Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

‘We’ve got to turn those into line drives’: Hawks continue to struggle on offense

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The Ankeny baseball team needs to find an offensive spark. After scoring five runs in their only win over Dubuque Hempstead on May 23, the Hawks have now been held to four runs or fewer in their last eight games--all of them losses. They are averaging just 2.3 runs per game after being swept on Wednesday at Urbandale by scores of 9-1 and … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got to turn those into line drives’: Hawks continue to struggle on offense

‘It felt amazing!’: Brazeau’s OT goal stuns Roosevelt, sends Jaguars to 4A title game

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With less than 6 minutes remaining in Wednesday's Class 4A semifinal at Mediacom Stadium, the boys' soccer season appeared to be all but over for top-ranked Ankeny Centennial. The Jaguars trailed No. 9 Des Moines Roosevelt, 3-1, and had not found the net since Tate Duax scored the game's first goal on a penalty kick at the 7:48 mark. "Everybody in the … [Read more...] about ‘It felt amazing!’: Brazeau’s OT goal stuns Roosevelt, sends Jaguars to 4A title game

‘I really believe in this group’: No. 3 Jags roll past Cedar Falls, move closer to state

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Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer coach Chris Allen had plenty of reasons to be concerned about his team's postseason opener. Unranked Cedar Falls traveled to Ankeny on Tuesday for the second time in 12 days to face No. 3 Centennial in a Class 3A regional semifinal at Northview. In the previous meeting on May 22, the Jaguars were held scoreless for more … [Read more...] about ‘I really believe in this group’: No. 3 Jags roll past Cedar Falls, move closer to state

‘We took care of business tonight’: Ankeny girls rout Bobcats, will host Cougars next

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) If there was any rust formed in the near two-week stretch between the end of the regular season and Tuesday night’s Class 3A Region 6 semifinals, the Ankeny girls' soccer team certainly didn’t show it. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes looked to have their matchup won not long after it started as Ankeny scored nine first-half goals … [Read more...] about ‘We took care of business tonight’: Ankeny girls rout Bobcats, will host Cougars next

Centennial’s Trewet shoots an 87, ties for 8th place in Iowa High School Showcase

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Ankeny Centennial junior Cate Trewet shot an 87 and tied for eighth place in the second annual Iowa High School Golf Showcase on Tuesday at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown. Trewet was invited to participate in the event, which attracted a field of 40 of the top girls' golfers across all classes in the state. She was only four shots back of second … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Trewet shoots an 87, ties for 8th place in Iowa High School Showcase

Centennial softball team blasts 5 home runs, rolls to 16-3 victory over Hawkettes

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Ankeny Centennial will be a tough softball team to beat at any point this season, and a young Ankeny squad ran into its crosstown rival at a bad time. The second-ranked Jaguars saw the ball crystal clear from the plate and racked up 15 hits from 10 different batters in a 16-3 victory in four innings in their first matchup of … [Read more...] about Centennial softball team blasts 5 home runs, rolls to 16-3 victory over Hawkettes

‘We were very patient and disciplined’: Jaguars pull away late for 11-4 rivalry win

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial baseball teams were locked in a close battle in their first meeting of the season. Then the Jaguars just pulled away at the end. Centennial scored eight combined runs in the fourth and fifth innings to bust things open as the Jaguars secured an 11-4 victory over the visiting Hawks in a … [Read more...] about ‘We were very patient and disciplined’: Jaguars pull away late for 11-4 rivalry win

Duax’s spectacular goal punctuates Jags’ 4-0 win over City High in 4A quarterfinals

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With a comfortable 3-0 lead and just over 10 minutes left to play, the Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team already knew it was headed to Wednesday's semifinals in the Class 4A state tournament. But Tate Duax and the top-ranked Jaguars refused to coast against Iowa City High in the quarterfinals on Monday at Valley Stadium. Duax punctuated his team's … [Read more...] about Duax’s spectacular goal punctuates Jags’ 4-0 win over City High in 4A quarterfinals

‘I just need to slow down and be a dad’: Ankeny boys’ track coach Mullen resigns

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During his four seasons as the head coach of the Ankeny boys' track team, Jordan Mullen tried his hardest to make his athletes as fast as possible. Now, the energetic Mullen has decided that it's time for him to slow down. Mullen announced his resignation on Sunday to spend more time with his family. "My son goes into seventh grade this coming … [Read more...] about ‘I just need to slow down and be a dad’: Ankeny boys’ track coach Mullen resigns

