Ankeny Fanatic

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Archives for December 2019

‘Give Dowling credit’: Maroons hand Ankeny swimmers first loss in 2 years

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The Ankeny boys' swimming team had not lost a dual meet in nearly two years. The Hawks' unbeaten streak came to an end on Thursday with a 93-77 loss to Dowling Catholic at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The Maroons used a strong finish to win the CIML Central Conference opener for both teams. "Give Dowling credit--their last three events were better than … [Read more...] about ‘Give Dowling credit’: Maroons hand Ankeny swimmers first loss in 2 years

Crews pours in career-high 25 points, leads Jaguars to victory at Valley

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Jaron Crews and the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team showed a glimpse of their potential on Tuesday night. Crews poured in a career-high 25 points, including a go-ahead 3-point goal with 2 minutes 7 seconds left, as the Jaguars remained unbeaten with a 59-51 victory at Valley. "It's a good win, but we're just taking it one game at a time," said … [Read more...] about Crews pours in career-high 25 points, leads Jaguars to victory at Valley

Ankeny bowlers complete busy stretch of meets with loss to Waukee

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The Ankeny bowlers are ready for a few days of rest. The two teams completed a busy stretch of meets on Tuesday with a loss to Waukee at Great Escape. The Warriors won the boys' meet by a score of 3,075 to 2,901 and also captured the girls' meet by a score of 2,249 to 2,237. The Hawkettes are now 2-2 on the season. The Hawks' record dropped to … [Read more...] about Ankeny bowlers complete busy stretch of meets with loss to Waukee

Hawks outlast Lincoln in OT as Smith hits tying, game-winning free throws

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Jaxon Smith stood at the charity stripe with a chance to give his undefeated Ankeny boys' basketball team another hard-fought victory. The senior guard calmly delivered. Smith made two free throws in the final seconds of overtime as the Hawks posted a 62-60 win at Des Moines Lincoln on Tuesday. He finished with 25 points. "I was sure I could make … [Read more...] about Hawks outlast Lincoln in OT as Smith hits tying, game-winning free throws

Early lead quickly disappears as Jaguars fall to defending state champs

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team had the defending Class 5A state champion on the ropes Tuesday night. But the Jaguars were unable to deliver the knockout blow. Eighth-ranked Centennial jumped out to an early 11-1 lead at No. 12 Valley before the Tigers used runs of 14-2 and 19-5 to rally for a 52-44 victory. "We started off really well, … [Read more...] about Early lead quickly disappears as Jaguars fall to defending state champs

Hawkettes extend winning streak, will host showdown against Dowling next

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team will take a four-game winning streak into its CIML Central Conference opener on Friday. The Hawkettes rolled to a 54-18 victory at Des Moines Lincoln on Tuesday to raise their record to 4-1. The Railsplitters dropped to 0-3. "It was a nice team win," said Ankeny coach Dru McAnelly. "Once again, we shared the ball very … [Read more...] about Hawkettes extend winning streak, will host showdown against Dowling next

Jaguars rout Ottumwa, close in on 100th victory in school history

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team didn't waste any time in putting away visiting Ottumwa on Tuesday. The fifth-ranked Jaguars recorded nine pins, seven of them in the first period, and rolled to a 76-6 victory. They evened their dual-meet record at 1-1. "We wrestled well," said Centennial coach Jay Groth. "We got after it and had a good … [Read more...] about Jaguars rout Ottumwa, close in on 100th victory in school history

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Karter Kester, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball

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Senior post player Karter Kester is a member of the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. He has helped the Jaguars to a 3-0 record. Kester is averaging 2.0 points and 0.5 rebounds per game. “Karter has brought energy and enthusiasm to our team. He brings it every day in practice and in games," said Centennial coach Bob Fontana. "He is a great … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Karter Kester, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball

Creighton’s Ballenger named to all-East Region first team

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Creighton volleyball standout Megan Ballenger has received all-region honors for the first time in her career. Ballenger, a senior from Ankeny, was one of four Bluejays to be honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Tuesday. She was joined on the all-East Region first team by teammates Keely Davis, Brittany Witt and East Region Player of … [Read more...] about Creighton’s Ballenger named to all-East Region first team

