Ankeny Fanatic

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Archives for January 2024

Hawk wrestlers beat Valley again, then fall to Indianola in final of regional dual

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The Ankeny wrestling team was hoping to earn a third consecutive trip to the state duals tournament. Second-seeded Indianola proved to be an obstacle that the Hawks couldn't overcome. The host Indians posted a 45-15 victory over No. 15 Ankeny in the final of a regional duals tournament on Tuesday. The Hawks, who placed fourth in Class 3A a year ago, … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers beat Valley again, then fall to Indianola in final of regional dual

Without injured Johnson, Ankeny boys suffer 67-48 loss to defending champs

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Tuesday's game against third-ranked Valley was already going to be a challenge for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. It became even tougher when Carson Johnson, the leading scorer in Class 4A, was unable to play. Johnson sat out with a hand injury that he suffered during Friday's loss to Waukee Northwest, and the host Hawks went on to drop a 67-48 … [Read more...] about Without injured Johnson, Ankeny boys suffer 67-48 loss to defending champs

Jaguars roll to victory over North after dropping to No. 8 in latest 4A rankings

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team dropped to No. 8 in the latest Class 4A rankings from the Iowa High School Athletic Association, making Monday's non-conference game against visiting Des Moines North all the more important. The Jaguars are fighting for a No. 1 seed in a substate tournament, which will go to the top eight teams in the final … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll to victory over North after dropping to No. 8 in latest 4A rankings

‘We’ve improved’: Centennial girls suffer another close loss to top-4 opponent

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The gauntlet continued on Monday for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. Facing a top-four opponent for the third time in a week, the fifth-ranked Jaguars got off to a slow start on their home court and eventually dropped a 51-45 decision to No. 3 Dowling Catholic. "We played hard enough, but we've just got to play a little bit better," said … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve improved’: Centennial girls suffer another close loss to top-4 opponent

Ex-Jaguar Burns scores career-high 20 points in UNK’s OT win against Washburn

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Former Ankeny Centennial standout Meg Burns has helped the Nebraska Kearney women's basketball team to a 14-5 record this season. Burns, a redshirt junior wing, scored a career-high 20 points on Saturday as the Lopers outlasted Washburn, 75-74, in overtime at the Health & Sports Center. She went 8-of-17 from the field, including 2-of-7 from 3-point … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguar Burns scores career-high 20 points in UNK’s OT win against Washburn

GOTT IT: Ankeny senior verbally commits to play soccer at St. Cloud State

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Ankeny senior Emma Gott found what she was looking for at St. Cloud State, where she will play soccer for the Huskies next year. "I visited a few schools, but when I walked onto St. Cloud State’s campus it felt like home," said Gott. "It wasn’t a tough decision for me because they have an amazing nursing program, which is what I plan on majoring in. Their … [Read more...] about GOTT IT: Ankeny senior verbally commits to play soccer at St. Cloud State

Vaske, Oakie lead 4 players in double figures as Jaguars roll past C.R. Prairie

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A fast start ignited the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a 78-44 victory over visiting Cedar Rapids Prairie in a non-conference game on Saturday. The fifth-ranked Jaguars jumped out to a 30-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. They eventually built a 67-33 advantage after three periods. "We got off to a great start," said Centennial … [Read more...] about Vaske, Oakie lead 4 players in double figures as Jaguars roll past C.R. Prairie

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Dana Cleveland, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

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Senior Dana Cleveland is one of eight state qualifiers for the Ankeny girls' wrestling team. She is ranked fourth at 145 pounds with a 37-1 record. The state tournament will be held on Thursday and Friday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Cleveland, who placed fourth at 135 last year, will meet Annabelle Stelpflug of Iowa City High in her opening … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Dana Cleveland, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

‘It was a great game’: Jaguars take No. 1 Johnston down to wire before falling

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team has significantly closed the gap on the state's top-ranked squad. The No. 5 Jaguars battled visiting Johnston down to the wire on Friday before dropping a 64-59 decision. The Dragons had won the first meeting, 64-37, on Dec. 12. "It was a great game," said Centennial coach Scott DeJong. "Our team has really … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great game’: Jaguars take No. 1 Johnston down to wire before falling

‘I knew I wanted to go there’: Loeffler commits to play soccer at St. Cloud State

