Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

Jaguars use epic comeback to edge Roosevelt, advance to state tourney

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team is headed to the state tournament for the third time in school history. It took an epic comeback for the Jaguars to survive and advance. Fifth-ranked Centennial rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat No. 11 Des Moines Roosevelt, 44-42, in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Centennial. Maggie Phipps … [Read more...] about Jaguars use epic comeback to edge Roosevelt, advance to state tourney

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Abby Johnson, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Senior forward Abby Johnson scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 73-37 victory over visiting Ames in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. She has averaged 18.4 points over the last five games. The Hawkettes (10-6) will play at top-ranked Waukee (9-1) in the regional final on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Here is some … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Abby Johnson, Ankeny girls’ basketball

‘It feels really good to prove them wrong again’: Anderson wins his 2nd state title

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For the last 12 months, Ankeny wrestler Trever Anderson has been motivated to erase the memory of last year's disappointing third-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament. He wasn't even going to let a bum shoulder get in his way. The top-ranked junior captured his second state title on Saturday with a 3-2 victory over No. 3 Chad Bellis of Dubuque … [Read more...] about ‘It feels really good to prove them wrong again’: Anderson wins his 2nd state title

Hawkettes top Ames girls for 3rd time, earn rematch against No. 1 Waukee

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A regional final matchup against top-ranked Waukee isn't going to intimidate the Ankeny girls' basketball team. If the Hawkettes play like they did on Saturday night, they might even pull off a huge upset. "Coming off this game, I think we played really well," Ankeny guard Jenna Pitz said after the Hawkettes' 73-37 victory over visiting Ames in a Class … [Read more...] about Hawkettes top Ames girls for 3rd time, earn rematch against No. 1 Waukee

Jaguars shut down Urbandale, will host No. 11 Roosevelt in regional final

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Scott DeJong knows that his Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team isn't always going to shoot the lights out. But when the fifth-ranked Jaguars defend like they did on Saturday night, it really doesn't matter. Centennial allowed just two points in the first 13 minutes of the game, built a 36-9 halftime lead and then cruised to a 52-32 victory over … [Read more...] about Jaguars shut down Urbandale, will host No. 11 Roosevelt in regional final

‘Everyone knew we were capable of this’: Hawk wrestlers move into 4th place

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The Ankeny wrestling team has moved into fourth place in the Class 3A state tournament heading into Saturday night's finals. The eighth-ranked Hawks got fourth-place finishes from Cael Cox and Cade Bennethum during the consolation finals on Saturday. Jace Anderson added a seventh-place finish, while Ben Hansen took eighth. Ankeny now has 92.5 points, … [Read more...] about ‘Everyone knew we were capable of this’: Hawk wrestlers move into 4th place

‘It feels amazing, but I want more’: Jags’ Cahill not satisfied with 5th-place finish

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After earning a fifth-place finish in the Class 3A state wrestling tournament on Saturday, Ankeny Centennial junior Carter Cahill is still hungry. "It feels amazing, but I want more," said Cahill. "Next year I'm certainly shooting for that state championship." The sixth-ranked Cahill posted a 7-2 decision over No. 10 Ryan Van Donselaar of Pella in the … [Read more...] about ‘It feels amazing, but I want more’: Jags’ Cahill not satisfied with 5th-place finish

Jaguars pull away from Urbandale, finish regular season with 13-4 record

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It's a good bet that the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team will be practicing special situations this week as the Jaguars prepare for the start of postseason play. In its regular-season finale on Friday, Centennial twice gave up a 3-point goal at the buzzer in the first half as visiting Urbandale managed to keep the game close, trailing by only … [Read more...] about Jaguars pull away from Urbandale, finish regular season with 13-4 record

‘This was big for us’: Crandall, Hawks roll past North in their regular-season finale

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At times this season, the Ankeny boys' basketball team has struggled to find the basket. That wasn't an issue for the Hawks on Friday night. Ryan Crandall poured in 28 points on 11-of-13 shooting and Ankeny rolled to an 84-72 victory at Des Moines North in its final game of the regular season. The Hawks scored more points than they did in their … [Read more...] about ‘This was big for us’: Crandall, Hawks roll past North in their regular-season finale

