Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Archives for March 2023

‘Baseball has become my true passion’: Iowa’s Brecht to step away from football

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Brody Brecht's dual-sport career at the University of Iowa has apparently come to an end. The former Ankeny star announced on Friday that he would step away from football in order to focus on his college baseball career. The hard-throwing righthanded pitcher was named a Baseball America Preseason Third-Team All-American and is projected as a potential … [Read more...] about ‘Baseball has become my true passion’: Iowa’s Brecht to step away from football

Hawkettes return 7 starters from team that conceded only 2 goals in 2022

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With the return of senior goalkeeper Jasmine Moser, the Ankeny girls' soccer team will likely boast another formidable defensive unit in 2023. The Hawkettes posted an 18-2 record a year ago and allowed just two goals all season. They advanced to the semifinals of the Class 3A state tournament before falling to Council Bluffs Lincoln, 1-0, in … [Read more...] about Hawkettes return 7 starters from team that conceded only 2 goals in 2022

Centennial senior earns gold medal at High School Racquetball Championships

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There's a national champion walking the hallways of Ankeny Centennial High School. Earlier this month, Centennial senior Benjamin Horner captured the gold medal in the 2023 USA Racquetball Championships. The national tournament was held March 1-5 in Portland, Ore. A total of 232 players representing a couple dozen high schools across the country … [Read more...] about Centennial senior earns gold medal at High School Racquetball Championships

Jaguars return 6 varsity regulars, led by two-time state placewinner Peterson

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Ankeny Centennial senior Caleb Peterson has a chance to join his former teammate, Will Blevins, as a three-time placewinner in the boys' state tennis tournament. Peterson placed sixth in doubles while playing with Nic Mackaman as a sophomore in 2021. He then placed fifth in singles last year. Now, Peterson will try to become the first state champion in … [Read more...] about Jaguars return 6 varsity regulars, led by two-time state placewinner Peterson

‘Leave it on the field’: Experienced Jaguars seek their 4th title in 7 seasons

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team has won three state championships in the last six seasons. Now, the Jaguars will try to defend the Class 3A title they won a year ago--something they were unable to do in 2017 and 2019. However, Centennial coach Chris Allen said his team isn't focusing on the big picture. "We have not set any goals as a team … [Read more...] about ‘Leave it on the field’: Experienced Jaguars seek their 4th title in 7 seasons

From Wenatchee to Flint: Ankeny native describes his TBL journey in pro hoops

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Joel Roberts admits that he wasn't much of a shooter on his high school basketball team. Now, the former Ankeny player is being paid to play professionally. The 6-foot-9, 255-pound Roberts is in his first season in The Basketball League, which began operating in 2018 with eight teams and has now expanded to more than 40 franchises across the U.S. He is … [Read more...] about From Wenatchee to Flint: Ankeny native describes his TBL journey in pro hoops

Football group assignments for Class 5A announced by IHSAA

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The district and group assignments for the 2023 and 2024 football seasons have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Districts and Class 5A groups are effective for a two-year cycle. The 2023 season will be the first with a socioeconomic factor added for classifications. Approved this winter by the State Board of Education, the … [Read more...] about Football group assignments for Class 5A announced by IHSAA

‘CCU has just what I was looking for’: White to join Phipps at Division II school

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Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball standout Kennedy White is following in the footsteps of another ex-Jaguar. White has committed to play for Colorado Christian University, an NCAA Division II school in Lakewood, Colo. One of her new teammates will be Maggie Phipps, who was an all-state guard at Centennial two years ago. "I talked to Maggie about CCU … [Read more...] about ‘CCU has just what I was looking for’: White to join Phipps at Division II school

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kambria Leazer, Centennial girls’ track

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Junior Kambria Leazer is one of 15 returning state qualifiers for the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team. She helped the Jaguars to a 20th-place finish in Class 4A a year ago. Leazer tied for sixth in the high jump (5 feet) and placed 16th in the long jump (15-9.5). She earlier set a school record in the long jump at the CIML Iowa Conference meet, where … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kambria Leazer, Centennial girls’ track

