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Archives for September 2023

Pick-6 on game’s final play seals Dowling Catholic’s 30-17 win over Centennial

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The Ankeny Centennial football team twice converted on fourth down to keep its final drive alive during Friday's game against visiting Dowling Catholic. The Jaguars couldn't do it a third time. Dowling's Kenyi James picked off a pass on the game's final play and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown to seal the second-ranked Maroons' 30-17 victory over … [Read more...] about Pick-6 on game’s final play seals Dowling Catholic’s 30-17 win over Centennial

Hawks survive dramatic finish, hold on for 17-14 victory at Cedar Rapids Prairie

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Ankeny football coach Jeff Bauer breathed a sigh of relief on Friday as he boarded the bus for the trip home from eastern Iowa. The eighth-ranked Hawks survived a dramatic finish to hold on for a 17-14 victory over Cedar Rapids Prairie in a matchup of 3-2 teams battling for playoff position in Class 5A. "It shouldn't have been that close, but it was," … [Read more...] about Hawks survive dramatic finish, hold on for 17-14 victory at Cedar Rapids Prairie

Hawkettes close gap on No. 1 Johnston, place 2nd at S.E. Polk Invitational

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The Ankeny girls' cross country team is closing the gap on top-ranked Johnston. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes placed second among 12 teams in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Thursday. They posted a score of 77 points to finish 15 points behind Johnston. Ankeny had finished 22 points behind the Dragons in the Bobcat Invitational on Sept. 7 at … [Read more...] about Hawkettes close gap on No. 1 Johnston, place 2nd at S.E. Polk Invitational

Centennial teams place 3rd at Williams Invite; Schermerhorn earns another win

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The Ankeny Centennial cross country teams both earned third-place finishes in the Bud Williams Invitational on Thursday at the University of Iowa's Ashton Cross Country Course. In the girls' division, second-ranked Dubuque Senior won the team title for the third straight year, finishing with 45 points. No. 4 Pleasant Valley was second in the 10-team field … [Read more...] about Centennial teams place 3rd at Williams Invite; Schermerhorn earns another win

‘I’m so excited to be a Redbird!’: Versatile Pratt to play basketball at Illinois State

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Ankeny Centennial junior Jaeden Pratt is enjoying another outstanding volleyball season. Her future, though, is on the basketball court. Pratt has verbally committed to play that sport at Illinois State, beginning in 2025. She announced her decision via social media on Thursday. "I visited a lot of schools that were around the Midwest, but something … [Read more...] about ‘I’m so excited to be a Redbird!’: Versatile Pratt to play basketball at Illinois State

Hawk golfers place 3rd at conference meet, while Jaguars finish 8th

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Wednesday's CIML Conference meet at Jester Park served as a tune-up for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' golf teams. The Hawks and Jaguars are both hoping to peak at Monday's district meets. Sixth-ranked Ankeny placed third in the conference meet with a 300 total. The Hawks had placed eighth at last year's meet. "I was happy with a … [Read more...] about Hawk golfers place 3rd at conference meet, while Jaguars finish 8th

‘They didn’t make many mistakes at all’: Waukee NW avenges 2 losses to Ankeny

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Liz Baethke has never seen anything like this. Her Ankeny volleyball program continues to be decimated by injuries. The fifth-ranked Hawkettes were swept by No. 3 Waukee Northwest on Tuesday at the AHS gym, where an Ankeny freshman earlier suffered an ACL tear. "I don't know what's happening here, but it's not good," Baethke said after the Wolves … [Read more...] about ‘They didn’t make many mistakes at all’: Waukee NW avenges 2 losses to Ankeny

‘We just needed to settle in’: Jaguars shake off rust in 4-set victory at Johnston

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It took a little while for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team to recover from a two-week layoff. After dropping the first set, the second-ranked Jaguars rallied for a 26-28, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20 victory at No. 7 Johnston on Tuesday. The win allowed Centennial to move into sole possession of third place in the CIML Conference. "I think we just needed … [Read more...] about ‘We just needed to settle in’: Jaguars shake off rust in 4-set victory at Johnston

‘It hurt really bad’: Torn UCL in right elbow will likely end Schrader’s season

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Ankeny volleyball standout Aowyn Schrader has likely played her final high school match. The senior outside hitter has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in her right elbow and is doubtful to return this season. "I got a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection that hopefully makes me not have to do surgery," Schrader said following … [Read more...] about ‘It hurt really bad’: Torn UCL in right elbow will likely end Schrader’s season

