Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

‘Fearless’ Hawkettes battle back, but fall short against No. 2 S.E. Polk

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team took a step forward Tuesday night despite suffering a 74-61 loss to visiting Southeast Polk. The second-ranked Rams shot 61.3 percent from the field, including 11-of-19 from 3-point range, while raising their record to 7-0. But Ankeny coach Dru McAnelly was not unhappy with his team's defensive effort. "I actually … [Read more...] about ‘Fearless’ Hawkettes battle back, but fall short against No. 2 S.E. Polk

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Braden Simonsen, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Sophomore Braden Simonsen has helped the Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 4-1 record. He is averaging 2.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Simonsen scored six points in the Hawks' 57-43 victory over visiting Fort Dodge on Dec. 6. He had three points and three rebounds in his team's 62-60 overtime win at Des Moines Lincoln on Dec. 10. "Braden has … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Braden Simonsen, Ankeny boys’ basketball

Hawks crown 3 champs, place 2nd overall at Frank Baltzley Invitational

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All things considered, the Ankeny wrestling team had a pretty good day Saturday in the Frank Baltzley Invitational at Johnston. The eighth-ranked Hawks crowned three individual champions and placed second in the 12-team field with 188 points. No. 10 Johnston won the tournament with 227.5. "I think our kids were wore out," said Ankeny coach Jack … [Read more...] about Hawks crown 3 champs, place 2nd overall at Frank Baltzley Invitational

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Micah Johnson, Centennial boys’ hoops

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Senior forward Micah Johnson scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team remained unbeaten with a 57-40 victory at Johnston on Friday. The Jaguars are now 1-0 in the CIML Central Conference and 4-0 overall. Johnson was a second-team all-conference pick a year ago, when he averaged 10.2 points and 5.8 rebounds. … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Micah Johnson, Centennial boys’ hoops

Here’s how to enter Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest

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Do you know how to pick the winners of college football games? Do you like free tacos and beer? If you answered yes to both of those questions, then you'll want to enter Ankeny Fanatic's College Football Bowl Contest sponsored by Yankee Clipper. The winner of the contest will receive a $50 gift card to Yankee Clipper--and that'll buy you a lot of tacos … [Read more...] about Here’s how to enter Ankeny Fanatic’s College Football Bowl Contest

Jaguars win Centennial Duals, earn 100th victory in program history

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team didn't just win the Centennial Duals on Saturday. The fifth-ranked Jaguars dominated their own tournament. Centennial defeated its five opponents by an average margin of 66-13. The Jaguars rolled past Dowling Catholic in the final, 58-18, to capture their third straight crown. "We had a good day. We wrestled … [Read more...] about Jaguars win Centennial Duals, earn 100th victory in program history

Kirkwood’s Kasperbauer has yet to play this season due to injury

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Connor Kasperbauer's sophomore basketball season at Kirkwood Community College has yet to get under way. The former Ankeny Centennial standout, who helped the Eagles to the NJCAA Division II title last season, has been sidelined by an injury. "I had surgery at the end of April last year to take some bone spurs in my ankle out, and shave off some of my … [Read more...] about Kirkwood’s Kasperbauer has yet to play this season due to injury

Unbeaten Jaguars shut down Johnston for impressive 57-40 road victory

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Friday's game at Johnston was expected to be the biggest test of the season thus far for the unbeaten Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. The Jaguars passed it with flying colors. Centennial used a 24-point third quarter to pull away for a 57-40 victory in the CIML Central Conference opener for both teams. The Dragons were held to just 26 percent … [Read more...] about Unbeaten Jaguars shut down Johnston for impressive 57-40 road victory

‘You have to play a full 4 quarters’: Centennial girls let late lead slip away

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For more than three quarters Friday night, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball squad outplayed one of the state's best teams. The 13th-ranked Jaguars held a 40-28 lead at No. 4 Johnston with 6 minutes left in the CIML Central Conference opener. But they couldn't close out the victory. The Dragons outscored Centennial the rest of the way, 19-4, and … [Read more...] about ‘You have to play a full 4 quarters’: Centennial girls let late lead slip away