Hawks flex their muscles, move into 5th place in Class 3A team standings

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Caleb Rathjen isn't talking to reporters, but he and the rest of the Ankeny wrestlers are doing plenty of talking on the mat. Rathjen and Trever Anderson both advanced to Saturday's championship round, Cael Cox and Cade Bennethum each won consolation matches to earn a top-six finish, and the eighth-ranked Hawks moved into fifth place in the Class 3A state … [Read more...] about Hawks flex their muscles, move into 5th place in Class 3A team standings

Cahill avenges loss to Fort Dodge’s Cook, assures himself of top-six finish

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Ankeny Centennial's Carter Cahill didn't get down on himself after a first-round loss in the Class 3A state wrestling tournament on Thursday. The sixth-ranked Cahill has responded with three consecutive consolation victories at 160 pounds. He posted a 3-2 decision over No. 5 Kody Cook of Fort Dodge on Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena, assuring himself of … [Read more...] about Cahill avenges loss to Fort Dodge’s Cook, assures himself of top-six finish

Anderson, Rathjen reach semifinals; Hawks assured of having 6 placewinners

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The quest for more gold continues for Ankeny wrestlers Trever Anderson and Caleb Rathjen. Both standouts advanced to the semifinals of the Class 3A state tournament with dominating victories on Friday morning at Wells Fargo Arena. The semifinals will be held on Friday night. The top-ranked Anderson won by a technical fall, 19-2, over No. 7 Tanner Wink … [Read more...] about Anderson, Rathjen reach semifinals; Hawks assured of having 6 placewinners

‘Both teams fought to the bitter end’: Ankeny bowlers finish 5th in Sioux City

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The season has ended for the Ankeny bowling teams. Both squads competed in state-qualifying meets this week at Plaza Bowl in Sioux City and placed fifth among six teams. The boys' meet was held on Wednesday and the girls' meet was contested on Thursday after both meets were postponed earlier in the week due to cold weather. The Hawks posted a score of … [Read more...] about ‘Both teams fought to the bitter end’: Ankeny bowlers finish 5th in Sioux City

‘It’s pretty crazy what we’re doing right now’: Hawks advance 7 to quarterfinals

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Ankeny junior Trever Anderson fully expected to reach the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state wrestling tournament. He just didn't expect to have so many of his teammates along for the ride. The eighth-ranked Hawks advanced seven wrestlers to Friday's quarterfinals at Wells Fargo Arena. Two other Ankeny qualifiers stayed alive in the consolation … [Read more...] about ‘It’s pretty crazy what we’re doing right now’: Hawks advance 7 to quarterfinals

Wiener advances to quarterfinals; 3 other Jaguars alive in consolation bracket

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Ankeny Centennial's Cael Wiener was a lot more relaxed heading into this year's Class 3A state wrestling tournament. He felt even better after advancing to Friday's quarterfinals. The eighth-ranked Wiener posted a 12-6 decision over No. 7 Nate Bierma of Valley in a first-round match at 113 pounds on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena. He Improved his record … [Read more...] about Wiener advances to quarterfinals; 3 other Jaguars alive in consolation bracket

‘It was kind of like we forgot how to play basketball’: Hawks drubbed by S.E. Polk

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team has posted some impressive victories this season. The Hawks have also suffered some disappointing losses. Tuesday's non-conference game at Southeast Polk would fall into the latter category. After jumping out to a 21-14 lead, Ankeny went cold midway through the second quarter and never recovered. The Rams went on a … [Read more...] about ‘It was kind of like we forgot how to play basketball’: Hawks drubbed by S.E. Polk

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Cody Vandermark, Centennial wrestling

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Freshman Cody Vandermark is a member of the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team. He helped the Jaguars to a 16-7 dual record this season. "Cody is an undersized 106-pounder--he weighs 93 pounds--who has subbed for us at 106 numerous times, often on short notice," said Centennial coach Jay Groth. "He works his tail off." Vandermark closed out his season on … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Cody Vandermark, Centennial wrestling

Ankeny’s Stukerjurgen to continue swimming career at Missouri St.

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Ankeny swimming standout Brek Stukerjurgen has signed a national letter of intent with Missouri State. The senior helped the Hawks to a runner-up finish in the state meet on Saturday at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center. "I looked at a few other schools, but not too many," said Stukerjurgen. "I was able to get down on campus last summer and loved it. They … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Stukerjurgen to continue swimming career at Missouri St.