A deep and talented roster usually gives the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team an advantage over most of its opponents. But the Jaguars' foe on Wednesday in the Class 3A semifinals at the state tournament was not your average team. Top-ranked Valley relied on a wave of substitutions to wear down No. 5 Centennial on a hot and humid afternoon at … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a huge barrage’: Valley’s relentless attacks end Jaguars’ season
Archives for June 2021
‘We don’t look at the rankings’: Hawkettes top No. 3 Waukee, will play for title
The Ankeny girls' soccer team has become a Waukee giant-killer. Two years ago, the Hawkettes posted a 1-0 victory over top-ranked Waukee to win the Class 3A state title. On Wednesday, No. 8 Ankeny earned a third consecutive trip to the championship game with a 2-1 win over No. 3 Waukee in the Class 3A semifinals at Cownie Soccer Park. "It feels … [Read more...] about ‘We don’t look at the rankings’: Hawkettes top No. 3 Waukee, will play for title
Blevins, Guan knock off Dowling’s singles champions to win co-ed state title
Ankeny Centennial seniors Will Blevins and Claudia Guan teamed up to win the co-ed state tennis championship on Tuesday at Ankeny. They played five matches over the course of 12 hours to capture the title. In the finals, Blevins and Guan posted a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Daniel Lu and Allison Szalay of Dowling Catholic, who were the boys' and girls' singles … [Read more...] about Blevins, Guan knock off Dowling’s singles champions to win co-ed state title
EEEEEEEEEEELATION!: Jaguars avenge loss to Dowling on Overberg’s goals
When the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team reeled off 12 consecutive victories earlier this season, the Jaguars appeared to be headed toward a No. 1 seed in the Class 3A state tournament. Then came a 2-1 loss at Dowling Catholic in a shootout on May 18 that dropped Centennial from No. 1 to No. 5 in the final Class 3A rankings. "It gave us a lot of … [Read more...] about EEEEEEEEEEELATION!: Jaguars avenge loss to Dowling on Overberg’s goals
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Allie Heller, Ankeny girls’ soccer
Freshman defender Allie Heller is a member of the Ankeny girls' soccer team. She has helped the eighth-ranked Hawkettes to a 13-4 record. "Allie has been a great and surprising addition to the team this year," said Ankeny coach Simon Brown. "She made her way onto the varsity roster and has grown in confidence as the season has gone on working her way into … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Allie Heller, Ankeny girls’ soccer
‘I just know what I do’: Christmann’s PK in final minute sends Ankeny into semis
With the sun beating down on her, Ankeny forward Rachael Christmann had no desire to go into overtime during the Class 3A quarterfinals of the girls' state soccer tournament on Tuesday. A handball in the box against Pleasant Valley in the final minute of regulation gave the Hawkettes an opportunity to break a scoreless tie. And Christmann didn't let it … [Read more...] about ‘I just know what I do’: Christmann’s PK in final minute sends Ankeny into semis
MACK ATTACK: James’ 7th-inning triple ignites Jaguars’ rally past North Polk
A two-run rally in the seventh inning allowed the Ankeny Centennial softball team to post a 2-1 victory at North Polk on Tuesday in a non-conference matchup between rated opponents. Mackenzie James hit an RBI triple to tie the game at 1-1. She then scored the go-ahead run on a single by Sydney Morris, who went 2-for-4 in the win. Lauren Gustofson (5-0) … [Read more...] about MACK ATTACK: James’ 7th-inning triple ignites Jaguars’ rally past North Polk
Jaguars split twinbill at Marshalltown, will host Ankeny on Wednesday
Two baseball teams trying to find some consistency split a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader on Monday at Marshalltown. Ankeny Centennial posted a 12-8 victory in the opener. The host Bobcats then answered with a 10-8 win in the nightcap. "It was very sloppy," said Centennial coach Mark Hey. "There were a lot of walks and a lot of errors on both … [Read more...] about Jaguars split twinbill at Marshalltown, will host Ankeny on Wednesday
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 140
Elizabeth Overberg of Ankeny Centennial and Rachael Christmann of Ankeny discuss the Class 3A quarterfinal wins by their teams in the girls' state soccer tournament on the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America. Ankeny softball coach Dave Bingham and Centennial baseball coach Mark Hey also appear to … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 140
‘I think now we’ve got our bats going’: Hawks pound out 34 hits in sweep
The Ankeny baseball team is starting to look like the top-ranked squad in Class 4A. The Hawks, who dropped from No. 1 to No. 8 in the rankings after splitting their first 10 games of the season, scored 29 runs on 34 hits while sweeping a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader against visiting Fort Dodge on Monday. They rolled to 14-4 and 15-2 victories--both … [Read more...] about ‘I think now we’ve got our bats going’: Hawks pound out 34 hits in sweep