Maroons make 25-of-34 free throws, hand Ankeny boys their first loss

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Friday's CIML Central Conference opener between the Ankeny and Dowling Catholic boys' basketball teams turned into a free-throw shooting contest. The two squads combined for 64 free-throw attempts, including 35 in the fourth quarter alone. Four Ankeny players fouled out in the final period as the Hawks tried to rally on their home court, but Dowling held … [Read more...] about Maroons make 25-of-34 free throws, hand Ankeny boys their first loss

Clark, Gaber lead No. 3 Dowling girls past Hawkettes in conference opener

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Ankeny girls' basketball coach Dru McAnelly wasn't worried about stopping Dowling Catholic star Caitlin Clark heading into Friday's CIML Central Conference opener. It was fellow senior Grace Gaber who concerned McAnelly the most. "Going into the game, obviously Caitlin is going to get her (points). That's just a given," McAnelly said of Clark, the Iowa … [Read more...] about Clark, Gaber lead No. 3 Dowling girls past Hawkettes in conference opener

Bauer, Brecht, Petersen earn all-state honors from Des Moines Register

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One of the best passing combinations in Class 4A this season was Ankeny's junior duo of quarterback Jase Bauer and wide receiver Brody Brecht. Both players have received all-state football honors from The Des Moines Register after leading the Hawks to an 8-3 record and a Class 4A quarterfinal appearance. Brecht was named to the Elite team, which … [Read more...] about Bauer, Brecht, Petersen earn all-state honors from Des Moines Register

Hawks top Lincoln, but fail to capitalize against depleted S.E. Polk team

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Southeast Polk's vaunted wrestling team appeared to be somewhat vulnerable entering Thursday's double dual meet against Des Moines Lincoln and host Ankeny. The second-ranked Rams, who were the runner-up in last year's Class 3A state tournament, fielded a lineup that was missing several varsity regulars. "I think they had two or three kids not make … [Read more...] about Hawks top Lincoln, but fail to capitalize against depleted S.E. Polk team

Hawkins named to D3football.com All-West Region third team

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Central College quarterback Blaine Hawkins has been named to the D3football.com All-West Region third team. Hawkins, a former Ankeny star, was one of five Central players selected to the squad. Kicker Jon Alberts was a first-team pick, while Hawkins was joined on the third team by offensive linemen Josh Mayhew and Cody Smith and defensive tackle Blade … [Read more...] about Hawkins named to D3football.com All-West Region third team

‘Give Dowling credit’: Maroons hand Ankeny swimmers first loss in 2 years

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The Ankeny boys' swimming team had not lost a dual meet in nearly two years. The Hawks' unbeaten streak came to an end on Thursday with a 93-77 loss to Dowling Catholic at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The Maroons used a strong finish to win the CIML Central Conference opener for both teams. "Give Dowling credit--their last three events were better than … [Read more...] about ‘Give Dowling credit’: Maroons hand Ankeny swimmers first loss in 2 years

Crews pours in career-high 25 points, leads Jaguars to victory at Valley

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Jaron Crews and the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team showed a glimpse of their potential on Tuesday night. Crews poured in a career-high 25 points, including a go-ahead 3-point goal with 2 minutes 7 seconds left, as the Jaguars remained unbeaten with a 59-51 victory at Valley. "It's a good win, but we're just taking it one game at a time," said … [Read more...] about Crews pours in career-high 25 points, leads Jaguars to victory at Valley

Ankeny bowlers complete busy stretch of meets with loss to Waukee

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The Ankeny bowlers are ready for a few days of rest. The two teams completed a busy stretch of meets on Tuesday with a loss to Waukee at Great Escape. The Warriors won the boys' meet by a score of 3,075 to 2,901 and also captured the girls' meet by a score of 2,249 to 2,237. The Hawkettes are now 2-2 on the season. The Hawks' record dropped to … [Read more...] about Ankeny bowlers complete busy stretch of meets with loss to Waukee

Hawks outlast Lincoln in OT as Smith hits tying, game-winning free throws

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Jaxon Smith stood at the charity stripe with a chance to give his undefeated Ankeny boys' basketball team another hard-fought victory. The senior guard calmly delivered. Smith made two free throws in the final seconds of overtime as the Hawks posted a 62-60 win at Des Moines Lincoln on Tuesday. He finished with 25 points. "I was sure I could make … [Read more...] about Hawks outlast Lincoln in OT as Smith hits tying, game-winning free throws