Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Archives for February 2024

Centennial’s Schermerhorn signs letter of intent to run for Iowa State next year

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When Ankeny Centennial distance runner AJ Schermerhorn started his search for a potential college, Iowa State was one of the schools that attracted his interest. Schermerhorn, a three-time state cross country qualifier and a two-time placewinner, eventually signed with the Cyclones. "I had a list of about 15 schools with a range of some I really wanted … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Schermerhorn signs letter of intent to run for Iowa State next year

‘We’ve worked all year for this’: Hawks top crosstown rival, earn trip to 4A tourney

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Ankeny senior Carson Johnson was determined to end his high school career at the boys' state basketball tournament. His teammates played a huge role in helping him get back to Wells Fargo Arena. Lio Aguirre scored a game-high 22 points, Cash Schoolen had all eight of his points in the first few minutes, and the eighth-ranked Hawks cruised to a 64-41 … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve worked all year for this’: Hawks top crosstown rival, earn trip to 4A tourney

‘We just couldn’t get stops’: Jaguars finish at 17-7 after falling to Ankeny boys, 64-41

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team picked a bad night to have its worst offensive performance of the season. The 10th-ranked Jaguars shot just 34.6 percent from the field (18-of-52) and dropped a 64-41 decision to No. 8 Ankeny in a Class 4A substate final on Tuesday at Southeast Polk. It was a season-low output for Centennial, which finished … [Read more...] about ‘We just couldn’t get stops’: Jaguars finish at 17-7 after falling to Ankeny boys, 64-41

Hawks knock off Centennial in substate final, will face Dubuque Senior at state

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Lio Aguirre made five 3-point goals and scored 22 points, Carson Johnson added 17, and the eighth-ranked Ankeny boys' basketball team pulled away in the second half for a 64-41 victory over No. 10 Ankeny Centennial in a Class 4A substate final on Tuesday at Southeast Polk. The Hawks (17-6) advanced to the state tournament for the third time in five years. … [Read more...] about Hawks knock off Centennial in substate final, will face Dubuque Senior at state

‘We were real, real close’: Jaguars’ late rally falls short in Class 5A quarterfinals

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Waukee girls' basketball coach Dani Franklin-Printy breathed a sigh of relief on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena. It's never easy to beat a good team three times, and that's what the fourth-ranked Warriors discovered in the Class 5A quarterfinals against CIML Conference rival Ankeny Centennial. The No. 5 Jaguars overcame a 10-point deficit in the second … [Read more...] about ‘We were real, real close’: Jaguars’ late rally falls short in Class 5A quarterfinals

‘We fought as hard as we could’: Jaguars lose heartbreaker to Waukee, 46-44

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Scott DeJong will have to wait until next season to earn his 700th career coaching victory. The fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team lost a heartbreaker to No. 4 Waukee, 46-44, in the Class 5A quarterfinals of the state tournament on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena. The Jaguars finished the season with a 14-9 record. "We fought as hard as … [Read more...] about ‘We fought as hard as we could’: Jaguars lose heartbreaker to Waukee, 46-44

Jag-Hawk III: Breaking down showdown for trip to Class 4A state tournament

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A trip to the boys' Class 4A state basketball tournament will be at stake on Tuesday when Ankeny's crosstown rivals meet in the postseason for the first time ever. The Hawks and Jaguars will take the court at Southeast Polk at 7 p.m. for the Substate 8 final. Both teams are looking to advance to Wells Fargo Arena for the third time in five … [Read more...] about Jag-Hawk III: Breaking down showdown for trip to Class 4A state tournament

Centennial’s Kronenberg commits to play for University of Alaska Fairbanks

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Ankeny Centennial senior Ava Kronenberg has committed to play volleyball at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, an NCAA Division II progam. The Nanooks are members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Kronenberg helped the Jaguars to a 31-7 record and a second consecutive appearance in the Class 5A semifinals last fall. She recorded 71 kills and 64 … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Kronenberg commits to play for University of Alaska Fairbanks

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Ava Martin, Centennial girls’ basketball

