Ankeny Fanatic

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Dan Holm

Future looks bright for Ankeny girls’ team after 4th-place finish in Class 2A tourney

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The 2025-26 wrestling season had barely just finished on Friday night at Xtream Arena before the Ankeny girls' team started eagerly eyeing the 2026-27 campaign. Ankeny may have fallen short of its goal of capturing the Class 2A team title, but the program added to its history books by claiming two more individual crowns … [Read more...] about Future looks bright for Ankeny girls’ team after 4th-place finish in Class 2A tourney

XTREAM VICTORIES: Watson, Krah claim state wrestling titles in stunning fashion

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It was just a year ago when the Ankeny girls' wrestling team saw Elyse Engebretson and Hayden Bratland enter the history books as the program's first-ever state champions. But with Engebretson graduated and Bratland sidelined with a season-ending injury, Ankeny was going to need someone to step up and answer the … [Read more...] about XTREAM VICTORIES: Watson, Krah claim state wrestling titles in stunning fashion

Hawks take positives away from loss at Dowling, but injury to Campbell lingers

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team took a lot of positives away from Friday's loss at Dowling Catholic. An injury to the Hawks' second-leading scorer certainly wasn't one of them. Junior guard Jasani Campbell was helped to the locker room after injuring his right knee with about 5 minutes left in the game. He had just scored a basket to pull the … [Read more...] about Hawks take positives away from loss at Dowling, but injury to Campbell lingers

‘It’s just tough to make shots against an elite team’: Ankeny falls to No. 3 Maroons

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team got another big game from senior guard Jayla Williams, but it wasn't enough to knock off one of the state's top three squads. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes traveled to No. 3 Dowling Catholic on Friday for a showdown against the Maroons and dropped a 63-45 decision in the CIML Conference contest. Williams scored 22 points … [Read more...] about ‘It’s just tough to make shots against an elite team’: Ankeny falls to No. 3 Maroons

Several Jaguars sign letters of intent along with Ankeny’s Breitbach, Fischer

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Several more football players from Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial have signed letters of intent to play at the next level. Centennial's Kade Muehring and Carter Schutty are headed to Wartburg College along with teammate Nash Targgart. Houston Luce and Gavin Matheny have signed with Grand View, Kane Brooks has committed to Minnesota State, and Cameron … [Read more...] about Several Jaguars sign letters of intent along with Ankeny’s Breitbach, Fischer

‘I’m so proud of my team’: Ankeny girls sit in 2nd place after advancing 3 to semis

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As she walked into Xtream Arena on Thursday afternoon, sophomore Jammie Krah was confident that her Ankeny girls' wrestling team was going to have a big day. Third-ranked Ankeny went on to win 14 of 21 matches and sits in second place after the opening day of the Class 2A state tournament at Coralville. "I'm so proud of my team. I love them so much," … [Read more...] about ‘I’m so proud of my team’: Ankeny girls sit in 2nd place after advancing 3 to semis

‘I’m excited to get going’: Kiepe hired to take over Centennial girls’ golf program

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Marty Kiepe has been named the new head coach of the Ankeny Centennial girls' golf team. Kiepe replaces John Petersen, who resigned from the position at the end of last season after coaching the Jaguars since 2019. "This was kind of a last-minute thing," said Kiepe. "I'm very close with coach (Andrew) Reedy, the Centennial boys' coach. We worked … [Read more...] about ‘I’m excited to get going’: Kiepe hired to take over Centennial girls’ golf program

Depleted Hawks top Centennial before falling to No. 4 Mustangs in regional final

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The Ankeny wrestling team was hoping to take its best shot at qualifying for Saturday's state duals in Coralville. The 12th-ranked Hawks did just that on Tuesday night at Dallas Center-Grimes, but they did so without three of their best wrestlers. After posting a 37-28 victory over No. 21 Ankeny Centennial in a Class 3A regional dual, Ankeny then … [Read more...] about Depleted Hawks top Centennial before falling to No. 4 Mustangs in regional final

‘It was a great opportunity’: Ankeny’s Minner commits to play for Indiana State

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Ankeny pitcher Hunter Minner has verbally committed to play for Indiana State. A recruiting trip to Terre Haute sold Minner on the Sycamores. "I went on a visit to Indiana State and got to see the campus facilities and meet the coaches, and it was a great opportunity," said Minner. "Overall, what I was impressed with was the coaches and the atmosphere. … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great opportunity’: Ankeny’s Minner commits to play for Indiana State

