It's been awhile since the Ankeny girls' track team earned a top-10 finish in the Class 4A state meet. All of the current members of the squad were in elementary school the last time it happened. In 2010, the Hawkettes finished seventh with 46 points. This could be the year that Ankeny returns to the top 10. The Hawkettes boast 12 returning state … [Read more...] about Hawkettes seek first top-10 finish at state since 2010
Archives for March 2018
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Ryan VanBaale, Ankeny Centennial boys’ track
Ryan VanBaale is the Ankeny Fanatic prep of the week sponsored by Revive Clinic and Spa. The Ankeny Centennial senior is one of the state's top sprinters. VanBaale placed second in the 100 at last year's Class 4A state meet and ran on the Jaguars' 4x200 relay, which set a school record en route to a third-place finish. He was named to The Des Moines … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Ryan VanBaale, Ankeny Centennial boys’ track
Hawkettes, Jaguars compete indoors for final time
Saturday's Central College Indoor Meet provided one last opportunity for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' track teams to compete in a controlled climate. Both the Hawkettes and Jaguars turned in some strong performances. "It was great to bring almost 50 girls to a spring break meet and get to run everybody," said Centennial coach Andrew Kruzich. … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars compete indoors for final time
Burns takes over experienced Ankeny boys’ soccer team
The new head coach of the Ankeny boys' soccer team is already familiar with the Central Iowa Metropolitan League. Jordan Burns, a native of Scotland, spent the last three years as an assistant for Des Moines Roosevelt boys' coach Sean Holmes. Prior to that, he was a volunteer assistant for Waukee girls' coach Tony Gabriel for two years. Burns has … [Read more...] about Burns takes over experienced Ankeny boys’ soccer team
Oklahoma’s loss to DePaul ends Manning’s collegiate career
Maddie Manning's collegiate basketball career has finally ended. The former Ankeny star played her last game on Friday as 12th-seeded Oklahoma suffered a 90-79 loss to fifth-seeded DePaul in the opening round of the women's NCAA Tournament at College Station, Texas. Manning scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Sooners, who finished the … [Read more...] about Oklahoma’s loss to DePaul ends Manning’s collegiate career
Jaguars look to improve on last year’s sixth-place finish in Class 4A
A year ago, the Ankeny Centennial boys' track team placed sixth in the Class 4A state meet, the school's highest finish ever. This year, the Jaguars could be even better. "They've set some high goals for themselves," Centennial coach Nate Smith said of his 122-member squad. "Consistency with their training, focus and races will help them reach their … [Read more...] about Jaguars look to improve on last year’s sixth-place finish in Class 4A
Ankeny boys’ soccer coach discusses challenges of new job
Jordan Burns has taken over the Hawks' program after Brian Duax left to become the coach at Ankeny Centennial. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quASaOCwrRc … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys’ soccer coach discusses challenges of new job
Jaguars compete at ISU Indoor Meet, gear up for outdoor season
The Ankeny Centennial boys' track team made the short trip to Ames on Tuesday to compete in the ISU Indoor Meet at the Lied Athletic Recreation Center. Due to spring break, the Jaguars were missing many of their key athletes. But they still turned in some solid performances. "It was nice to see Avery Gates post a competitive time in the 60-meter dash … [Read more...] about Jaguars compete at ISU Indoor Meet, gear up for outdoor season
Dennis Gibson talks about his induction into Iowa State’s Hall of Fame
The Ankeny native was a standout linebacker for the Cyclones who went on to play nine seasons in the National Football League. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-i9G8zESjs Ankeny Fanatic will have a story on Gibson at a later time. … [Read more...] about Dennis Gibson talks about his induction into Iowa State’s Hall of Fame
Daugherty, Robran, Flatness earn top-10 finishes at ISU Indoor Meet
Unlike many of her teammates on the Ankeny girls' track squad, Malea Daugherty didn't go anywhere for spring break. That decision allowed Daugherty to compete in the ISU Indoor Meet on Monday at Ames. She responded with the Hawkettes' highest individual finish of the day, placing fifth in the 60 hurdles in 9.75 seconds. "Malea is running the hurdles … [Read more...] about Daugherty, Robran, Flatness earn top-10 finishes at ISU Indoor Meet
Strait earns third-team all-state honors from IPSWA
