‘It’s one I’ll remember for a long time’: Jags outlast Ankeny boys for thrilling 6-5 win

Ankeny’s Michael Black (left) shakes hands with Ankeny Centennial’s Reece Dickinson after winning a three-set match at No. 3 singles during Tuesday’s meet at the Prairie Ridge courts. Black helped Ankeny take a 4-2 lead after singles, but Dickinson and the Jaguars rallied in doubles to post a 6-5 victory. (Photo by Scott Byers)

Perhaps no Jag-Hawk rivalry in recent years has been as tightly contested as the one in boys’ tennis.

The two squads battled down to the wire once again on Tuesday before Ankeny Centennial edged Ankeny, 6-5, at the Prairie Ridge courts.

“Tonight was tennis at its best, and I couldn’t be more proud of the way our guys competed,” said Centennial coach Grant Menadue. “This was one of the greatest meets I’ve ever been a part of, whether playing or coaching, and it’s one I’ll remember for a long time.”

The Jaguars got a victory from the No. 2 doubles team of Reece Dickinson and Nathan Goff to seal the win.

“It definitely feels good,” said Dickinson, who ended the match shortly before dusk by hitting a forehand volley for a winner.

Ankeny Centennial’s Reece Dickinson smiles after winning a point during his No. 3 singles match on Tuesday. Dickinson later hit a forehand volley for the winning point in the No. 2 doubles match, allowing the Jaguars to defeat their crosstown rival for the first time since 2023. (Photo by Scott Byers)

Ankeny had won the previous two meetings by the same 6-5 score. Like last year, the Hawks took a 4-2 lead during singles on Tuesday.

Centennial got wins from Crew Brazeau at No. 5 singles and Caden Kolars at the No. 6 spot. Those two then teamed up for another victory at No. 3 doubles, while teammates Isaac Law and Brennan Dickinson won a three-set match at the No. 4 position to tie the score at 4-4.

“We came out a bit flat and found ourselves down after singles, but the response was everything you hope for as a coach,” Menadue said. “They regrouped, brought the energy, and completely flipped the momentum in doubles.”

Ankeny regained a 5-4 lead when the No. 1 doubles team of Garrett Weichers and Treyton Riesberg won the final five games of their match to post a 6-3, 7-5 triumph. The Jaguars answered with a win from the No. 5 duo of Michael May and Greyson Sytsma, forging another tie and putting all the pressure on the No. 2 doubles teams.

“I was really nervous at first, but with the support of my teammates, I feel like it helped a lot,” Dickinson said.

**Ankeny’s Grady Schlosser hits a backhand return during his No. 2 singles match on Tuesday. He had one of the Hawks’ singles victories. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

Dickinson and Goff won the first set before Ankeny’s Grady Schlosser and Michael Black took the second set. Then, with players from both teams surrounding the court, the Jaguars won the third-set tiebreaker, 10-5.

“I knew we could do it,” Dickinson said. “I believed in us. Nathan and I have great chemistry, and I knew we could win.”

The win improved Centennial to 1-0 in the CIML Conference and 3-1 overall. The Hawks’ records dropped to 0-2 and 1-2.

“It was a tough one, but for the third straight year it came down to a third-set tiebreak on the last doubles court with Grady and Michael,” said Ankeny coach Ron Miller. “We won two and lost this one.”

Menadue praised the effort by Miller’s squad.

**Ankeny coach Ron Miller talks with Carter Garcia during a changeover in his No. 5 singles match on Tuesday. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

“Hats off to Ron and his entire team—they competed hard and made us earn every point,” he said. “Ron has worked with several of our guys and has been a mentor to me as I’ve gotten my coaching career started. I have nothing but respect and appreciation for him and the impact he’s made in our community. I’ll be rooting for them the rest of this season.”

Ankeny got wins in singles from Weichers, Schlosser, Black and Riesberg.

“We’ve had some absolute nailbiters with them the past two years, each one coming down to a final match tiebreaker,” Menadue said. “Tonight was one of those meets where it almost feels unfair that either side had to lose, but I am proud of the way our guys kept their composure and took advantage of their opportunities. I’m sure (former late coaches) Dennis (Hoefle) and Tami (Lewton) would be proud of the life and energy on those courts tonight and of the direction Ankeny tennis is heading as a whole.”

Black outlasted Reece Dickinson, 13-11, to win a third-set tiebreaker at the No. 3 spot.

“I thought our effort today was much better than last week,” Miller said. “I hope we are heading in the right direction. It only gets more difficult from here.”

**Ankeny Centennial’s Caden Kolars prepares to hit a shot during his No. 6 singles match on Tuesday. He won both of his matches for the Jaguars. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

The Hawks will host a conference meet against Waukee (0-1, 0-2) on Thursday, while the Jaguars will travel to Urbandale for a conference meet against the J-Hawks (0-2, 2-4).

Here are the match-by-match results from Tuesday’s meet:

Ankeny Centennial 6, Ankeny 5

Singles: Weichers (A) beat Braun, 6-0, 6-1; Schlosser (A) beat George, 6-4, 6-3; Black (A) beat R. Dickinson, 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (11); Riesberg (A) beat Goff, 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (4); Brazeau (AC) beat Garcia, 6-0, 6-4; Kolars (AC) beat Perez, 6-3, 6-1.

Doubles: Weichers-Riesberg (A) beat Braun-George, 6-3, 7-5; R. Dickinson-Goff (AC) beat Schlosser-Black, 7-5, 5-7, 1-0 (5); Brazeau-Kolars (AC) beat Garcia-Perez, 6-4, 6-1; B. Dickinson-Law (AC) beat Geest-Gray, 2-6, 6-1, 1-0 (3); May-Sytsma (AC) beat Johnson-Sungren, 6-4, 7-6 (7).