Ankeny Fanatic

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Archives for February 2021

Boys’ Class 4A substate basketball pairings announced

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The boys' Class 4A substate basketball pairings have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial (10-4) has earned a No. 1 seed in Substate 2. The Jaguars will host a semifinal game against Des Moines Lincoln (4-9) or Indianola (13-6) on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. No. 6 Ames (12-3) will host Des Moines … [Read more...] about Boys’ Class 4A substate basketball pairings announced

Rhoads to join Ohio State’s football program as defensive analyst

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It only took three decades, but Paul Rhoads is returning to Columbus, Ohio. The Ankeny native and former Iowa State head football coach has been hired to become a defensive analyst at Ohio State, where he served as a graduate assistant in 1991 under John Cooper. He brings 28 years of coaching experience to Ryan Day's Buckeyes staff. Rhoads' experience … [Read more...] about Rhoads to join Ohio State’s football program as defensive analyst

Jaguars earn No. 1 seed in Region 5; No. 2 Waukee stands in Ankeny’s path to state

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The wait is over for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball teams. The Hawkettes and Jaguars now know their postseason opponents. Fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial (12-2) earned a No. 1 seed in Class 5A Region 5 and will host a semifinal game against Urbandale (3-7) on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. The two teams have not met this season. No. … [Read more...] about Jaguars earn No. 1 seed in Region 5; No. 2 Waukee stands in Ankeny’s path to state

‘We gutted it out’: Jaguars use big 4th quarter to knock off No. 9 Dowling

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Averi Porter had not attempted a shot all night for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. When she finally took one, it turned out to be the biggest shot of the game. Porter drilled a go-ahead 3-point goal with 2 minutes 8 seconds left and the fifth-ranked Jaguars went on to post a 48-40 victory at No. 9 Dowling Catholic in a non-conference … [Read more...] about ‘We gutted it out’: Jaguars use big 4th quarter to knock off No. 9 Dowling

THE HAMMER AND NEYAIL: Ankeny boys roll to 66-38 victory over Huskies

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If the Ankeny boys' basketball team hopes to make another deep postseason run, then the Hawks need to start building some momentum in the next two weeks. Tuesday's non-conference game against visiting Des Moines Hoover was a huge step in the right direction. Ankeny equaled its best defensive performance of the season in romping to a 66-38 victory over … [Read more...] about THE HAMMER AND NEYAIL: Ankeny boys roll to 66-38 victory over Huskies

Hot-shooting Dowling boys hand No. 8 Jaguars their third consecutive loss

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team got off to a bad start in Tuesday's non-conference game at Dowling Catholic. The eighth-ranked Jaguars never recovered. Dowling jumped out to an 11-0 lead less than 3 minutes into the first quarter and rolled to an 83-63 victory, handing Centennial its third consecutive loss. The Jaguars (10-4) allowed 83 … [Read more...] about Hot-shooting Dowling boys hand No. 8 Jaguars their third consecutive loss

Hawkettes snap four-game losing skid with largest win ever under McAnelly

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A car accident over the weekend left Ankeny girls' basketball player Calyssa Wright with a concussion. Fortunately for the Hawkettes, they didn't need her on Tuesday. Ankeny built a 53-10 halftime lead and cruised to a 79-21 victory over visiting Des Moines Hoover in a non-conference game. The Hawkettes (8-6) played for the first time in a week after … [Read more...] about Hawkettes snap four-game losing skid with largest win ever under McAnelly

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Marissa Larson-Minar, Ankeny girls’ bowling

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Sophomore Marissa Larson-Minar is a member of the Ankeny girls' bowling team. She has helped the Hawkettes to a 7-3 record. Larson-Minar currently boasts a 225 series average. She bowled a season-high 272 series in the Hawkettes' victory over Southeast Polk on Jan. 12 at Great Escape. "She is very quiet, but she's a determined young lady," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Marissa Larson-Minar, Ankeny girls’ bowling

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Will Bennett, Ankeny boys’ swimming

