Ankeny Fanatic

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Archives for December 2025

‘All props to Northwest’: No. 2 Wolves spoil Harken’s coaching debut at Centennial

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It wasn’t exactly the start to the Chris Harken era that the Jaguars wanted, but the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team knows there’s only going up from game one. Harken and the Jaguars ran into a well-oiled machine Tuesday in the second-ranked Waukee Northwest Wolves and started off the season with a 65-31 road … [Read more...] about ‘All props to Northwest’: No. 2 Wolves spoil Harken’s coaching debut at Centennial

‘Our mentality is to keep getting better’: Jaguars open their season with 64-21 loss

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team knows that each night is going to be a battle in a loaded CIML Conference. And the Jaguars opened their season with potentially one of their hardest fights of the entire year. New head coach Matt Delger and the Jaguars went on the road Tuesday to face Class 4A title-contending … [Read more...] about ‘Our mentality is to keep getting better’: Jaguars open their season with 64-21 loss

Newcomers Allison, Ford, Clark help Ankeny boys to 58-52 victory over Valley

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The new pieces on the Ankeny boys' basketball team made their presence felt during Tuesday's season opener against visiting Valley. Max Allison, a 7-foot-1 center, had six points, eight rebounds and four blocks in his first varsity start as the Hawks posted a 58-52 victory. Keyon Ford, a sophomore forward, added four points and four steals off the … [Read more...] about Newcomers Allison, Ford, Clark help Ankeny boys to 58-52 victory over Valley

Ankeny girls defeat North Metro, but drop 54-26 decision to Cedar Falls for first loss

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Tuesday's girls' wrestling triangular meet at Ankeny Centennial turned into a pinning exhibition. In the three round-robin dual meets between Ankeny, Cedar Falls and North Metro, all but three of the 32 matches that were contested resulted in falls. In the end, Ankeny came away with a split on the night. Coach Dustin Roland's team posted a 54-30 … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls defeat North Metro, but drop 54-26 decision to Cedar Falls for first loss

‘Our girls just executed so well’: Williams, Hawkettes pull away from No. 11 Valley

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At 5-foot-9, Ankeny senior Jayla Williams doesn't look like a typical post player on the basketball court. But with her outstanding athleticism, the Creighton recruit can occasionally take advantage of a smaller defender in the paint. That's exactly what Williams did on Tuesday night, when she scored 16 of her 21 points in the second half to lead the … [Read more...] about ‘Our girls just executed so well’: Williams, Hawkettes pull away from No. 11 Valley

‘I had never seen a place like that before’: Carlson to join Iowa men’s track program

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Standout hurdler Hayden Carlson of Ankeny has signed a letter of intent to join the Iowa men's track and field program next year. Carlson will be coached by Iowa's Joey Woody, who is a four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year. Woody has also run competitively on the international track circuit, earning a silver medal in the 400 hurdles at the World … [Read more...] about ‘I had never seen a place like that before’: Carlson to join Iowa men’s track program

‘I want to win a state dual championship’: Wignall sets lofty goal for Hawk wrestlers

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall is setting a huge goal for the Hawks this season. "I told the kids I want to win a state dual championship," said Wignall. "If we can't talk about it and set the bar high, then we will never do it. We talked about that the very first day of practice." Wignall's team posted a 17-6 dual record a year ago, including a … [Read more...] about ‘I want to win a state dual championship’: Wignall sets lofty goal for Hawk wrestlers

Baldwin, Schaapveld ignite Hawkettes’ fast start in win over Des Moines Christian

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A fast start lifted the eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 59-41 victory over visiting Des Moines Christian in a non-conference game on Monday. The Hawkettes (2-0) made five 3-point goals in the first quarter, three of them by Reagan Baldwin in the first 2 minutes 30 seconds, and jumped out to a 22-12 lead. Des Moines Christian (2-1), the … [Read more...] about Baldwin, Schaapveld ignite Hawkettes’ fast start in win over Des Moines Christian

Ankeny boys’ track coach Mullen to be inducted into IATC Hall of Fame Saturday

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Last summer, Ankeny boys' track coach Jordan Mullen got a phone call from Mike Jay, the voice of the Drake Relays and the coed state track meet. The reason for the call was not what Mullen expected. "I just thought it was to say congrats for the state title, but it was to tell me I was inducted into the Hall of Fame!" recalled Mullen. "I was caught off … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys’ track coach Mullen to be inducted into IATC Hall of Fame Saturday

Jags return state champ Dhabolt, runner-up Vandermark, placewinner Sodergren

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During his tenure as the head coach of the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers, Jay Groth has built a program that embodies hard work and toughness. That culture has led to a lot of success in the 12-year history of the program, but even Groth admits that it's not easy to be a Jaguar wrestler. "We have lost a few kids this season because wrestling is a hard … [Read more...] about Jags return state champ Dhabolt, runner-up Vandermark, placewinner Sodergren

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Reagan Baldwin, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Senior forward Reagan Baldwin made a pair of 3-point goals and scored eight points to help the eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 51-32 victory at Ames in its season opener on Nov. 22. Baldwin helped the Hawkettes to a 10-13 record as a junior, when she averaged 6.5 points per game and led the team with 40 3-pointers. She shot 38.5 percent … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Reagan Baldwin, Ankeny girls’ basketball