It didn't take long for Ankeny wrestler Ben Walsh to get into midseason form. After making his season debut two nights earlier, the fifth-ranked Walsh cruised to the 126-pound title in the Frank Baltzley Invitational on Saturday at Johnston. He posted a 10-3 decision over Lou Elsten of Lawrence (Kan.) in the title match. "Sometimes when you have a kid … [Read more...] about Hawks place 6th at Baltzley Invite behind champion Walsh, while Jaguars finish 13th
Ankeny girls win 4th straight duals crown, improve record to 18-0 in event’s history
The fourth-ranked Ankeny girls' wrestling team has never lost to an opponent at the Ankeny Centennial Duals. Coach Dustin Roland's squad remained perfect on Saturday at Northview Middle School, where Ankeny went 5-0 on the day to capture the title for the fourth consecutive year. The team is now 18-0 in the history of the event. Ankeny closed out the … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls win 4th straight duals crown, improve record to 18-0 in event’s history
‘Tonight we learned a lot’: Hawks suffer first loss as Waukee boys control 2nd half
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) By the end of the night, it was guaranteed that the CIML Conference was going to have one fewer undefeated boys' basketball team at the top of the league standings. A second-half cold streak for Ankeny opened the door for visiting Waukee to come away with a 66-59 win on Friday as the Hawks suffered their first loss of the … [Read more...] about ‘Tonight we learned a lot’: Hawks suffer first loss as Waukee boys control 2nd half
Williams reaches 1,000-point mark, leads Hawkettes to victory over No. 13 Waukee
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Over the past couple of years, Jayla Williams has been the engine that’s kept the Ankeny girls' basketball team moving. The senior guard and future Creighton Bluejay checked off a major milestone while guiding the fourth-ranked Hawkettes to a 56-48 home win over No. 13 Waukee on Friday night. Williams scored a game-high … [Read more...] about Williams reaches 1,000-point mark, leads Hawkettes to victory over No. 13 Waukee
‘She was just due’: Smith has career-high 19 points, leads Centennial to first victory
Ankeny Centennial's Maizie Smith never lost confidence in her shooting ability. The senior made four 3-point goals and scored a career-high 19 points to lead the Jaguars to a 60-46 victory at Urbandale in a CIML Conference girls' basketball game on Friday. "I knew something would eventually fall," said Smith, who went 4-of-9 from behind the arc. "I was … [Read more...] about ‘She was just due’: Smith has career-high 19 points, leads Centennial to first victory
‘It just didn’t go for us’: Jaguars’ rally falls short when late 3-pointer bounces off rim
The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team fought an uphill battle on Friday night. The Jaguars nearly climbed out of an 11-point hole at Urbandale before their rally fell short, resulting in a 42-39 loss to the J-Hawks. Centennial had a chance to force overtime in the final seconds, but a deep 3-pointer by Keaton Kasperbauer bounced off the rim as … [Read more...] about ‘It just didn’t go for us’: Jaguars’ rally falls short when late 3-pointer bounces off rim
Dowling Catholic bowling teams sweep Ankeny squads in meet at Val Lanes
The Ankeny girls' bowling team posted a season-high score of 1,988 during Thursday's dual meet against Dowling Catholic at Val Lanes. It wasn't enough to produce a victory, though. The Maroons finished with a total of 2,235 to improve to 1-2 in the CIML Conference and 2-2 overall, while Ankeny's records fell to 0-3 and 0-4. Olivia Harris bowled a 334 … [Read more...] about Dowling Catholic bowling teams sweep Ankeny squads in meet at Val Lanes
‘Our girls had a great time competing’: Ankeny falls to Raccoon River-NW, 40-35
A dual meet between the top two girls' wrestling teams in Class 2A came down to the final match on Thursday at Waukee Northwest. Top-ranked Raccoon River-Northwest got a fall at 100 pounds from Mya Van Beek to post a 40-35 victory over No. 2 Ankeny. Van Beek pinned Raegan Semrow in 1 minute 51 seconds to seal the verdict, but the loss didn't dampen the … [Read more...] about ‘Our girls had a great time competing’: Ankeny falls to Raccoon River-NW, 40-35
‘We’re heading in right direction’: Hawks top Centennial for 2nd consecutive year
With two of their stalwarts back in the lineup, the Ankeny wrestlers defeated their crosstown rival for the second consecutive year. The Hawks traveled across town to Ankeny Centennial on Thursday and posted a 40-28 victory, getting a pair of pins from returning state placewinners Ben Walsh and Calvin Rathjen. "It was nice having both Ben and Calvin … [Read more...] about ‘We’re heading in right direction’: Hawks top Centennial for 2nd consecutive year
Wayne State frosh Miller selected to AVCA Division II all-American third team
Former Ankeny Centennial star Delaney Miller has earned 2025 Division II all-American honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association. A freshman outside hitter at Wayne State College, Miller was named to the third team along with her teammate, sophomore middle hitter Chloe Hanel. The teams were announced on Wednesday by the coaches' association … [Read more...] about Wayne State frosh Miller selected to AVCA Division II all-American third team
