Ankeny Fanatic

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Dan Holm

‘It kind of feels like a full circle moment for me’: Crandall commits to Panthers

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Former Ankeny football standout Ryan Crandall is headed to Cedar Falls. One of the most productive linebackers at the NCAA Division I FCS level last season, Crandall announced on Wednesday that he will play next year at Northern Iowa under new head coach Todd Stepsis. "I looked at a handful of schools," said Crandall, who started 26 games in three … [Read more...] about ‘It kind of feels like a full circle moment for me’: Crandall commits to Panthers

‘I loved the facilities and the culture’: Centennial’s Heither commits to Wartburg

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Ankeny Centennial wingback Sam Heither has committed to play football at Wartburg College next year. Heither announced his decision on social media Wednesday. "I was pretty keyed in on Wartburg during the recruiting process," Heither said. "I loved the facilities and the culture that they have over in Waverly." Heither helped Centennial to an 8-3 … [Read more...] about ‘I loved the facilities and the culture’: Centennial’s Heither commits to Wartburg

Centennial boys rally from 22-point deficit to forge tie, but Urbandale holds on to win

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) With about 4 minutes 30 seconds left in the third quarter, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team faced one of its largest deficits in Tuesday's game against visiting Urbandale. Davis Hardersen knocked down a 3-pointer to extend the J-Hawks' lead to 41-19 as they appeared to be ready to cruise to victory on Centennial’s … [Read more...] about Centennial boys rally from 22-point deficit to forge tie, but Urbandale holds on to win

Crawford enjoys historic night as Jaguars roll past Urbandale for 2nd time this year

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Ever since transferring from Cedar Falls to Ankeny Centennial after her freshman girls' basketball season, Mya Crawford has carved out a pretty important role for the Jaguars. She’s started nearly 60 games over two and a half seasons, she’s scored a lot of baskets and she’s helped win a ton of games for Centennial. But … [Read more...] about Crawford enjoys historic night as Jaguars roll past Urbandale for 2nd time this year

Hawks contain Jacobson, but Waukee thrives from deep to earn 7th straight win

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Waukee showed on Tuesday why it's one of the state's hottest boys' basketball teams. The seventh-ranked Warriors didn't need a big night from junior post player Evan Jacobson in order to extend their winning streak to seven games. Jacobson was held to seven points in a CIML Conference contest at Ankeny, but Waukee made 11-of-21 3-point shots and had … [Read more...] about Hawks contain Jacobson, but Waukee thrives from deep to earn 7th straight win

Ankeny girls rack up 6 pins, win 5 matches by forfeit in 69-12 victory at Urbandale

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The Ankeny girls' wrestling team rolled to a 69-12 victory at Urbandale in a CIML Conference dual meet on Tuesday. Ankeny recorded six falls, all but one of them in the first period. Coach Dustin Roland's team won five other matches by forfeit and also got a narrow victory in the final match at 110 pounds, where Zoe Sullivan posted an 8-6 decision over … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls rack up 6 pins, win 5 matches by forfeit in 69-12 victory at Urbandale

‘They were having fun out there’: Ankeny girls avenge earlier loss to No. 8 Waukee

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This was the Ankeny girls' basketball team that was eighth in Class 5A in the preseason rankings and moved up to sixth after a 4-0 start. The now-No. 15 Hawkettes overcame an early nine-point deficit to beat No. 8 Waukee, 57-45, in a CIML Conference game on Tuesday at Ankeny. It was the second straight win for coach Nate Tobey's squad following a … [Read more...] about ‘They were having fun out there’: Ankeny girls avenge earlier loss to No. 8 Waukee

After two years at Iowa Western, former Jaguar Targgart commits to S. Dakota St.

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Former Ankeny Centennial football standout Brody Targgart has committed to play for one of the top FCS programs in the country. The 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive lineman announced over the weekend that he will play for South Dakota State. He has two years of eligibility remaining along with a redshirt year. Targgart helped Iowa Western Community … [Read more...] about After two years at Iowa Western, former Jaguar Targgart commits to S. Dakota St.

