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Archives for April 2023

THE DROUGHT ENDS: Hawks claim their first Drake relay crown since 2004

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The four members of the Ankeny boys' 4x400 relay team weren't even alive the last time that the Hawks won a relay crown at the Drake Relays. The school's 19-year drought ended on Saturday as Bram van de Mortel, Tyson Miller, Jack Belding and Jake Bosch teamed up to win the final event of America's Athletic Classic in a time of 3:19.19. Ankeny had not won … [Read more...] about THE DROUGHT ENDS: Hawks claim their first Drake relay crown since 2004

‘We knew we’d get a good spot’: Centennial girls place 2nd in 4×400 relay

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Kylin Smith and the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team enjoyed another great day at the Drake Relays. After earlier breaking her own school record in the 400 hurdles, Smith helped the Jaguars to a runner-up finish in the 4x400 relay on Saturday afternoon. She ran the third leg in 59.34 seconds to move her team from fourth place into second. "She had a … [Read more...] about ‘We knew we’d get a good spot’: Centennial girls place 2nd in 4×400 relay

Page records hat trick, leads Centennial boys to 8-1 victory over Perry

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Logan Page recorded a hat trick to lead the ninth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team to an 8-1 victory over visiting Perry in a non-conference game on Saturday. Page, a junior, entered the contest with just one goal on the season. But he found the net three times as the Jaguars raised their record to 5-4. Perry, the No. 11 team in Class 2A, … [Read more...] about Page records hat trick, leads Centennial boys to 8-1 victory over Perry

‘It’s a dream come true!’: Moss selected by Denver with 83rd pick in NFL Draft

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Riley Moss is headed to the Mile High City. The former Ankeny Centennial and Iowa football star was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Friday night. The defensive back was taken with the 83rd overall pick and was the fourth Hawkeye selected after teammates Lukas Van Ness, Jack Campbell and Sam LaPorta were also … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a dream come true!’: Moss selected by Denver with 83rd pick in NFL Draft

Jaguars set 2 school records at Relays; Ankeny’s Hanfelt earns 3rd-place finish

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Friday was a record-setting day for the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team. The Jaguars set a pair of school records during the Drake Relays at Drake Stadium. They raced to a 10th-place finish in the 4x200 relay, then later posted the second-fastest qualifying time for Saturday's final in the 4x400 relay. "We're happy," said Julia Flick following the … [Read more...] about Jaguars set 2 school records at Relays; Ankeny’s Hanfelt earns 3rd-place finish

‘This is just a warmup for state’: Hawks’ blazing speed on full display at Relays

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Taking advantage of the perfect weather conditions, Ankeny's duo of Tyler Sickerson and Jack Belding both qualified for the final in the boys' 100-meter dash at the Drake Relays on Friday morning. Sickerson won his preliminary heat in a time of 10.70 seconds. Belding was third in the same heat in 10.84 and also advanced. "I came out here today focusing … [Read more...] about ‘This is just a warmup for state’: Hawks’ blazing speed on full display at Relays

Jaguars complete grueling 3-day stretch with 7th-place finish at Bloom Invite

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It isn't easy to play 45 holes of golf in a span of three days. But that's exactly what the Ankeny Centennial girls' golf team had to do this week. The Jaguars completed a grueling 72-hour stretch by placing seventh among 14 teams in the Linda Bloom Invitational on Thursday at the American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown. They shot a 373. "We … [Read more...] about Jaguars complete grueling 3-day stretch with 7th-place finish at Bloom Invite

‘I really just wanted to push myself’: Zuber places 4th, breaks school record

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Ethan Zuber didn't know how fast he was running around the blue oval on Thursday afternoon. The lack of awareness paid off for the Ankeny sophomore. Zuber raced to a fourth-place finish in the boys' 3,200 in the Drake Relays at Drake Stadium. He posted a time of 9:11.58, which set a school record. "I really just wanted to push myself as much as I … [Read more...] about ‘I really just wanted to push myself’: Zuber places 4th, breaks school record