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ben Ridlen, Ankeny Centennial boys’ soccer

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Senior defender Ben Ridlen helped the top-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team to an 8-0 victory over visiting Waterloo West in a Class 4A substate final on Friday. The Jaguars raised their record to 15-0-2 while advancing to the state tournament for the first time since 2023. Ridlen has contributed three goals and four assists this season. He has … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ben Ridlen, Ankeny Centennial boys’ soccer

Ex-Jaguar James helps Simpson softball team reach College World Series semis

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An historic season for Mackenzie James and the Simpson College softball team came to an end on Sunday. James, a former Ankeny Centennial standout, went 1-for-4 at the plate as the Storm fell to Redlands, 6-3, in the Women's College World Series semifinals at Salem, Va. She hit a two-out single in the third inning and scored her team's first run on a … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguar James helps Simpson softball team reach College World Series semis

‘We sent a message with the score’: No. 1 Jags rout Waterloo West in substate final

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) When the Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team brings its "A" game, there might not be another squad in the state that can touch the Jaguars. Waterloo West found that out the hard way during Friday’s Class 4A Substate 6 championship game. The top-ranked Jaguars recorded eight goals from five different players, which … [Read more...] about ‘We sent a message with the score’: No. 1 Jags rout Waterloo West in substate final

‘Those were two tough losses’: Hawks’ slide continues at Bondurant-Farrar

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It's been a rough start to the season for the Ankeny baseball team. The Hawks were hoping to turn things around on Friday at Bondurant-Farrar, but the Bluejays rallied to win both games of a non-conference doubleheader by scores of 4-3 and 2-1. "Those were two tough losses," said Ankeny coach Joe Balvanz, whose team dropped to 1-9. "But tip your hat to … [Read more...] about ‘Those were two tough losses’: Hawks’ slide continues at Bondurant-Farrar

Centennial holds off Dragons’ 7th-inning rally to earn split after dropping opener

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team held on for a 6-5 victory against visiting Johnston to salvage a split of Thursday's CIML Conference doubleheader. After the Jaguars scored three runs in the sixth inning to build a 6-0 lead, Johnston then rallied for five runs in the seventh before Trae Houser came in and shut the door to earn a save. "Johnston made … [Read more...] about Centennial holds off Dragons’ 7th-inning rally to earn split after dropping opener

‘We have so much talent on this team’: Jaguars sweep Johnston to stay unbeaten

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) One of the scariest things about the Ankeny Centennial softball team is that the Jaguars aren’t just returning plenty of high-end talent from a year ago. It’s that they have a loaded roster from top to bottom. The second-ranked Jaguars got key contributions from several different players during their first CIML Conference … [Read more...] about ‘We have so much talent on this team’: Jaguars sweep Johnston to stay unbeaten

‘I’m very happy with my score’: Ross fires 86 in final round, places 41st in Class 4A

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Ankeny sophomore Madalyn Ross carded an 86 in the final round of the girls' Class 4A state golf meet on Friday and placed 41st overall with a 36-hole total of 175. Ross had opened the tournament on Thursday with an 89 at Waverly Municipal Golf Course. "I'm very happy with my score today as I didn't have any shots go out of bounds like I did … [Read more...] about ‘I’m very happy with my score’: Ross fires 86 in final round, places 41st in Class 4A

Waukee softball team rallies twice to sweep doubleheader against Hawkettes

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Despite dropping both games of a doubleheader on Thursday at Waukee, Ankeny softball coach Sarah Saladino saw a lot of positives in her team's play. "The girls showed a ton of grit all night long," she said. "We embraced the pressure tonight." The Hawkettes scored five runs in the sixth inning to take an 8-6 lead in the nightcap. They were only six … [Read more...] about Waukee softball team rallies twice to sweep doubleheader against Hawkettes

‘We gave up too many free bases’: Hawks allow 20 walks in pair of losses at Waukee

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The Ankeny baseball team allowed only 11 total hits during Thursday's doubleheader at Waukee. Unfortunately, the Hawks' pitchers struggled to find the strike zone, giving up a combined 20 walks in the two games. The Warriors took advantage of the free passes to sweep Ankeny by scores of 7-4 and 9-1. "We gave up too many free bases for sure," said … [Read more...] about ‘We gave up too many free bases’: Hawks allow 20 walks in pair of losses at Waukee