Ankeny Fanatic

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Archives for January 2025

Just like last month, Hawkettes’ late rally falls short in loss to S.E. Polk girls

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Nobody could blame Ankeny girls' basketball coach Nate Tobey for thinking that Friday was Groundhog Day. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes dropped a 49-48 decision to visiting Southeast Polk in a CIML Conference game that was eerily similar to last month's meeting in Pleasant Hill, where the No. 14 Rams nearly blew an 18-point lead before holding on for a 61-55 … [Read more...] about Just like last month, Hawkettes’ late rally falls short in loss to S.E. Polk girls

‘It was not something you’d expect’: Ankeny boys fall to hot-shooting Rams

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When Southeast Polk's Josh Barjolo banked in a 3-point goal to open Friday's boys' basketball game at Ankeny, it was clearly a sign of things to come. The Rams went on to make 14-of-23 attempts from behind the arc (60.9 percent) and rolled to a 74-36 victory for their first win in CIML Conference play. They avenged an earlier double-overtime … [Read more...] about ‘It was not something you’d expect’: Ankeny boys fall to hot-shooting Rams

Jaguars make school-record 16 3-point goals, rout DC-Grimes to snap losing skid

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All it took for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to snap a seven-game losing streak was to step out of conference play. Winless in the CIML Conference at 0-11, the Jaguars hosted Dallas Center-Grimes in a non-conference game on Friday and turned in their best performance of the season. Centennial made a school-record 16 3-point … [Read more...] about Jaguars make school-record 16 3-point goals, rout DC-Grimes to snap losing skid

‘It was a tough night’: Johnston wrestlers record 7 falls in 58-17 win over Centennial

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Although Max Dhabolt returned to the lineup on Thursday for the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team, the 17th-ranked Jaguars simply didn't have enough firepower against No. 3 Johnston. The Dragons recorded seven falls and rolled to a 58-17 victory at Centennial. The loss dropped the Jaguars' records to 5-2 in … [Read more...] about ‘It was a tough night’: Johnston wrestlers record 7 falls in 58-17 win over Centennial

‘Can’t wait to take this next step’: Ankeny’s Engebretson commits to Sioux Falls

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Ankeny girls' wrestling standout Elyse Engebretson has verbally committed to the University of Sioux Falls. Engebretson announced her decision via social media on Thursday. "So excited to announce that i will be continuing my academic and wrestling careers at the University of Sioux Falls!" Engebretson tweeted on X. "I couldn't … [Read more...] about ‘Can’t wait to take this next step’: Ankeny’s Engebretson commits to Sioux Falls

‘We were fairly confident’: Undefeated Ankeny girls’ team edges Rams by 52 pins

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The Ankeny girls' bowling team is on pace to have the best season in school history. The Hawkettes remained unbeaten on Thursday by defeating visiting Southeast Polk in a CIML Conference dual meet at B-Roll Bowling. They won by a score of 2,017 to 1,965 to raise their records to 5-0 in the league and 7-0 … [Read more...] about ‘We were fairly confident’: Undefeated Ankeny girls’ team edges Rams by 52 pins

Waukee Northwest wrestlers rally from 20-point deficit to beat Ankeny, 44-26

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The seventh-ranked Ankeny wrestling team got off to a great start in Thursday's dual meet at No. 8 Waukee Northwest, building a 26-6 lead after the first six matches. The rest of the meet, though, didn't go nearly as well. The Wolves won the final eight matches, two of them by fall, and rallied for a 44-26 victory. The … [Read more...] about Waukee Northwest wrestlers rally from 20-point deficit to beat Ankeny, 44-26

‘We feel very fortunate’: Ankeny boys hold off DC-Grimes to win defensive battle

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In its last two games, the Ankeny boys' basketball team has averaged just 45.5 points a contest--15 points fewer than the Hawks averaged during their losses to Valley and Waukee in the previous two games. But somehow, Ankeny has managed to go 2-0 during that stretch. The Hawks followed up Friday's 41-38 victory at Johnston with another road win on … [Read more...] about ‘We feel very fortunate’: Ankeny boys hold off DC-Grimes to win defensive battle

‘It was a team effort on both ends’: Ankeny girls roll past Class 4A No. 5 DC-Grimes

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Playing in the rugged CIML Conference prepared the Ankeny girls' basketball team for Tuesday's non-conference road trip to Dallas Center-Grimes. One of the top teams in Class 4A was no match for the 15th-ranked Hawkettes. Ankeny jumped out to an early lead, built a double-digit halftime advantage and cruised to a 54-33 victory over the No. 5 … [Read more...] about ‘It was a team effort on both ends’: Ankeny girls roll past Class 4A No. 5 DC-Grimes

Crawford, Pratt record double-doubles in Jaguars’ 58-41 victory over Valley girls