Beason, Pratt earn 5th-place finishes at Drake Relays; Baier takes 8th

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Distance runners Drew Beason of Ankeny and Rondi Quass of Ankeny Centennial both accomplished their goals during the Distance Carnival portion of the Drake Relays on Thursday at Drake Stadium. Beason placed fifth in the girls' 3,000 with a time of 10:05.32. She dropped 4 seconds off her personal record. "My goal going into the race was a … [Read more...] about Beason, Pratt earn 5th-place finishes at Drake Relays; Baier takes 8th

Centennial boys sweep doubles matches to post 8-3 victory over Hawks

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The Ankeny boys' tennis team hasn't defeated Ankeny Centennial since 2017. The Hawks didn't end that losing streak on Thursday, but they at least made things interesting for awhile before dropping an 8-3 decision to their crosstown rival. The two teams split the six singles matches at the Prairie Ridge courts before Centennial swept the five doubles … [Read more...] about Centennial boys sweep doubles matches to post 8-3 victory over Hawks

‘We were definitely motivated to win!’: Jaguars avenge last year’s loss to rival

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The third-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis team avenged last year's loss to Ankeny with an 11-0 victory over the No. 9 Hawkettes on Thursday at the Prairie Ridge courts. The Jaguars won 10 of the 11 matches in straight sets. The only exception came at No. 6 singles, where Ankeny's Sophie Schmitz lost by injury default after dropping the first set to … [Read more...] about ‘We were definitely motivated to win!’: Jaguars avenge last year’s loss to rival

Hawkettes play their best golf of the season in triangular meet at Sugar Creek

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Two days after playing one of the state's toughest courses, the Ankeny girls' golf team played a more forgiving course on Wednesday. The Hawkettes shot a 183 in a CIML Conference triangular meet at Sugar Creek after finishing with a 447 for 18 holes on Monday at Veenker Golf Course. "What a beautiful afternoon for some golf!" said Ankeny coach Seth … [Read more...] about Hawkettes play their best golf of the season in triangular meet at Sugar Creek

Jaguars shoot 177, but fall to No. 3 Rams, No. 8 Valley in triangular meet

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Ankeny Centennial girls' golf coach John Petersen had plenty of time to talk to his golfers on the long ride home from Tuesday's Linn-Mar Invitational at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion. With two more meets in the next two days, the Jaguars only had time to make some mental adjustments after placing 12th in the 15-team field. "We talked about our … [Read more...] about Jaguars shoot 177, but fall to No. 3 Rams, No. 8 Valley in triangular meet

CLOSE CALL: Centennial boys drop 6-5 decision to Johnston in nailbiter

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' tennis team has had some close dual meets this season. Tuesday's matchup against visiting Johnston was the closest one yet. The two squads battled to the wire at the Prairie Ridge courts before the Dragons finally prevailed, 6-5. Six of the 11 matches were decided by a third-set super-tiebreaker. "Unfortunately, we came … [Read more...] about CLOSE CALL: Centennial boys drop 6-5 decision to Johnston in nailbiter

‘We just have to believe in ourselves’: Jaguars suffer 2-1 loss at No. 4 Johnston

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After getting off to a good start, the seventh-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team gave up a goal midway through the first half and eventually dropped a 2-1 decision at No. 4 Johnston on Tuesday. Tyler Donaldson scored the first of her two goals for the Dragons in the 24th minute, setting the tone for the game. "We came out and looked really … [Read more...] about ‘We just have to believe in ourselves’: Jaguars suffer 2-1 loss at No. 4 Johnston

Ankeny girls overcome slow start for 8-3 victory, will face Jaguars on Thursday

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A slow start could have been costly for the Ankeny girls' tennis team on Tuesday. The ninth-ranked Hawkettes recovered, however, and went on to beat visiting Waukee Northwest, 8-3, in a CIML Conference meet. "The good news is that we won our third-set tiebreakers," said Ankeny coach Steve Smith. "The bad news is we came out flat and put ourselves in a … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls overcome slow start for 8-3 victory, will face Jaguars on Thursday

Centennial golfers place 12th among 15 squads at Linn-Mar Invitational

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' golf team placed 12th among 15 squads in the Linn-Mar Invitational on Tuesday at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion. The Jaguars posted a score of 398, their worst 18-hole round of the season. "It was not our finest outing," said Centennial coach John Petersen. "We had way too many penalty strokes and putts." Pleasant … [Read more...] about Centennial golfers place 12th among 15 squads at Linn-Mar Invitational