutive victory
Beam, Perpich combine for 48 points in Jaguars’ win to close out regular season
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Lizzie Beam and Faith Perpich have formed a great 1-2 punch for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team over the course of the season. The junior and freshman guard tandem combined forces to help lead the Jaguars to their second straight victory to close out the regular season. Beam scored a game-high 26 points and … [Read more...] about Beam, Perpich combine for 48 points in Jaguars’ win to close out regular season
Centennial boys use balanced attack to finish sweep of season series vs. Rams
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) To the delight of the Ankeny Centennial student section, Carter Gustafson checked into Friday's boys' basketball game for the Jaguars with about 30 seconds left to play. The senior guard's fast-break layup in the final seconds was the perfect way to close out Centennial's 61-44 victory to sweep the season series against … [Read more...] about Centennial boys use balanced attack to finish sweep of season series vs. Rams
Ankeny’s Pearson, Smith, Kearney, Walsh advance to finals at boys’ state swim meet
Four Ankeny boys' swimmers qualified for Saturday's finals in a total of five individual events during Friday's preliminaries of the state meet at the University of Iowa's Campus Recreation & Wellness Center in Iowa City. Senior Bryer Pearson was Ankeny's top qualifier. He advanced to the "A" final in the 100 butterfly by posting a time of 49.84 … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Pearson, Smith, Kearney, Walsh advance to finals at boys’ state swim meet
ACA girls’ team finishes season with 11-10 record after losing at West Bend-Mallard
The Ankeny Christian Academy girls' basketball team closed out its season on Thursday with a 58-38 loss at West Bend-Mallard in the opening round of a Class 1A regional tournament. The Eagles finished with an 11-10 record. West Bend-Mallard (9-13) outscored ACA in the second quarter, 21-11, to build a 31-19 lead at halftime. The Wolverines continued to … [Read more...] about ACA girls’ team finishes season with 11-10 record after losing at West Bend-Mallard
Jaguars roll past Ames on Senior Night, will host S.E. Polk to close out season
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team turned in one of its best offensive performances of the season on its Senior Night. The 13th-ranked Jaguars made nine 3-point goals, connected on 21-of-25 free throws and rolled to a 68-49 victory over visiting Ames in a non-conference game on Thursday. Centennial nearly eclipsed its season-high of 71 … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past Ames on Senior Night, will host S.E. Polk to close out season
Campbell returns to lineup, but Hawks get off to slow start in loss at Urbandale
When the week began, the Ankeny boys' basketball team was No. 7 in the latest Class 4A rankings and appeared to be in good position to earn a top seed for an upcoming substate tournament. Tuesday's 58-49 loss at No. 3 Waukee Northwest probably didn't hurt the Hawks' resume too much, but Thursday's 63-54 setback at Urbandale could prove to be more … [Read more...] about Campbell returns to lineup, but Hawks get off to slow start in loss at Urbandale
‘Gavin had a great second game’: Ankeny senior places 15th at conference meet
The Ankeny boys' bowling team placed seventh in the CIML Conference meet on Thursday at Great Escape. Ankeny posted a score of 2,604. The team competition consisted of 15 bakers games. Waukee racked up a total of 3,380 to defend its title, including a 268 in its final game. Urbandale bowled a 279 in its second game and went on to earn runner-up honors, … [Read more...] about ‘Gavin had a great second game’: Ankeny senior places 15th at conference meet
HOME COOKIN’: Hawkettes earn top seed in Region 5, Jags will also host semifinal
The Class 5A girls' regional basketball pairings were announced on Thursday afternoon by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Fifth-ranked Ankeny (13-7) is the top seed in Region 5 and will host a semifinal game on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. The Hawkettes will play the winner of Wednesday's game between Sioux City North (5-16) and Sioux City West … [Read more...] about HOME COOKIN’: Hawkettes earn top seed in Region 5, Jags will also host semifinal
‘A lot of guys stepped up’: Ankeny boys put scare into Wolves before falling short
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Going into the fourth quarter down just two points, the Ankeny boys' basketball team had a chance at pulling off a major road upset on Tuesday night. Third-ranked Waukee Northwest kept the door cracked open wide enough that the No. 7 Hawks were within striking distance at handing the Wolves their third loss in the last four … [Read more...] about ‘A lot of guys stepped up’: Ankeny boys put scare into Wolves before falling short
‘We just kind of let go of the rope’: Ankeny girls fade in 2nd half of loss to Wolves
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) For almost the entire first half, Tuesday night in Waukee looked like it was going to be a traditional back-and-forth battle between two of the top five girls' basketball teams in Class 5A. But a 10-2 run in the final 2 minutes 44 seconds of the half by second-ranked Waukee Northwest completely changed things. No. 4 … [Read more...] about ‘We just kind of let go of the rope’: Ankeny girls fade in 2nd half of loss to Wolves
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 335
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 interviews state champions Jammie Krah and Lauren Watson of the Ankeny girls' wrestling team and previews the boys' state swim meet with Ankeny senior Sam Howard. Realtor Amy Wiederin also stops by for a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 335
Gorsh scores career-high 13 points, but Centennial boys can’t overcome slow start
A slow start proved costly for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. The Jaguars fell into a 17-4 hole against visiting Johnston by the end of the first quarter in Tuesday's game. Centennial closed the gap to 24-19 at halftime before the Dragons pulled away for a 56-45 victory that allowed them to sweep the season series. "Our defense was … [Read more...] about Gorsh scores career-high 13 points, but Centennial boys can’t overcome slow start