Ankeny boys avenge loss to Rams as Roush, Bright ignite 4th-quarter rally

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team entered Monday's game at Southeast Polk with something to prove. It wasn't pretty, but the 10th-ranked Hawks avenged a pair of double-digit losses in the last year with a 54-53 victory. They deflected an inbounds pass as the final 1.9 seconds ticked off the clock to preserve the win. "We'll take it," said Ankeny coach … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys avenge loss to Rams as Roush, Bright ignite 4th-quarter rally

‘She’s amazing!’: Williams leads Hawkettes to rout at S.E. Polk with career-high 34

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There's something about the Southeast Polk gym that brings out the best in Ankeny senior Jayla Williams. Perhaps...it's the smell. Williams poured in a career-high 34 points on 12-of-16 shooting to lead the fifth-ranked Hawkettes to a 72-40 victory at Southeast Polk in a CIML Conference girls' basketball game on Monday. "I really do like this gym," … [Read more...] about ‘She’s amazing!’: Williams leads Hawkettes to rout at S.E. Polk with career-high 34

Jaguars hold off Roosevelt, can reach .500 mark with victory at Waukee on Friday

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team has had two previous chances to reach the .500 mark for the season. Now, the 12th-ranked Jaguars will get another opportunity to even their record. Centennial used a fast start to post a 52-46 victory over visiting Des Moines Roosevelt in a non-conference game on Monday. The Jaguars are now 8-9 heading into … [Read more...] about Jaguars hold off Roosevelt, can reach .500 mark with victory at Waukee on Friday

Ankeny girls place 7th at regional meet; Harris just misses qualifying for state

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The season came to an end on Monday for the Ankeny girls' bowling team. Ankeny placed seventh among eight teams in a Class 3A regional meet at Champion Bowl in Ottumwa. Senior Olivia Harris took ninth as an individual for the second straight year, just one spot away from qualifying for state. Ottumwa won the regional crown on its home lanes, finishing … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls place 7th at regional meet; Harris just misses qualifying for state

‘I loved the staff’: Centennial’s Targgart commits to play football for Wartburg

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Ankeny Centennial linebacker Nash Targgart has verbally committed to play football at Wartburg College next year. Targgart said he reached out to various schools all over the Midwest in an effort to continue his career on the gridiron. "Wartburg was the only one that I heard back from," said Targgart. "I felt like at Wartburg I loved the staff and the … [Read more...] about ‘I loved the staff’: Centennial’s Targgart commits to play football for Wartburg

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Aiden Winkie, Ankeny wrestling

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Junior Aiden Winkie has helped the Ankeny wrestling team to a 13-6 record, including a 4-4 mark in the CIML Conference. He earned a pair of wins last week at 138 pounds as the 10th-ranked Hawks closed out the regular season with victories over Waukee on Tuesday and Urbandale on Thursday. Winkie, a two-time state qualifier, has compiled a 23-11 record this … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Aiden Winkie, Ankeny wrestling

Raccoon River-NW, Cedar Falls boast 11 qualifiers; Ankeny among 5 teams with 8

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Top-ranked Raccoon River-Northwest is the clear favorite to defend its title in the girls' Class 2A state wrestling tournament on Thursday and Friday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Raccoon River-Northwest qualified 11 wrestlers for the tournament, including eight top-five seeds. The team is led by senior Katie Biscoglia, a three-time state champion who is … [Read more...] about Raccoon River-NW, Cedar Falls boast 11 qualifiers; Ankeny among 5 teams with 8

‘My guys just didn’t quit’: Centennial boys rally past Tigers to sweep season series

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team rode an intense roller coaster of momentum ranging from a double-digit lead to a double-digit deficit. But it was the squad’s overall response late in the third quarter and early in the final period that powered the Jaguars to a 57-50 road victory Friday that secured their regular … [Read more...] about ‘My guys just didn’t quit’: Centennial boys rally past Tigers to sweep season series

‘We’ve seen tremendous growth’: Jaguars avenge earlier 29-point loss to Valley

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) There has been a night and day difference between the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team that started the season and the one that’s now pushing for a top-10 ranking. Valley found out first hand just how much the 12th-ranked Jaguars have grown since their first meeting in mid-December. Centennial led nearly the … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve seen tremendous growth’: Jaguars avenge earlier 29-point loss to Valley