Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

‘We just all got on a roll’: Hot-shooting Jaguars romp past Dowling Catholic

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There appears to be a lot of interchangeable parts on the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. On Friday night, those parts were clicking on all cylinders. The Jaguars made 12-of-23 attempts from 3-point range and rolled to a 78-41 victory over visiting Dowling Catholic in a CIML Conference game. It was Centennial's most lopsided win since an 89-47 … [Read more...] about ‘We just all got on a roll’: Hot-shooting Jaguars romp past Dowling Catholic

Without injured Moser, Hawkettes’ valiant effort falls short against No. 2 Johnston

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For more than a half, the Ankeny girls' basketball team had defending Class 5A state champion Johnston on the ropes on Friday night. The ninth-ranked Hawkettes jumped out to a 19-8 lead in the first quarter and held a 30-27 advantage at halftime before No. 2 Johnston took control and pulled away for a 68-59 victory in a CIML Conference game at Ankeny. The … [Read more...] about Without injured Moser, Hawkettes’ valiant effort falls short against No. 2 Johnston

STRAIT INTO THE RECORD BOOKS: Former Jag scores 1,000th career point

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Former Ankeny Centennial basketball standout Hunter Strait reached a milestone on Thursday. He's also poised to set another record on Saturday. Strait scored a team and personal season-high in points with 21, but it wasn't enough as the Truman State men's basketball team dropped a 68-60 decision to Lewis University on Thursday at Romeoville, Ill. The … [Read more...] about STRAIT INTO THE RECORD BOOKS: Former Jag scores 1,000th career point

Zediker’s late free throws spoil Jaguars’ rally, lift Dowling Catholic to 65-64 win

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For the first time this season, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team played a game that went down to the wire. It resulted in a heartbreaking loss. The third-ranked Jaguars rallied from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to take a 64-63 lead with 9.4 seconds left, but No. 6 Dowling Catholic got a pair of free throws from Ava Zediker … [Read more...] about Zediker’s late free throws spoil Jaguars’ rally, lift Dowling Catholic to 65-64 win

‘This is a great start to the season’: Ankeny bowling teams sweep Johnston

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For the first time since the 2020-21 season, the Ankeny boys' and girls' bowling teams both enjoyed a victory on the same day. The two squads opened their season on Thursday with narrow wins over Johnston at Game Day Lanes. The Hawks won by a score of 2,464 to 2,428, while the Hawkettes prevailed by a 2,063 to 1,931 margin. "I was very happy with how … [Read more...] about ‘This is a great start to the season’: Ankeny bowling teams sweep Johnston

Ankeny swimmers drop 101-69 decision to two-time defending state champs

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At least the Ankeny boys' swimming team won't have to see Waukee again until 2023. The Hawks dropped a 101-69 decision to the two-time defending state champions in a CIML Conference dual meet on Thursday at the Waukee YMCA. Ankeny competed against the Warriors for the second time in two weeks. Waukee easily won the season-opening Ankeny Sprint … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers drop 101-69 decision to two-time defending state champs

‘It’s pretty gratifying’: Hawk matmen open season with 39-32 win at No. 3 Johnston

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Last month, Joe Kingston and the Ankeny football team ended the season with a loss to Johnston in the Class 5A quarterfinals. On Thursday, Kingston and a couple of his football teammates earned a measure of revenge on the wrestling mat. Kingston, Will Hinrichs and Cade Bennethum each recorded a fall as the sixth-ranked Hawks opened their season with a … [Read more...] about ‘It’s pretty gratifying’: Hawk matmen open season with 39-32 win at No. 3 Johnston

‘After much thought and prayer’, Iowa’s Bruce decides to enter transfer portal

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One day after the Iowa football team landed coveted Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara through the transfer portal, the Hawkeyes lost another of their top receivers. Former Ankeny star Arland Bruce IV announced via Twitter on Friday that he is entering the transfer portal, joining fellow wideout Keagan Johnson, who announced his departure on … [Read more...] about ‘After much thought and prayer’, Iowa’s Bruce decides to enter transfer portal

‘It was just a tough matchup’: Waukee tops Ankeny boys in Biliew’s return

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Omaha Biliew's celebrated return to the Iowa high school basketball scene came at the expense of the Ankeny boys' squad. The Hawks opened their season on Tuesday with a 75-51 loss at Waukee, the preseason No. 1 team in Class 4A. Biliew, who helped the Warriors to a state title as a sophomore before spending last season at a Missouri prep school, is … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a tough matchup’: Waukee tops Ankeny boys in Biliew’s return