Hawkettes’ skid reaches 4 games after being swept by No. 2 Fort Dodge
Monday was a rough night for the Ankeny softball team. Visiting Fort Dodge had a lot to do with it. The second-ranked Dodgers pounded out 19 hits and cruised to a doubleheader sweep over No. 13 Ankeny. They posted a 9-1 win in the opener and a 9-3 victory in the nightcap. "It's hard to do the things you want to do when you're playing from behind," … [Read more...] about Hawkettes’ skid reaches 4 games after being swept by No. 2 Fort Dodge
Klug, Fisher toss back-to-back gems in Jaguars’ sweep over Marshalltown
Prior to Monday night, Lauren Gustofson had accounted for four of the Ankeny Centennial softball team's six victories in the pitching circle. Despite those numbers, the 11th-ranked Jaguars clearly have some pitching depth. Sam Klug and Maggie Fisher each tossed a complete game as Centennial swept a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader at Marshalltown. The … [Read more...] about Klug, Fisher toss back-to-back gems in Jaguars’ sweep over Marshalltown
Jaguars, Hawks dominate all-CIML Iowa Conference boys’ soccer team
The Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny boys' soccer teams dominated the all-CIML Iowa Conference selections, placing a combined 10 players on the first team. Senior defender Joe Krueger of Centennial, who helped the Jaguars to the league title, was a unanimous pick. He was joined on the first team by five of his teammates--junior defender Jackson Helmkamp, … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawks dominate all-CIML Iowa Conference boys’ soccer team
THE INCREDIBLE FULK: Iowa recruit racks up 11 total bases in Hawks’ blowout
Ankeny senior Weston Fulk is headed to the Iowa baseball team to become a pitcher for the Hawkeyes. But if Fulk continues to hit like he did on Saturday, he might have to take his bat to Iowa City with him. Fulk went 5-for-5 with a home run, three doubles and four RBIs as the top-ranked Hawks defeated North Polk, 17-3, in five innings at the Tim Heggen … [Read more...] about THE INCREDIBLE FULK: Iowa recruit racks up 11 total bases in Hawks’ blowout
Centennial hits 5 doubles in 12-2 victory over North Polk at Heggen Invitational
The Ankeny Centennial baseball team has been working hard on taking an extra base when the opportunity presents itself. On Saturday, the Jaguars did just that during a 12-2 victory over North Polk in five innings at the Tim Heggen Invitational. They had 12 hits in the game, including five doubles. "Most of them weren't doubles off the wall," said … [Read more...] about Centennial hits 5 doubles in 12-2 victory over North Polk at Heggen Invitational
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jordyn Gustafson, Centennial girls’ tennis
Ankeny Centennial senior Jordyn Gustafson closed out her high school tennis career with a second appearance in the girls' Class 2A state tournament last week in Iowa City. She won a first-round consolation match on Wednesday before being eliminated from the tournament. Gustafson helped Centennial to a 9-3 record this season. The Jaguars won the CIML Iowa … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jordyn Gustafson, Centennial girls’ tennis
Centennial’s Cogdill named Assistant Coach of the Year for girls’ track
Ankeny Centennial assistant girls' track coach Eric Cogdill has been named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches. Cogdill helped the Jaguars to a 14th-place finish in the Class 4A state meet last month. He primarily coaches the team's distance runners. Last fall, Cogdill was named the Class 4A cross country coach of the … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Cogdill named Assistant Coach of the Year for girls’ track
Jaguars earn another trip to state, will get rematch against No. 4 Dowling
A year ago at this time, Elizabeth Overberg didn't get a chance to play in the girls' state soccer tournament. The Ankeny Centennial senior didn't want to let her final opportunity go to waste. Overberg and fellow senior Macy Epp each had a goal and an assist to lead fifth-ranked Centennial to a 3-0 victory over visiting Cedar Falls in a Class 3A … [Read more...] about Jaguars earn another trip to state, will get rematch against No. 4 Dowling
‘It feels great to make it to state!”: Ankeny girls oust Johnston with 2 late goals
Jenna Pitz and her teammates on the Ankeny girls' soccer squad dumped a cooler of ice and water on the head of coach Simon Brown following Friday's Class 3A regional final. You can get away with doing that after you've qualified for the state tournament. The eighth-ranked Hawkettes scored two late goals to defeat No. 14 Johnston, 2-1, in the Region 2 … [Read more...] about ‘It feels great to make it to state!”: Ankeny girls oust Johnston with 2 late goals
Hawkettes tumble to Carlisle despite Miller’s inside-the-park grand slam
Ankeny softball coach Dave Bingham isn't worried about his team's recent defensive lapses. On Friday, the 13th-ranked Hawkettes committed six errors in an 8-7 loss to visiting Carlisle, the No. 7 team in Class 4A. Ankeny also made six errors on Wednesday in an 8-5 loss at Dowling Catholic. "We haven't been routine," said Bingham. "But I think if we … [Read more...] about Hawkettes tumble to Carlisle despite Miller’s inside-the-park grand slam