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Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong didn't expect a repeat of his team's 73-42 victory at Valley last month. The fourth-ranked Jaguars won the rematch, 58-41, on Tuesday at Centennial. "The last time the stars aligned," said DeJong. "We were just hoping we could beat them. Waukee Northwest was a single-digit game (with Valley) in the … [Read more...] about Crawford, Pratt record double-doubles in Jaguars’ 58-41 victory over Valley girls

Without Abbott and Fontana, Centennial boys drop 65-49 decision to No. 2 Valley

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This wasn't the break that the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team needed. After struggling to a 1-10 start this season, the Jaguars got some more bad news prior to Tuesday's game against visiting Valley. Sophomore forward Evan Abbott, the squad's leading scorer with an average of 12.3 points per game, was shut down due to a stress fracture in his … [Read more...] about Without Abbott and Fontana, Centennial boys drop 65-49 decision to No. 2 Valley

Raccoon River-NW edges Ankeny girls, again, to claim title at CIML Invitational

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The Ankeny girls' wrestling team is still trying to figure out how to beat Raccoon River-Northwest. The top two squads in Class 2A collided for the fourth time this season on Tuesday in the CIML Conference Invitational at Northview Middle School. And, once again, No. 1 Raccoon River-Northwest came out on top, claiming the team title with 238.5 … [Read more...] about Raccoon River-NW edges Ankeny girls, again, to claim title at CIML Invitational

‘It was great to honor those guys’: Ankeny swimming sextet celebrated on Sr. Night

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The Ankeny boys' swimming team honored its six seniors during Tuesday's dual meet against visiting Waukee Northwest. Tate Brownsberger, Charlie Morrissey, Brock Peterson, Finn Stukerjurgen, Austin Troyer and Tanner Young competed in the pool at Trail Point Aquatics Center for the final time. "It was great to honor those guys," said Ankeny coach Dustin … [Read more...] about ‘It was great to honor those guys’: Ankeny swimming sextet celebrated on Sr. Night

Ankeny girls top Bondurant-Farrar to stay unbeaten, while Bluejays win boys’ meet

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Heading into the final month of the season, the Ankeny girls' bowling team remains unbeaten. The boys' squad, meanwhile, continues to search for its first victory. The two teams once again came away with a split of Tuesday's non-conference dual meet against Bondurant-Farrar at B-Roll Bowling. The girls' team won by a score of 2,046 to 1,672 to raise … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls top Bondurant-Farrar to stay unbeaten, while Bluejays win boys’ meet

Ex-Ankeny player Griffith joins Woodley’s staff at Drake as offensive line coach

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Former Ankeny football standout Quincy Griffith is coming back to central Iowa. Griffith has been named the offensive line coach by new Drake head coach Joe Woodley, who took over the Bulldogs' program after guiding Grand View to the NAIA national championship. "I knew coach Woodley a little bit just professionally," said Griffith. "And when he got the … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny player Griffith joins Woodley’s staff at Drake as offensive line coach

‘It would be super cool to set a record’: UNI’s Peters closes in on school marks

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Former Ankeny standout Erica Peters is moving up the list of Northern Iowa's all-time best divers. During a dual meet against Illinois State on Friday at Cedar Falls, Peters placed second in the three-meter diving with a career-best score of 275.10 points. In the process, she moved into the top five on the school's all-time list. On Saturday, Peters … [Read more...] about ‘It would be super cool to set a record’: UNI’s Peters closes in on school marks

Girls’ state swimming and diving meet to move to Iowa City in fall of 2025

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The Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union announced on Monday that the girls' state swimming and diving meet is headed to Iowa City in the fall of 2025. Here is the press release from the IGHSAU: The Board of Directors of the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union approved the University of Iowa’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center as the new home … [Read more...] about Girls’ state swimming and diving meet to move to Iowa City in fall of 2025

‘I knew it would be close’: Hawks edge 3 other teams to claim Bob Sharp crown

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For the first time in more than a decade, the Ankeny wrestlers captured the team title at their own Bob Sharp Invitational on Saturday. The Hawks battled three other squads down to the wire before emerging with a narrow victory. They finished with 211.5 points, just ahead of Norwalk (208), Linn-Mar (Marion) (207) and Indianola (202.5). Ankeny had not … [Read more...] about ‘I knew it would be close’: Hawks edge 3 other teams to claim Bob Sharp crown

Centennial wrestling team struggles to 10th-place finish at Osage Duals

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Saturday was a rough day for the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team. With two open weights and some other wrestlers out of the lineup due to injuries, the Jaguars struggled to a 10th-place finish at the Osage Duals. They lost all five of their dual meets, dropping to 10-8 overall on the season. "We wrestled some really good teams, and we wrestled flat," … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestling team struggles to 10th-place finish at Osage Duals