Centennial boys convert 16-of-21 free throws, hang on to beat Urbandale

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After building a 46-32 lead at the end of three quarters, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team appeared to be on its way to a comfortable victory in its season opener on Tuesday. But Urbandale refused to go away in the CIML Conference contest. The visiting J-Hawks opened the final period with a 17-6 run and closed the gap to 52-49 with 1 minute … [Read more...] about Centennial boys convert 16-of-21 free throws, hang on to beat Urbandale

No. 3 Jaguars crank up defense, cruise past Urbandale to raise record to 4-0

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team wasn't perfect on Tuesday, but the Jaguars' record remained spotless. Third-ranked Centennial allowed just eight points over the last three quarters and rolled past visiting Urbandale, 52-21, in its CIML Conference opener. The Jaguars are now 4-0 on the season. "They hit some shots early on. They made a … [Read more...] about No. 3 Jaguars crank up defense, cruise past Urbandale to raise record to 4-0

Ankeny girls roll past Valley for their first dual-meet victory in program history

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It's been a season of firsts for the Ankeny girls' wrestling team. Now, the first-year program has chalked up another milestone. Ankeny recorded six pins, won five other matches by forfeit and rolled to a 72-6 victory over visiting Valley in its CIML Conference opener on Tuesday. It was the first dual-meet win for the team, which improved to 1-2 … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls roll past Valley for their first dual-meet victory in program history

Gage, Hawkettes hold off furious Waukee rally to win CIML Conference opener

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When the Ankeny girls' basketball team went through a scoring drought on Tuesday, the Hawkettes relied on their defense to win their CIML Conference opener. Ninth-ranked Ankeny led by as many as 16 points in both halves before No. 14 Waukee staged a huge rally on its home court, closing to within two points late in the game before the Hawkettes held on … [Read more...] about Gage, Hawkettes hold off furious Waukee rally to win CIML Conference opener

Overcoming illnesses, Jaguars open season with wins over W. Marshall, Albia

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Despite being less than full strength, the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team opened its season on Tuesday with a pair of victories at State Center. The Jaguars posted a 49-30 win over host West Marshall and also defeated Albia, 48-27, in the non-conference double dual meet. "I was happy with how we wrestled," said Centennial coach Jay Groth. "I thought … [Read more...] about Overcoming illnesses, Jaguars open season with wins over W. Marshall, Albia

Ankeny’s Agan to join Adamson, Watson on Ellsworth baseball squad

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Another Ankeny baseball player has made his college choice. It's the same decision that two of his teammates already made. Senior third baseman Carson Agan has verbally committed to play for Ellsworth Community College. Pitcher Brock Adamson and catcher Max Watson previously committed to the Panthers. "Knowing Brock and Max are going there wasn't a … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Agan to join Adamson, Watson on Ellsworth baseball squad

‘We have enough girls this year’: Ankeny bowling teams boast better numbers

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Ankeny bowling coach Lane Richtsmeier likes what he has seen thus far from his teams. "The practices are going pretty well--for just getting started," he said. Unlike last year, Richtsmeier has had to trim down his roster. There are 17 boys and 12 girls on the two squads. The Hawks posted a 3-9 record a year ago. The Hawkettes struggled to a 1-11 … [Read more...] about ‘We have enough girls this year’: Ankeny bowling teams boast better numbers

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Calvin Howard, Ankeny boys’ swimming

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Senior Calvin Howard is one of the five returning state qualifiers for the Ankeny boys' swimming team. He helped the Hawks to a seventh-place finish at the state meet. Howard tied for 14th place in the 100 butterfly with a time of 52.55 seconds and finished 29th in the 200 individual medley in 2:02.51. He also swam on the eighth-place 400 freestyle and … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Calvin Howard, Ankeny boys’ swimming

Centennial wrestlers return trio of state qualifiers, several other veterans

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When the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team opens its season this week, the Jaguars will have some new faces in their lineup. Centennial graduated five state qualifiers from last year's team, including four-time qualifier Jackson Helmkamp and fellow two-time placewinner Carter Cahill. The Jaguars tied for 16th place in Class 3A with 34 points. "The … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers return trio of state qualifiers, several other veterans

Despite shooting woes, Jaguars shut down I.C. Liberty to remain unbeaten

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Sometimes, the shots aren't falling for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. Fortunately for the Jaguars, their defense seldom takes a day off. Third-ranked Centennial held No. 13 Iowa City Liberty to just 25 percent shooting and remained unbeaten with a 46-35 victory on Saturday at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. "Their guard … [Read more...] about Despite shooting woes, Jaguars shut down I.C. Liberty to remain unbeaten