If the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team needed a basket, coach Bob Fontana usually put the ball in Hunter Strait's hands. If Fontana wanted to get one of the other Jaguars going offensively, he would rely on his senior point guard to deliver an assist. Strait's ability to score and to distribute the ball has been recognized by the Iowa Print … [Read more...] about Strait earns third-team all-state honors from IPSWA
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Jesslyn Gaumer, Ankeny Centennial girls’ track
Jesslyn Gaumer of the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Gaumer filled in for the Jaguars' 4x800 relay and anchored the team to a first-place finish at the Wartburg Indoor Meet on Feb. 27. She teamed up with Emma Gordon, Bri Smith and Savana Alt to post a time of 10:19.29. Gaumer, a junior, … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Jesslyn Gaumer, Ankeny Centennial girls’ track
Macke, Winters participate in 2018 U.S. Women’s National Team open tryouts
The game of volleyball has taken Kylee Macke and Jaali Winters all over the United States. Earlier this month, the sport brought the former Ankeny Centennial teammates together at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The duo was among more than 230 student-athletes from 90 colleges and universities who participated in the 2018 U.S. … [Read more...] about Macke, Winters participate in 2018 U.S. Women’s National Team open tryouts
Season ends for Cummins, Mustangs in NAIA Division II quarterfinals
The future looks bright for Trystan Cummins and the Morningside College men's basketball team. The fifth-ranked Mustangs completed their season on Saturday with an 86-68 loss to No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Division II National Championship in Sioux Falls, S.D. They finished with a 28-7 record. The entire Morningside roster … [Read more...] about Season ends for Cummins, Mustangs in NAIA Division II quarterfinals
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Jake Pinegar, Ankeny Centennial football
Jake Pinegar is the Ankeny Fanatic prep of the week sponsored by Revive Clinic and Spa. The Ankeny Centennial senior place-kicker has signed a letter of intent to play football next season at Penn State. Pinegar has also been a soccer and track standout for the Jaguars. He ran on the state champion shuttle hurdle relay team last year. Here is some … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Jake Pinegar, Ankeny Centennial football
Ryan Sears joins his brother in Iowa Basketball Hall of Fame
When Ryan Sears was promoted to the Ankeny boys' varsity basketball team as a freshman, his older brother Todd was the Hawks' star player. "I still remember the one game where we combined for 45 points," said Ryan. "And I had two of them." Ryan eventually joined his brother as an all-state player, helping Ankeny to three consecutive state tournament … [Read more...] about Ryan Sears joins his brother in Iowa Basketball Hall of Fame
Centennial’s Kluver to play for Hawkeyes as long snapper
Zach Kluver has decided to follow in his brother's footsteps. The Ankeny Centennial senior will join the Iowa football program as a long snapper. He will attend DMACC part-time in the fall before heading to Iowa City for the spring semester. Kluver's brother, Tyler, was a four-year starter for the Hawkeyes as a long snapper. His collegiate career ended … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Kluver to play for Hawkeyes as long snapper
McCullough, Olson earn all-state honors from Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association
Ankeny's Sara McCullough and Ankeny Centennial's Chloe Olson have received all-state basketball honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. McCullough, a junior forward, was named to the Class 5A second team. She averaged 16.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while leading the Hawkettes to an 11-12 record, their best season since the split into two … [Read more...] about McCullough, Olson earn all-state honors from Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association
Centennial’s Moss, Cox set school records at Dickinson Relays
Riley Moss has some lofty expectations for the 2018 high school track season. "I've set a goal to never lose a race for the high hurdles this year so we will see what happens when outdoor season comes along," said Moss. The Ankeny Centennial senior is off to a great start in the indoor season. He won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.11 seconds at the … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Moss, Cox set school records at Dickinson Relays
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Abby Johnson, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Abby Johnson of the Ankeny girls' basketball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. The freshman forward helped the Hawkettes to an 11-12 record, their best season since the split into two high schools. She averaged 1.8 points and 0.6 rebounds per game. Johnson went 2-for-2 from 3-point range and scored six points to spark … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Abby Johnson, Ankeny girls’ basketball