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Junior guard Ava Martin has helped the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 14-8 record. She scored 10 points on Tuesday as the Jaguars rolled to a 53-25 win over No. 10 Sioux City East in a Class 5A regional final to advance to the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year. Martin is averaging 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Ava Martin, Centennial girls’ basketball

State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for Class 5A quarterfinals

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The players on the court may not be the only people wearing shorts on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena. With a forecast calling for a high temperature of 75 degrees, it's not going to feel like girls' state basketball tournament weather in Des Moines. But perhaps the unseasonably warm February day will be appropriate--because the action on the court could be … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for Class 5A quarterfinals

‘We don’t win the game without them’: Klingner, Smith help Jags past Roosevelt

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All season long, senior point guard Luke Winkel has been carrying a heavy load for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. On Friday at Centennial, two junior reserves--Cabryn Klingner and Will Smith--helped the 10th-ranked Jaguars keep their season alive. Klingner scored all eight of his points in the first half, then Smith had all eight of his … [Read more...] about ‘We don’t win the game without them’: Klingner, Smith help Jags past Roosevelt

Johnson, Hawks cruise past Iowa City Liberty, setting up crosstown showdown

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(Story by Gabe Ploeger) The crowd was loud and the stakes were high as the eighth-ranked Ankeny boys' basketball team hosted Iowa City Liberty in a Class 4A substate semifinal on Friday. Liberty had won five of its last six games and was looking to continue that hot streak and move closer to the state tournament, but Carson Johnson and the Hawks had … [Read more...] about Johnson, Hawks cruise past Iowa City Liberty, setting up crosstown showdown

‘I’m extremely blessed’: Centennial’s Lewis to play soccer at Rockhurst

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Ankeny Centennial senior Avery Lewis has committed to play soccer at Rockhurst University, an NCAA Division II school in Kansas City. Lewis, a midfielder, announced her decision Thursday on social media. "I'm extremely blessed to announce my commitment to play soccer and further my education at Rockhurst University!" Lewis tweeted on X. "Thank you to … [Read more...] about ‘I’m extremely blessed’: Centennial’s Lewis to play soccer at Rockhurst

‘I’m proud of these girls’: Hawkettes fall short against Valley in regional final

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When Karsen Jacks made a tough shot in the lane with 3 minutes 4 seconds left in Tuesday's Class 5A regional final, the Ankeny girls' basketball team appeared to be on the verge of qualifying for the state tournament for the first time since the split into two high schools in 2013. Jacks' basket gave the eighth-ranked Hawkettes a 34-29 lead over visiting … [Read more...] about ‘I’m proud of these girls’: Hawkettes fall short against Valley in regional final

‘Our kids really stepped up’: Jaguars roll past S.C. East, earn another trip to state

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team is headed back to Wells Fargo Arena. The fifth-ranked Jaguars advanced to the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year by defeating No. 10 Sioux City East, 53-25, in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Centennial. This time, coach Scott DeJong's squad didn't have to sweat out a close game in the … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids really stepped up’: Jaguars roll past S.C. East, earn another trip to state

‘It’s a way of life’: Bakker excited to take on new role as Ankeny Activities Director

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Mike Bakker has officially been named the Activities Director at Ankeny High School. Bakker, who previously served as the Activities Director at Southview Middle School, has been filling the role on an interim basis since last month, when Adam McDonnell left for a new position in Cedar Rapids. "I'm really excited about maybe providing some stability to … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a way of life’: Bakker excited to take on new role as Ankeny Activities Director

‘It was a pretty easy choice’: Centennial’s Duax to play soccer at Western Illinois

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Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer standout Ty Duax is headed to Macomb in the fall. The senior forward/midfielder has verbally committed to play for Western Illinois. "For me, it was a pretty easy choice," said Duax, the son of Centennial coach Brian Duax. "Western showed a lot of interest, and I clicked with the coaching staff pretty quickly. I didn't … [Read more...] about ‘It was a pretty easy choice’: Centennial’s Duax to play soccer at Western Illinois