Ankeny swimmers tumble to No. 1 Cedar Falls, will face Linn-Mar, Waukee NW next

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The ninth-ranked Ankeny boys' swimming team dropped a 111-59 decision to No. 1 Cedar Falls in a non-conference dual meet on Saturday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The Tigers entered the meet with 3,520 power points, which led the state and put them 109 points ahead of No. 2 Waukee Northwest. They showed in Saturday's meet why they're the early favorite … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers tumble to No. 1 Cedar Falls, will face Linn-Mar, Waukee NW next

Ankeny’s Rathjen claims Mendenhall title, while Jags’ Vandermark earns 100th win

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Saturday's Jack Mendenhall Invitational proved to be a memorable tournament for Ankeny wrestler Calvin Rathjen. Ankeny Centennial's Cale Vandermark also enjoyed an historic moment. Rathjen won the 132-pound title to lead the Hawks to a fourth-place finish in the 15-team field, while the Jaguars took sixth behind a runner-up performance at 120 from … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Rathjen claims Mendenhall title, while Jags’ Vandermark earns 100th win

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Bryer Pearson, Ankeny boys’ swimming

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Junior Bryer Pearson has helped the ninth-ranked Ankeny boys' swimming team to a 3-4 record, including a 2-3 mark in the CIML Conference. Pearson is currently ranked eighth in the state in the 100 butterfly with a time of 52.51 seconds. He is tied for 40th in the 50 freestyle (22.71) and tied for 42nd in the 100 backstroke (58.02). Pearson is also a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Bryer Pearson, Ankeny boys’ swimming

Ankeny girls crown 4 individual champs, place 2nd behind Osage at Ogden Invite

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The Ankeny girls' wrestling team crowned four individual champions and placed second overall in the Ogden Invitational on Saturday. Osage won the 27-team event with 231.5 points. The Green Devils were led by sisters Ainsley and Gable Hemann, who won titles at 100 and 110 pounds, respectively. Ankeny racked up 209.5 points to easily finish ahead of … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls crown 4 individual champs, place 2nd behind Osage at Ogden Invite

‘We have all grown a lot’: Ankeny girls beat Valley, Johnston to stay unbeaten

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The Ankeny girls' bowling team continues to have a lot of fun. Ankeny posted a season-high score of 2,252 to defeat host Johnston by 122 pins in a CIML Conference dual meet on Friday at Game Day Lanes. The squad improved to 4-0 in the league and overall, while Johnston's records fell to 0-3 and 0-5. Ankeny has already doubled its win total from last … [Read more...] about ‘We have all grown a lot’: Ankeny girls beat Valley, Johnston to stay unbeaten

Wehde scores game-winning basket with 2 seconds left to lift Central past Loras

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Former Ankeny standout Karson Wehde scored one of the biggest baskets of his collegiate career on Saturday. The sophomore forward made a layup with 2 seconds left to give the Central College men's basketball team a 78-76 victory over Loras College at Pella. He scored off an assist from former Waukee player Owen Schipper. "The final play wasn't actually … [Read more...] about Wehde scores game-winning basket with 2 seconds left to lift Central past Loras

No. 2 Valley boys use 12-0 run in 4th quarter to thwart Hawks’ upset bid

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) For three and a half quarters, it felt like the Ankeny boys' basketball team had second-ranked Valley on the ropes and on the verge of a major victory. But a 12-0 run and one too many trips to the free-throw line for Valley helped the Tigers escape out of Ankeny with a 64-60 win on Friday. “We played really hard and … [Read more...] about No. 2 Valley boys use 12-0 run in 4th quarter to thwart Hawks’ upset bid

Gage surpasses 1,000-point milestone, leads Ankeny past Tigers to end skid

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Over the course of her career, Savannah Gage has scored countless baskets and accumulated many points in the process. But her 14 points on Friday night gave the Ankeny girls' basketball team more than one reason to celebrate. Gage not only helped the 15th-ranked Hawkettes snap a seven-game losing streak in a 52-49 win over … [Read more...] about Gage surpasses 1,000-point milestone, leads Ankeny past Tigers to end skid

‘They beat us in every phase of the game’: No. 3 Wolves roll past Centennial boys

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The struggles continued on Friday for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. The Jaguars fell behind by 20 points at halftime and eventually dropped a 77-36 decision at third-ranked Waukee Northwest. It was their worst loss of the season. "We were down by nine with 4 minutes left in the second quarter, but then they outscored us by 11 the rest of … [Read more...] about ‘They beat us in every phase of the game’: No. 3 Wolves roll past Centennial boys

‘We’ve got to make better adjustments’: Jags’ lead slips away in loss at Northwest

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For the third time in the last four games, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team let a halftime lead slip away. The fourth-ranked Jaguars were able to recover in those previous games to defeat Cedar Rapids Prairie and Ankeny, but they weren't as fortunate on Friday at No. 3 Waukee Northwest. The Wolves used a 15-1 run in the third quarter to … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got to make better adjustments’: Jags’ lead slips away in loss at Northwest