‘We’re darn close’: Jaguars battle Dowling down to wire before suffering 46-42 loss
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) For the second straight game, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team took a halftime lead and was just 16 minutes away from its first victory of the season. The Jaguars were still tied with under a minute left in Tuesday's game, but visiting Dowling Catholic made the plays down the stretch to escape with a 46-42 win on … [Read more...] about ‘We’re darn close’: Jaguars battle Dowling down to wire before suffering 46-42 loss
Boeding suffers scary fall during first half of Jaguars’ loss to No. 3 Dowling Catholic
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It can take just a matter of seconds to completely change an outlook on a game, and now the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team is hoping for the best for one of its senior leaders. A scary fall and a temporary halt to the action late in the first half left Centennial without forward Rylyn Boeding for the remainder of … [Read more...] about Boeding suffers scary fall during first half of Jaguars’ loss to No. 3 Dowling Catholic
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 327
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 the 3-0 start for the Ankeny boys' basketball team and previews Friday's showdown against Waukee with coach Brandt Carlson and senior center Max Allison. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 327
Hawks use late run to defeat Johnston, stay 1 of 4 unbeaten teams in conference
Ankeny boys' basketball coach Brandt Carlson knows that every game on the road in the CIML Conference is going to be a grind. Fortunately, he appears to have a team capable of winning in tough environments. The Hawks used a late 13-5 run to post a 63-58 victory at Johnston on Tuesday. There were 15 lead changes and six ties in the seesaw … [Read more...] about Hawks use late run to defeat Johnston, stay 1 of 4 unbeaten teams in conference
‘Johnston keeps coming at you’: No. 1 Dragons surge past Ankeny girls, 74-51
It's not often that a high school basketball team can take some positives away from a 23-point loss. But that was the case on Tuesday for the sixth-ranked Ankeny girls' squad, which held a lead midway through the second quarter at No. 1 Johnston before the Dragons rallied for a 74-51 victory. "That was where we expected to be," said Ankeny coach Nate … [Read more...] about ‘Johnston keeps coming at you’: No. 1 Dragons surge past Ankeny girls, 74-51
Ankeny swimmers roll to 136-32 victory over Grinnell at one of state’s best pools
The Ankeny boys' swimming team cruised to a 136-32 victory over Grinnell in a non-conference meet on Tuesday at the Grinnell College Natatorium. Ankeny won all 11 events while raising its overall record to 4-5. The Tigers dropped to 6-4. "It was awesome to be at one of the best pools in the state of Iowa!" said Ankeny coach Dustin Rhoads. "We were able … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers roll to 136-32 victory over Grinnell at one of state’s best pools
‘They were hitting marks and competing’: Ankeny boys’ squad posts total of 2,571
The Ankeny boys' bowling team nearly matched its highest score from last year in just its second meet of the season. Ankeny posted a score of 2,571 during Monday's non-conference dual meet against Gilbert at Perfect Games. Gilbert won the meet by 31 pins with a total of 2,602. "The boys had a nice meet," said Ankeny coach Adam Booth. "They were … [Read more...] about ‘They were hitting marks and competing’: Ankeny boys’ squad posts total of 2,571
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Drew Sorensen, Ankeny boys’ basketball
Senior guard Drew Sorensen scored seven points, all of them in the third quarter, to help the Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 58-46 victory on Friday at Ankeny Centennial. The Hawks improved to 2-0 on the season. Sorensen averaged 7.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a junior, when he helped Ankeny to a 10-12 record. He earned all-conference … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Drew Sorensen, Ankeny boys’ basketball
Ankeny, Centennial wrestlers hoping to get healthy for Jag vs. Hawk showdown
With the Jag-Hawk wrestling dual meet coming up on Thursday at Ankeny Centennial, both teams are still trying to get to full strength. It's been a rough start to the season for the Jaguars, who placed 14th among 15 teams in the Keith Young Invitational on Saturday at Cedar Falls. Defending state champion Max Dhabolt has yet to wrestle, and neither have … [Read more...] about Ankeny, Centennial wrestlers hoping to get healthy for Jag vs. Hawk showdown
Watson, Krah lead Ankeny girls’ team to 5th-place finish at Dan Gable Donnybrook
The Ankeny girls' wrestling team earned a fifth-place finish among 47 squads in the Dan Gable Donnybrook at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The two-day meet concluded on Friday with Ankeny scoring a total of 270 points. Coach Dustin Roland's squad had seven top-eight finishers. "Overall, we were pleased with our effort this weekend," said Roland. "All of … [Read more...] about Watson, Krah lead Ankeny girls’ team to 5th-place finish at Dan Gable Donnybrook