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Ankeny girls' soccer standout Sophie Loeffler has verbally committed to St. Cloud State. Loeffler, a junior defender, announced her decision via social media on Friday. "Beyond blessed to announce my commitment to continue my academic & soccer career at St. Cloud State University!" she tweeted. "I’m very thankful to my family, coaches, teammates, … [Read more...] about ‘I knew I wanted to go there’: Loeffler commits to play soccer at St. Cloud State

Cleveland, Bratland claim titles, lead Ankeny to overall crown at super regional

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For the second straight year, the Ankeny girls' wrestling team has qualified eight competitors for the state tournament. Ankeny easily won a super regional meet on Friday at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The team racked up 277 points, 100 more than runner-up Dallas Center-Grimes. Ankeny crowned two individual champions and had three other … [Read more...] about Cleveland, Bratland claim titles, lead Ankeny to overall crown at super regional

‘We just found our groove’: Gage’s late heroics lift Ankeny girls past Wolves

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Savannah Gage and the Ankeny girls' basketball team have found their mojo. Gage scored 11 consecutive points over the final 2 minutes 55 seconds and the ninth-ranked Hawkettes held off No. 10 Waukee Northwest, 50-45, in a CIML Conference game on Friday at Ankeny. The win snapped a two-game losing skid for Ankeny, which had shot just 20.7 percent … [Read more...] about ‘We just found our groove’: Gage’s late heroics lift Ankeny girls past Wolves

Ankeny bowling teams fall to Greene County in rematch at Spare Times

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The high school bowling season is heading into the home stretch. Both of Ankeny's teams traveled to Jefferson on Friday for a non-conference meet against Greene County at Spare Times Lanes & Lounge. It was Ankeny's second meet in two days. Greene County won the boys' meet by a score of 2,699 to 2,618. Chase Fecher had a 472 series for the Rams … [Read more...] about Ankeny bowling teams fall to Greene County in rematch at Spare Times

Ankeny boys lose star guard Johnson to hand injury during loss to Waukee NW

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Some losses are more costly than others. The Ankeny boys' basketball team is hoping that Friday's defeat to visiting Waukee Northwest won't be too damaging in the grand scheme of things. However, an injury to star point guard Carson Johnson could be even more detrimental than the 62-49 loss. Johnson, the leading scorer in Class 4A with an average of … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys lose star guard Johnson to hand injury during loss to Waukee NW

Ankeny’s Zuber named Iowa’s Gatorade cross country runner of the year

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Ankeny junior Ethan Zuber has been named Iowa's Gatorade cross country runner of the year. Zuber won the Class 4A state title last fall, posting a time of 15 minutes 7.7 seconds on the 5k course at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. He pulled away from Jaden Merrick of Cedar Falls in the final mile to win the race by about 6 seconds. Zuber had lost to … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Zuber named Iowa’s Gatorade cross country runner of the year

Bauer named Class 5A Coach of the Year by Iowa Football Coaches Association

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With only five returning starters, the Ankeny football team entered last season with some tempered expectations. Coach Jeff Bauer never believed them, though. Bauer guided the Hawks to a 9-4 record and a runner-up finish in Class 5A in his first season as head coach. Now, he has been named the Class 5A Coach of the Year by the Iowa Football Coaches … [Read more...] about Bauer named Class 5A Coach of the Year by Iowa Football Coaches Association

‘We were just hungry for this win’: Jaguars top Waukee NW, raise record to 18-1

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Mitchell Grider and the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers wanted to keep their momentum going heading into next week's Class 3A regional dual. Grider won by a major decision at 215 pounds to help the Jaguars to a 39-28 victory at Waukee Northwest in their final dual meet of the regular season on Thursday. "We had a good game plan coming in," said Grider, who … [Read more...] about ‘We were just hungry for this win’: Jaguars top Waukee NW, raise record to 18-1

Hawk wrestlers roll past Valley, will meet Tigers again in Class 3A regional dual

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Thursday's wrestling dual meet at Ankeny was a preview of Tuesday's regional dual at Indianola. Ankeny posted a 46-15 victory over Valley in its final dual of the regular season. The Hawks finished 3-5 in the CIML Conference and raised their overall record to 8-9. The two teams will meet again in the opening round of a Class 3A regional dual next … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers roll past Valley, will meet Tigers again in Class 3A regional dual