Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

‘We really took control’: Jaguars sweep past Urbandale in dominating fashion

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With a dominating win on Tuesday, the second-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team likely wrapped up the No. 1 spot in the next Class 5A rankings to be released on Thursday by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. The Jaguars romped to a 25-10, 25-4, 25-7 victory over visiting Urbandale in a CIML Conference match. They improved to 2-0 in the … [Read more...] about ‘We really took control’: Jaguars sweep past Urbandale in dominating fashion

‘We had a good night’: Ankeny swimmers dominate double dual at Mason City

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Ankeny girls' swimming coach Dustin Rhoads is a big fan of the Mason City pool. His team may get another chance to compete there. Ankeny traveled to Mason City on Tuesday for a double dual meet against the host River Hawks and Des Moines Hoover. The Hawkettes easily defeated both teams, winning all but one event overall. "We had a good night," said … [Read more...] about ‘We had a good night’: Ankeny swimmers dominate double dual at Mason City

Moss records career-high 12 tackles in first NFL start as Broncos fall at Seattle

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Former Ankeny Centennial and Iowa football star Riley Moss made a career-high 12 tackles in his first NFL start for the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Moss, a second-year cornerback, was credited with eight solo tackles and four assists in Denver's 26-20 loss to Seattle at Lumen Field. The Broncos became the first team since 2017 to record two safeties and two … [Read more...] about Moss records career-high 12 tackles in first NFL start as Broncos fall at Seattle

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Mya Lei-Butters, Centennial volleyball

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Junior libero Mya Lei-Butters has helped the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team to a 9-2 record and a No. 2 ranking in Class 5A. The Jaguars won all four of their matches on Saturday in the Little Hawk Invitational at Iowa City High to win the tournament for the fourth straight year. On Tuesday, Centennial rallied for a dramatic five-set victory over … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Mya Lei-Butters, Centennial volleyball

‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars win Little Hawk Invite title for 4th consecutive year

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There was no letdown for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. After rallying for a dramatic victory on Tuesday over defending Class 5A state champion Waukee Northwest, the second-ranked Jaguars traveled to Iowa City High on Saturday and won the Little Hawk Invitational for the fourth consecutive year. Centennial swept all four of its opponents in … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars win Little Hawk Invite title for 4th consecutive year

‘Everyone played so hard’: Hawkettes beat 4 top-10 teams, win Marj White Classic

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The Valley High School gym is turning into a second home for the Ankeny volleyball team. After sweeping their CIML Conference opener on Tuesday at Valley, the fourth-ranked Hawkettes returned to the Bill Coldiron Fieldhouse on Saturday and captured the championship of the Marj White Classic. They won all five of their matches in the round-robin event, … [Read more...] about ‘Everyone played so hard’: Hawkettes beat 4 top-10 teams, win Marj White Classic

Jaguars take advantage of short fields, romp to 55-14 victory over Ames

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It's usually important for a football team to win the battle of field position. It certainly was for Ankeny Centennial on Friday night. The Jaguars played almost the entire first half against visiting Ames in the Little Cyclones' territory, allowing them to build a 35-7 lead en route to a 55-14 victory. "Field position is a key, no question about … [Read more...] about Jaguars take advantage of short fields, romp to 55-14 victory over Ames

‘We have to get better’: Hawks fall to 0-2 after losing rematch of 5A title game

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The last time Ankeny and Southeast Polk collided on the football field, it was for the Class 5A state championship at the UNI-Dome. But inside Ram Stadium on Friday night, the three-time defending champion Rams and Hawks battled to see who could pick up their first win of the season. Two scoring drives in the second half … [Read more...] about ‘We have to get better’: Hawks fall to 0-2 after losing rematch of 5A title game

Like a ‘well-oiled machine’, Centennial girls capture team title at Schmaltz Invite

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There was no rust for the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team to shake off. For the second time in three years, the fifth-ranked Jaguars captured the team title in the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on Thursday. The meet was held at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames. Centennial posted a score of 54 points, matching its winning total from … [Read more...] about Like a ‘well-oiled machine’, Centennial girls capture team title at Schmaltz Invite