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Senior Will Bennett helped the third-ranked Ankeny boys' swimming team to a district title on Saturday at Southeast Polk. He won the 50 freestyle in a time of 21.61 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 47.86. Bennett also swam on the winning 200 freestyle relay that set a pool record with a time of 1:26.09. He anchored the Hawks to a runner-up finish in the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Will Bennett, Ankeny boys’ swimming

Hawk bowlers defeat Mason City, but Ankeny girls fall to Mohawks

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The Ankeny bowling teams completed their dual-meet season on Friday with a road trip to Mason City. The two squads came away with a split in the CIML Iowa Conference matchup at Mystic Lanes. The Hawks won by a score of 2,731 to 2,516, but the Hawkettes lost by a score of 2,447 to 2,284. "We had some tough conditions in Mason City, but both teams did a … [Read more...] about Hawk bowlers defeat Mason City, but Ankeny girls fall to Mohawks

Hawk swimmers qualify the ‘biggest state meet team in Ankeny history’

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The main objective for the Ankeny boys' swimming team on Saturday was to put itself into position to contend for the state championship next week. The third-ranked Hawks accomplished that goal while also winning a district title at Southeast Polk. They captured nine of the 11 events and racked up 487 points, 35 more than No. 5 Valley. "We had a good … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers qualify the ‘biggest state meet team in Ankeny history’

Jaguars celebrate Senior Night by claiming outright Iowa Conference crown

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The four seniors on the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team had a lot of reasons to celebrate on Friday night. Not only was it Senior Night, but the fifth-ranked Jaguars wrapped up the outright CIML Iowa Conference title with a 57-50 victory over visiting Ames. "It feels really good," said senior forward Bella Robben. "Our team has worked really … [Read more...] about Jaguars celebrate Senior Night by claiming outright Iowa Conference crown

Lipsey, Little Cyclones capitalize on Crews’ absence to stay in title chase

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A two-game lead in the CIML Iowa Conference gave the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team some margin for error on Friday night. All-state point guard Jaron Crews sat out with an ankle injury as the fourth-ranked Jaguars lost to No. 10 Ames, 56-46, in a top-10 showdown at Centennial. "I could have played tonight, but I just wanted to make sure I was … [Read more...] about Lipsey, Little Cyclones capitalize on Crews’ absence to stay in title chase

Ankeny’s Wignall named Class 3A Central District Coach of the Year

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall has been named the Class 3A Central District Coach of the Year by the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association. Wignall is a finalist for the state's Class 3A Coach of the Year, which will be awarded at the state tournament later this month. Wignall has guided Ankeny to a 10-5 dual record this season. The … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Wignall named Class 3A Central District Coach of the Year

No. 2 Waukee overcomes star’s absence, Porter’s hot shooting to defeat Jaguars

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What appeared to be a break for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team turned out to be a mirage. When the fifth-ranked Jaguars showed up for Tuesday's showdown against No. 2 Waukee, they discovered that the visiting Warriors would be without their best player--senior guard Katie Dinnebier. Dinnebier, a Drake recruit, was forced to sit out after … [Read more...] about No. 2 Waukee overcomes star’s absence, Porter’s hot shooting to defeat Jaguars

No. 2 Waukee boys top Centennial, snap Jaguars’ 20-game home winning streak

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team isn't accustomed to losing on its home court. It took a special squad to end the Jaguars' 20-game home winning streak. Second-ranked Waukee built a 35-24 halftime lead and went on to post a 69-56 victory over No. 4 Centennial in a non-conference game on Tuesday. The Warriors were also the last team to win at … [Read more...] about No. 2 Waukee boys top Centennial, snap Jaguars’ 20-game home winning streak

Class 3A regional dual wrestling assignments announced

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The Class 3A regional dual assignments have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The regional duals will be held on Feb. 10, beginning at 6 p.m. The top 24 ranked teams according to January's IWCOA rankings will compete at eight sites with the highest-ranked teams hosting, if possible. The top-ranked team at each site receives a … [Read more...] about Class 3A regional dual wrestling assignments announced