Zuber races to signature victory, leads Hawks to 8th-place finish at Rim Rock

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Ankeny runner Ethan Zuber had the Rim Rock Farm Classic circled on his calendar for a long time. After missing the meet a year ago, Zuber raced to a victory on Saturday in the 5k race on the University of Kansas cross country course. He led the fifth-ranked Hawks to an eighth-place finish among 39 teams in the Gold Division of the prestigious … [Read more...] about Zuber races to signature victory, leads Hawks to 8th-place finish at Rim Rock

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Baileigh Carlsen, Ankeny volleyball

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Junior libero Baileigh Carlsen has helped the fifth-ranked Ankeny volleyball team to a 17-7 record. She had 10 digs and two aces on Tuesday as the Hawkettes posted a 25-21, 25-14, 25-16 victory at Southeast Polk to improve their mark to 3-1 in the CIML Conference. Carlsen leads Class 5A and ranks 19th in the entire state with 292 digs. She has completed … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Baileigh Carlsen, Ankeny volleyball

Longtime friends celebrate their 50th anniversary of attending ISU-OSU games

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Gregg Sunner has earned the bragging rights for the next year. The retired Ankeny optometrist also gets to take home the ISU vs. OSU victory trophy. Sunner attended Saturday's football game at Jack Trice Stadium along with his good friend, Walt MeGown. They were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State contest that … [Read more...] about Longtime friends celebrate their 50th anniversary of attending ISU-OSU games

BAUER POWER: Ex-Ankeny standout ignites Chippewas past South Alabama

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Jase Bauer has always been able to make plays with his feet. The former Ankeny star proved it again on Saturday. Bauer, a redshirt sophomore quarterback, ran for four touchdowns and passed for another to lift the Central Michigan football team to a thrilling 34-30 victory at South Alabama. He scored the winning touchdown on a 4-yard run with 13 seconds … [Read more...] about BAUER POWER: Ex-Ankeny standout ignites Chippewas past South Alabama

Hawks rack up more than 500 yards of total offense in 48-21 win at I.C. West

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The Ankeny football team racked up more than 500 yards of total offense and rolled to a 48-21 victory at Iowa City West on Friday. Quarterback Luke Anderson completed 17-of-22 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns, while Daniel Larmie and Caden Henkes each rushed for more than 100 yards and combined for four scores. "We were balanced. We were able … [Read more...] about Hawks rack up more than 500 yards of total offense in 48-21 win at I.C. West

‘It was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up’: Hawkettes place 9th at Griak Invite

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The Ankeny girls' cross country team doesn't get a chance to compete in a field of nearly 400 runners very often. That was the opportunity--and the challenge--that awaited the Hawkettes on Friday. Seventh-ranked Ankeny traveled to St. Paul, Minn., for the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational at the Les Bolstad Golf Course. The Hawkettes placed ninth … [Read more...] about ‘It was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up’: Hawkettes place 9th at Griak Invite

Jaguars rout Des Moines East for most lopsided victory in school history

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There have been some lopsided wins in the history of Ankeny Centennial football. No game, however, has been as big of a mismatch as Friday's homecoming contest against Des Moines East. The Jaguars jumped out to a 37-0 lead in the first quarter and went on to post a 72-0 victory at Ankeny Stadium. The biggest previous win was a 63-0  rout over … [Read more...] about Jaguars rout Des Moines East for most lopsided victory in school history

Cedar Falls wins 3 close races against Ankeny swimmers, posts 96-90 victory

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It's been a tough week for the Ankeny girls' swimming team. After dropping a 105-81 decision at fourth-ranked Valley on Tuesday, No. 7 Ankeny was back on the road Thursday to face another top-10 opponent. This time, the Hawkettes suffered a 96-90 loss in a non-conference meet at No. 9 Cedar Falls. Ankeny's overall record fell to 3-4 heading into a long … [Read more...] about Cedar Falls wins 3 close races against Ankeny swimmers, posts 96-90 victory

Centennial girls place 2nd, boys finish 3rd at Indianola Invite without top runners

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Despite competing at less than full strength, the Ankeny Centennial cross country teams turned in some strong performances in the Indianola Invitational on Thursday at Pickard Park. The sixth-ranked Jaguars placed second among 10 girls' teams with 68 points. No. 14 Indianola won the team title with 36 points. "I think we're doing really well," said … [Read more...] about Centennial girls place 2nd, boys finish 3rd at Indianola Invite without top runners