After strong season, NIACC soph Pippett named to NJCAA Region XI second team

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Former Ankeny Centennial standout Jackie Pippett has been named to the NJCAA Region XI second team after helping the North Iowa Area Community College women's basketball team to a 19-12 record. Pippett, a 6-foot sophomore post player, averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and a team-high 1.1 blocks per game. She started all 31 games for the … [Read more...] about After strong season, NIACC soph Pippett named to NJCAA Region XI second team

Winkel named to Class 4A first team, while Johnson earns 2nd-team honors

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Ankeny Centennial's Luke Winkel enjoyed a breakout season on the basketball court. His counterpart at Ankeny, Carson Johnson, spent much of the campaign trying to regain his form after undergoing knee surgery in the offseason. Both junior point guards have been rewarded for their efforts by earning all-state honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers … [Read more...] about Winkel named to Class 4A first team, while Johnson earns 2nd-team honors

Headed to H-Town: Sauer will play her final volleyball season for Cougars

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Kenna Sauer is moving from one part of Texas to another. The Texas Tech volleyball star has decided to transfer to the University of Houston for her final collegiate season. The former Ankeny Centennial standout, who played the last two years in Lubbock after transferring from Missouri, is the third transfer to join the Cougars in recent weeks. Sauer, … [Read more...] about Headed to H-Town: Sauer will play her final volleyball season for Cougars

Ex-Jaguar Wycoff closes out her MACU career by earning all-region honors

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Although her college basketball career is now over, the impact that former Ankeny Centennial standout Sydney Wycoff had on the Mid-America Christian University women's squad will last a long time. Wycoff, a graduate student, has been named to the all-Central Region second team by the National Christian College Athletic Association. She helped the Evangels … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguar Wycoff closes out her MACU career by earning all-region honors

Ankeny’s Johnson, Centennial’s Winkel named to CIML Conference first team

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Standout junior guards Carson Johnson of Ankeny and Luke Winkel of Ankeny Centennial have been named to the CIML Conference first team by a vote of the league's boys' basketball coaches. Winkel, who led the Jaguars to a 16-8 record and a trip to the Class 4A state tournament, was a unanimous pick. He averaged a team-high 16.8 points, 4.9 assists and 1.5 … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Johnson, Centennial’s Winkel named to CIML Conference first team

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Nick Vaske, Ankeny Centennial boys’ hoops

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Junior guard Nick Vaske helped the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a 16-8 record this season. He made 3-of-4 attempts from 3-point range and scored 10 points in the Jaguars' 55-37 loss to Waukee Northwest in the Class 4A quarterfinals on Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena. Vaske started all 24 games, averaging 9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds. He shot … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Nick Vaske, Ankeny Centennial boys’ hoops

Ex-Jaguar Runchey, ex-Comet Murphy help Wartburg reach NCAA’s Sweet 16

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Taylor Runchey, Jaedon Murphy and the 24th-ranked Wartburg College women's basketball team reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament before dropping a 60-51 decision to No. 1 Christopher Newport on Friday at Medford, Mass. Runchey, a junior guard and former Ankeny Centennial standout, had four rebounds and three assists in the loss. Murphy, a … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguar Runchey, ex-Comet Murphy help Wartburg reach NCAA’s Sweet 16

Burns helps Nebraska Kearney to 28-win season, NCAA Tournament appearance

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The season ended on Friday for former Ankeny Centennial star Meg Burns and the Nebraska Kearney women's basketball team. The Lopers suffered a 74-54 loss to Pittsburg State in an NCAA Tournament first-round game in Duluth, Minn. The contest was part of the Central Regional. Burns had two points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal for Nebraska … [Read more...] about Burns helps Nebraska Kearney to 28-win season, NCAA Tournament appearance

Centennial boys return high-scoring trio of Duax, Heckenlaible and Ishibwami

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Perhaps no boys' soccer team in the state returns a trio as talented as Ankeny Centennial's threesome of Ty Duax, Andrew Heckenlaible and Rashidi Ishibwami. Last year, that triumvirate racked up 154 points while leading Centennial to a 16-4 record. The Jaguars advanced to the Class 3A semifinals before dropping a 2-1 decision to Waukee Northwest. "The … [Read more...] about Centennial boys return high-scoring trio of Duax, Heckenlaible and Ishibwami