Hawkettes record 15 steals, romp past East for 3rd straight victory

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There wasn't much of a buzz in the Des Moines East gym on Monday night. A sparse crowd forced the Ankeny girls' basketball team to create its own excitement. The Hawkettes jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter and rolled to a 59-28 victory over East in a CIML make-up game. "I told the girls before the game that there was no boys' game, and … [Read more...] about Hawkettes record 15 steals, romp past East for 3rd straight victory

Yankee Clipper to sponsor Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest

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Do you know how to pick the winners of college football games? Do you like free tacos and beer? If you answered yes to both of those questions, then you'll want to enter Ankeny Fanatic's College Football Bowl Contest sponsored by Yankee Clipper. The winner of the contest will receive a $50 gift card to Yankee Clipper--and that'll buy you a lot of tacos … [Read more...] about Yankee Clipper to sponsor Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest

Jaguars dominate Dallas Center-Grimes tournament for 3rd straight year

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers crowned five individual champions and rolled to the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational title on Saturday for the third straight year. The fifth-ranked Jaguars racked up 256 points, 58 more than runner-up Dallas Center-Grimes. Creston/Orient Macksburg took third in the 14-team field with 158 points. "We had a couple of … [Read more...] about Jaguars dominate Dallas Center-Grimes tournament for 3rd straight year

Hawk wrestlers tie for 5th place among 33 teams at Cliff Keen Invitational

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The Ankeny wrestling team proved over the weekend that it belongs on the mat with some of the best squads in the Midwest. The eighth-ranked Hawks tied with Linn-Mar (Marion) for fifth place among 33 teams in the Cliff Keen Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Independence. Both squads finished with 228 points. Simley (Minn.) won the prestigious … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers tie for 5th place among 33 teams at Cliff Keen Invitational

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Logan Neils, Ankeny Centennial wrestling

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Senior Logan Neils pinned his way to the 170-pound title at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational on Saturday, helping the Jaguars to the overall team crown. He is now 4-0 on the season. Neils compiled a 38-3 record as a junior, when he placed second at 170 in the Class 3A state tournament. He is a two-time state placewinner. Here is some inside info … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Logan Neils, Ankeny Centennial wrestling

Second-round NCAA losses end Ballenger’s career, Sauer’s season

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The volleyball season came to an end on Saturday night for both Megan Ballenger and Kenna Sauer. It also marked the end of Ballenger's Creighton career. Ballenger, a former Ankeny star, had seven kills and four blocks in 15th-ranked Creighton's five-set loss at No. 7 Minnesota in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers held off a pair of … [Read more...] about Second-round NCAA losses end Ballenger’s career, Sauer’s season

Morningside tops Grand View, advances to NAIA championship game

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The Morningside College football team moved a step closer toward a second consecutive NAIA championship on Saturday while ending Grand View's season. The fourth-seeded Vikings held a 13-7 lead at halftime before No. 1 Morningside responded with a 14-point third quarter and then held on for a 21-16 victory in Sioux City. Former Ankeny player Dylan Miller … [Read more...] about Morningside tops Grand View, advances to NAIA championship game

Hawk swimmers win 5 events, take 2nd overall at Wittmer Invitational

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The Ankeny boys' swimming team almost won the Mike Wittmer Invitational on Saturday at Ames, even without two of their best swimmers. The Hawks placed second in the six-team field with 263.5 points. They finished just 7.5 points behind Ames, which won the meet for the fourth straight year. Ankeny competed without standout distance swimmers Trent … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers win 5 events, take 2nd overall at Wittmer Invitational

Balanced Jaguars roll to 72-46 victory over rebuilding Hoover squad

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Friday's matchup between the Ankeny Centennial and Des Moines Hoover boys' basketball teams was only the third meeting between the two schools in the last six seasons. This one went much better for the Jaguars than the previous two. Centennial got double-figure scoring from four different players and rolled to a 72-46 victory over the visiting Huskies. … [Read more...] about Balanced Jaguars roll to 72-46 victory over rebuilding Hoover squad