Ankeny Centennial is ranked No. 2 in Class 5A in the preseason softball rankings from the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union.
The Jaguars return most of their starting lineup from last year’s squad, led by a trio of all-state players in infielder Jordyn Kennedy, outfielder Mady Ott and dual-threat player Kori Lincicum. Some talented newcomers have also joined the squad, including pitcher Lauren Sandholm, who played a key role on the team’s 2023 state championship squad before missing her sophomore season in 2025 to focus on club ball.
Centennial will open the season on Wednesday with a non-conference game at home against Norwalk, the No. 7 team in Class 4A. We will have a preview of the Jaguars coming on Tuesday.
Here is the complete top 15 in Class 5A along with each team’s record a year ago:
1. Waukee Northwest 40-5
2. ANKENY CENTENNIAL 34-10
3. Valley 30-12
4. Southeast Polk 31-12
5. Pleasant Valley 31-10
6. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 24-17
7. Dallas Center-Grimes 33-9
8. Linn-Mar (Marion) 35-7
9. Bettendorf 22-18
10. Muscatine 26-11
11. Johnston 25-16
12. Ottumwa 22-14
13. Cedar Falls 31-11
14. Iowa City High 23-15
15. Indianola 21-15