Two of the state's best defensive teams will collide on Tuesday at Pleasant Valley with a trip to the girls' state basketball tournament at stake. The Class 5A Region 8 final will match seventh-ranked Pleasant Valley (21-0) against No. 10 Ankeny Centennial (14-7). Tip-off has been moved up to 6 p.m. due to the weather. "We know they're undefeated," … [Read more...] about Centennial girls head to Pleasant Valley for 5A regional final
Archives for February 2019
Clutch baskets by Brandt, Severseike lift Jaguars to substate win over Fort Dodge
Ankeny Centennial's double-digit lead started slipping away on Monday in a Class 4A boys' basketball substate quarterfinal. That's when seniors Lathan Brandt and Garret Severseike scored two of the Jaguars' biggest baskets of the game. After visiting Fort Dodge went on a 9-0 run to pull within 37-34, Brandt drove to the hoop on a fast break and made a … [Read more...] about Clutch baskets by Brandt, Severseike lift Jaguars to substate win over Fort Dodge
Postseason play begins tonight at home for Hawks, Jaguars
If the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams want to experience some March Madness, they'll first have to pull off some upsets in February. Both squads will begin postseason play on Monday at home, but the Hawks and Jaguars will then likely have to defeat two higher-seeded teams to qualify for the state tournament, which will be held on … [Read more...] about Postseason play begins tonight at home for Hawks, Jaguars
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Eric Owens, Centennial wrestling
Senior Eric Owens helped the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team to a fourth-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament last week at Wells Fargo Arena. He earned a second-place finish at 145 pounds. Owens also helped the Jaguars to a third-place finish in the state duals tournament. He finished the season with a 37-5 record. Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Eric Owens, Centennial wrestling
SOLID GOLD: Ankeny’s Rathjen, Anderson capture state wrestling titles
Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall waited six years to crown his first individual state champion. He only had to wait about 30 minutes for his second one. Ankeny's top-ranked duo of Trever Anderson and Caleb Rathjen each won a title in the Class 3A state tournament on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena, leading the Hawks to their best finish since the … [Read more...] about SOLID GOLD: Ankeny’s Rathjen, Anderson capture state wrestling titles
McCullough scores 1,000th career point in Hawkettes’ season-ending loss to East
Dru McAnelly is a big fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, who defeated Rutgers on Saturday on a miracle 3-pointer at the buzzer. About 30 minutes before Joe Weiskamp banked in the game-winner for the Hawkeyes from the corner, McAnelly's Ankeny girls' basketball team was in a similar position, down two points with the ball in the final seconds. However, the … [Read more...] about McCullough scores 1,000th career point in Hawkettes’ season-ending loss to East
Jaguars earn 3 silver medals, finish 4th overall in Class 3A
For three days, the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers put themselves in position to capture a team trophy at the Class 3A state tournament in Des Moines. Centennial coach Jay Groth was also confident that the Jaguars would win multiple individual championships, especially after his team advanced three wrestlers into Saturday night's finals at Wells Fargo … [Read more...] about Jaguars earn 3 silver medals, finish 4th overall in Class 3A
VIDEO: Ankeny’s dynamic duo captures pair of state titles
‘We’re not done yet’: Centennial girls advance to regional final
Kenna Sauer didn't want her basketball career to end on Saturday afternoon. The Missouri volleyball recruit scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Ankeny Centennial girls' team to a 50-31 victory over visiting Sioux City East in a Class 5A regional semifinal. She also had two steals and a block. "We're not done yet," said … [Read more...] about ‘We’re not done yet’: Centennial girls advance to regional final
Leo places 3rd for Jaguars; Blubaugh takes 7th and Bresson finishes 8th
The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers are still in contention for a team trophy following Saturday's consolation rounds in the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. The Jaguars got a third-place finish from Nic Leo at 182 pounds, while Noah Blubaugh took seventh at 126. Jackson Bresson added an eighth-place finish at 113. "I'm very proud of how our … [Read more...] about Leo places 3rd for Jaguars; Blubaugh takes 7th and Bresson finishes 8th
Ankeny’s Kallem earns 7th-place finish at state wrestling tourney