Zuber races to season-opening victory, while Jaguars earn runner-up finish

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Ankeny's Ethan Zuber made a strong statement in his first cross country race of the season. The Ankeny Centennial boys' team also made a huge impression. Zuber, the defending Class 4A state champion, raced to a victory in the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on Thursday at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames. He posted a time of 14 minutes 56.5 … [Read more...] about Zuber races to season-opening victory, while Jaguars earn runner-up finish

‘We beat some talented teams’: Hawks place 3rd, edge Jaguars at Ankeny Invite

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While the Valley boys' golf team dominated the Ankeny Invitational on Wednesday at Otter Creek Golf Course, the real battle was for second place. Valley, the defending the Class 4A state champion, shot a 280 to easily win the team crown. The next six squads all broke 300 as well and were separated by just four strokes. Dowling Catholic and Ankeny each … [Read more...] about ‘We beat some talented teams’: Hawks place 3rd, edge Jaguars at Ankeny Invite

‘I think I’m still in disbelief’: Jaguars rally for improbable win over reigning champs

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After initially leading two sets to none, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball players found themselves with their backs against the wall. The third-ranked Jaguars were just one set away from sweeping No. 9 Waukee Northwest in their home opener on Tuesday. But in a twist of fate, Centennial was a mere one point away from … [Read more...] about ‘I think I’m still in disbelief’: Jaguars rally for improbable win over reigning champs

‘The key was to stay on our toes’: Scheib, Hawkettes sweep past No. 11 Valley

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The Valley volleyball team entered the week on a four-match losing streak. A matchup against fifth-ranked Ankeny was not what the Tigers needed. The visiting Hawkettes rolled to a 25-16, 25-17, 25-19 victory in the CIML Conference opener for both teams on Tuesday. They improved their overall record to 8-1, while No. 11 Valley dropped to 2-6. "The … [Read more...] about ‘The key was to stay on our toes’: Scheib, Hawkettes sweep past No. 11 Valley

‘This one feels pretty dang good!’: Ankeny swimmers top 3-time defending champs

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This year's Ankeny girls' swimming team looks considerably different than it did last season. CIML Conference rival Waukee also went through some big roster changes in the offseason after the three-time defending state champion split its program into two squads with Waukee Northwest. Ankeny opened the season on Tuesday with a 98-88 victory over … [Read more...] about ‘This one feels pretty dang good!’: Ankeny swimmers top 3-time defending champs

Ankeny Christian wins Centennial Invite; Hawkettes, Jaguars tumble in semifinals

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All three of Ankeny's highly-ranked volleyball teams reached the semifinals of the Ankeny Centennial Invitational on Saturday. In the end, the smallest school emerged as the winner of the tournament. Top-ranked Ankeny Christian Academy, the two-time defending state champion in Class 1A, posted a 25-18, 21-25, 15-13 victory over Dowling Catholic in the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Christian wins Centennial Invite; Hawkettes, Jaguars tumble in semifinals

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Isaiah Bassett, Ankeny Centennial football

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Senior defensive end Isaiah Bassett helped the Ankeny Centennial football team to a 31-10 victory over Ankeny on Friday. The Jaguars intercepted two passes and allowed no points over the final 34 minutes. As a junior, Bassett made 38 tackles--including a team-high 7.5 sacks--while also averaging 37.0 yards as the Jaguars' punter. He was a first-team … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Isaiah Bassett, Ankeny Centennial football

Jackson, Jaguars dominate 2nd half, pull away for 31-10 victory over Ankeny

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It was tough for Braeden Jackson to pick out his favorite touchdown run. The Ankeny Centennial senior running back scored three times in the second half and rushed for 236 yards to fuel the third-ranked Jaguars to a 31-10 victory over No. 2 Ankeny in the season opener for both teams on Friday. “It feels great,” said … [Read more...] about Jackson, Jaguars dominate 2nd half, pull away for 31-10 victory over Ankeny

‘We just have to make some adjustments’: Hawks look to bounce back from loss

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Earlier this week, Ankeny Centennial co-head football coach Ryan Pezzetti lauded the experience of his team's offensive line. "We have five or six (players) on the line who have played before and that's huge," Pezzetti said. "That's where the games are won or lost--in the trenches." He turned out to be prophetic. Centennial's Braeden Jackson rushed … [Read more...] about ‘We just have to make some adjustments’: Hawks look to bounce back from loss