(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
‘They’re ranked No. 1 for a reason’: Jaguars suffer 72-32 loss to two-time champions
For the first 8 minutes on Tuesday, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team executed its game plan perfectly. But an opponent like top-ranked Johnston, which entered the night with a 70-game winning streak, eventually has an answer for everything. After leading by just 8-6 after the first quarter, the visiting Dragons then erupted for 28 points in … [Read more...] about ‘They’re ranked No. 1 for a reason’: Jaguars suffer 72-32 loss to two-time champions
Xtream Arena to host inaugural IGHSAU state dual meet tournament in 2027
The Iowa Girls State Dual Team Wrestling Tournament will compete in familiar surroundings when the event debuts in 2027. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) announced today that Xtream Arena in Coralville will serve as the host venue for the inaugural Iowa Girls State Dual Team Wrestling Tournament, scheduled for January 2027. “There is … [Read more...] about Xtream Arena to host inaugural IGHSAU state dual meet tournament in 2027
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jammie Krah, Ankeny girls’ wrestling
Ankeny sophomore Jammie Krah captured a state championship at 145 pounds in the girls' Class 2A state wrestling tournament on Friday night at Xtream Arena in Coralville. She helped her team to a fourth-place finish overall. Krah finished the season with a 45-5 record. She is now 79-16 in her career after placing seventh at 145 as a freshman. Here is … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jammie Krah, Ankeny girls’ wrestling
‘We had a great day’: Ankeny places 2nd at district, qualifies for state in 9 events
The Ankeny boys' swimming team qualified for the state meet in nine events with a strong performance in a district meet on Saturday at Mason City. Tenth-ranked Ankeny placed second in the eight-team field with 433 points. No. 7 Valley captured the team title with 458. "We had a great day at the pool," said Ankeny coach Dustin Rhoads, who along with his … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great day’: Ankeny places 2nd at district, qualifies for state in 9 events
Hawkettes build big lead, cruise to 50-40 victory over Urbandale at Casey’s Center
The Ankeny girls' basketball players are hoping that Saturday's game against Urbandale won't be their only opportunity this season to play at the Casey's Center in Des Moines. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes built a 42-23 lead after three quarters and went on to post a 50-40 victory on the same court that will host the Class 5A state tournament in a few … [Read more...] about Hawkettes build big lead, cruise to 50-40 victory over Urbandale at Casey’s Center
‘It was a lot of fun’: Hawks surge past C.R. Kennedy in 2nd half without Campbell
It won't be easy for the Ankeny boys' basketball team to replace injured guard Jasani Campbell. But the 10th-ranked Hawks showed on Saturday, though, that they have some other players capable of filling the void. Seniors Cayden Clark, Carson Bright, Sammy Cowart and Kael Roush all played key roles as Ankeny defeated Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 74-60, in the … [Read more...] about ‘It was a lot of fun’: Hawks surge past C.R. Kennedy in 2nd half without Campbell
‘They’re a tough team to come back on’: Jaguars drop 63-46 decision at Waukee
(Story by Jordan Wood) Coming into the Waukee Fieldhouse as an underdog on Friday night, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team hung tough for awhile before third-ranked Waukee eventually pulled away for a 63-46 victory. The Jaguars trailed by just 32-27 at halftime, but Waukee extended its margin in the second half and went on to post its 11th … [Read more...] about ‘They’re a tough team to come back on’: Jaguars drop 63-46 decision at Waukee
‘We didn’t expect their intensity’: Waukee girls top No. 11 Centennial to avenge loss
(Story by Jordan Wood) Heading into Friday's game at Waukee, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team was looking to sweep the season series while reaching the .500 mark for the first time this season. Having fallen short on their past two chances at evening their record, the 11th-ranked Jaguars looked to clinch it against an opponent they had … [Read more...] about ‘We didn’t expect their intensity’: Waukee girls top No. 11 Centennial to avenge loss