Sam Kallem got a taste of what the state wrestling tournament is all about this week. The Ankeny junior is looking to go back for more next year. The seventh-ranked Kallem earned a seventh-place finish in Class 3A at 132 pounds on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. He posted a 7-1 decision over No. 8 Christian Stanek of Cedar Rapids Xavier in the … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Kallem earns 7th-place finish at state wrestling tourney
Jaguars top Lincoln, will take 4-game winning streak into substate play
When the boys' Class 4A postseason basketball tournaments get under way this week, Ankeny Centennial could be a dangerous opponent in Substate 8. The Jaguars closed out the regular season on Friday with a 56-51 victory at Des Moines Lincoln. They will enter the postseason with an 8-12 record, but are now riding a four-game winning streak. The latest … [Read more...] about Jaguars top Lincoln, will take 4-game winning streak into substate play
Hawks stumble to 71-68 loss at Mason City in regular-season finale
Fortunately for the Ankeny boys' basketball team, Friday's game at Mason City was essentially meaningless. The Hawks dropped a 71-68 decision in their regular-season finale, giving them a couple of days to prepare for Monday's Class 4A substate quarterfinal against visiting Des Moines Roosevelt. "It wasn't fun at all, but what do you do?" said … [Read more...] about Hawks stumble to 71-68 loss at Mason City in regular-season finale
‘Great round’ sends Centennial trio into Saturday’s championship matches
Ben Monroe has waited 365 days for another opportunity to win a state wrestling title. Two of his Ankeny Centennial teammates, Eric Owens and Logan Neils, had their own championship aspirations. Now, the trio will get their chance on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. All three of them won semifinal matches on Friday afternoon to advance to the Class … [Read more...] about ‘Great round’ sends Centennial trio into Saturday’s championship matches
Anderson, Rathjen could capture twin titles for Hawk wrestlers
Ankeny's Caleb Rathjen watched from the bowels of Wells Fargo Arena as Trever Anderson turned in a dominating performance in the semifinals of the Class 3A state wrestling tournament on Friday afternoon. A few minutes later, Rathjen joined his teammate in earning a trip to Saturday night's finals, giving the top-ranked duo a chance to capture twin … [Read more...] about Anderson, Rathjen could capture twin titles for Hawk wrestlers
THUMBS UP: 3 Jaguars, 2 Hawks to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night
The Class 3A state wrestling finals on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena will feature a quintet of competitors from the community of Ankeny. Fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial will be represented by a trio of finalists--top-ranked Ben Monroe at 132 pounds, No. 5 Eric Owens at 145 and No. 2 Logan Neils at 170. Monroe, a two-time state runner-up, will be … [Read more...] about THUMBS UP: 3 Jaguars, 2 Hawks to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night
Season comes to an end for Ankeny bowling teams
The Ankeny girls' bowling team came up just short of qualifying for the Class 3A state tournament on Thursday. The Hawkettes posted a season-high score of 2,516 while placing third among six teams in a substate tournament at Maple Lanes in Waterloo. They finished just 66 pins behind Dubuque Senior, which advanced to next week's state tournament with a … [Read more...] about Season comes to an end for Ankeny bowling teams
Jaguars send 4 wrestlers into semifinals, while Ankeny advances top-ranked duo
Ankeny Centennial has advanced four wrestlers and Ankeny has qualified two for the Class 3A semifinals of the state tournament on Friday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena. The fifth-ranked Jaguars won four of their five quarterfinal matches on Friday morning. The No. 7 Hawks won two of their three quarterfinal bouts. Centennial got wins from top-ranked … [Read more...] about Jaguars send 4 wrestlers into semifinals, while Ankeny advances top-ranked duo
Centennial boys lose Kelling to injury, then roll to victory over Scarlets
Despite the loss of another starter to an injury, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team rolled to its third consecutive victory on Thursday. The Jaguars shot 60 percent from the field (33-of-55) and cruised to an 84-37 win at Des Moines East, raising their record to 7-12 on the season. It was the 13th straight loss for the Scarlets, who fell to … [Read more...] about Centennial boys lose Kelling to injury, then roll to victory over Scarlets
Jaguars advance 5 wrestlers, Hawks send 3 to Class 3A quarterfinals
Both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial are off to good starts in the Class 3A state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Fifth-ranked Centennial still has six wrestlers alive following Thursday's opening round, including five quarterfinalists. The Jaguars are in ninth place with 17 points in the team standings. "I'm happy for the six that are still … [Read more...] about Jaguars advance 5 wrestlers, Hawks send 3 to Class 3A quarterfinals