Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

Hawks fall to Fort Dodge in preview of potential substate matchup

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A four-game winning streak put the Ankeny boys' basketball team into position to possibly host a first-round game in next month's Class 4A substate tournament. The final 5 minutes of Tuesday's CIML non-conference game against visiting Fort Dodge probably negated all of those wins. The Dodgers used a 19-5 run to rally for a 65-61 victory that likely had … [Read more...] about Hawks fall to Fort Dodge in preview of potential substate matchup

Centennial girls rally past East in OT, celebrate Senior Night with victory

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Down by seven points with less than 4 minutes left to play, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team was in danger of suffering a rare home-court loss on its Senior Night. But Chloe Olson refused to let it happen. The senior forward scored four points down the stretch to help force overtime, then added a pair of free throws in the extra period as … [Read more...] about Centennial girls rally past East in OT, celebrate Senior Night with victory

Hawkettes get back to .500 mark with win over Fort Dodge

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  For much of the first half on Tuesday, the Ankeny girls' basketball team let visiting Fort Dodge dictate the pace of the game. "They play a defense that is just kind of helter skelter," Ankeny coach Dru McAnelly said of the Dodgers, "and we were playing right into the hands of it. We were a little robotic, and they were kind of eating us up … [Read more...] about Hawkettes get back to .500 mark with win over Fort Dodge

Centennial boys hit 10 3-pointers, roll to victory over winless Scarlets

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball players were anxious to put Friday's loss to Ankeny behind them. The Jaguars found a good opponent in Des Moines East to do just that. Centennial jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, built a 19-point halftime advantage and rolled to a 77-33 victory over the visiting Scarlets in a CIML non-conference game on … [Read more...] about Centennial boys hit 10 3-pointers, roll to victory over winless Scarlets

Centennial trio to play football for Iowa Central; Van Meter commits to Grand View

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Four more Ankeny Centennial football players have made their college plans. Quarterback Chance Gibbons, defensive back Brandon Kading and running back Hunter Wright have committed to play for Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. Meanwhile, linebacker Brandon Van Meter is headed to Grand View University, becoming the second Jaguar to commit to the … [Read more...] about Centennial trio to play football for Iowa Central; Van Meter commits to Grand View

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Sydney Shadravan, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Sydney Shadravan is the Ankeny Fanatic prep of the week sponsored by Revive Clinic and Spa. The senior forward has helped the 15th-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to an 8-9 record. Shadravan is averaging 7.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. She is shooting 38.1 percent from 3-point range, having made 16 of 42 attempts from behind the arc. Here is … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Sydney Shadravan, Ankeny girls’ basketball

Hawks blow big lead, then recover to beat Centennial despite Strait’s 32 points

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The inexperienced Ankeny boys' basketball team appears to be growing up in a hurry. After blowing a 21-point lead in Friday's game at Ankeny Centennial, the Hawks made several big plays down the stretch and then held on for a 56-52 victory over their crosstown rival. The win was Ankeny's fourth in a row and avenged last month's 55-52 loss to the … [Read more...] about Hawks blow big lead, then recover to beat Centennial despite Strait’s 32 points

Centennial girls dominate second half, pull away from Hawkettes

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team used a strong defensive effort to build a 16-13 halftime lead at Ankeny Centennial on Friday. In the second half, the Jaguars' defense was even better. Seventh-ranked Centennial held the No. 15 Hawkettes to just five points in the final two quarters while pulling away for a 39-21 victory. The Jaguars improved their … [Read more...] about Centennial girls dominate second half, pull away from Hawkettes

Neils captures CIML wrestling title, leads Jaguars to fifth-place finish

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Logan Neils made some history on Friday in the CIML Invitational at Southeast Polk. The 160-pound sophomore became the first Ankeny Centennial wrestler in the school's brief history to capture an individual conference title. After pinning his first three opponents, the fifth-ranked Neils posted a 3-0 decision over seventh-ranked Levi Egli of Fort Dodge in … [Read more...] about Neils captures CIML wrestling title, leads Jaguars to fifth-place finish

Boys’ basketball substate assignments announced

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Both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams could be facing some familiar opponents during postseason play. The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced its Class 4A substate assignments on Friday. Centennial has been placed in Substate No. 7 along with Des Moines Hoover, Des Moines Lincoln, Marshalltown, Urbandale and Valley, … [Read more...] about Boys’ basketball substate assignments announced

Yori returns to Creighton as Program Advisor, but has no plans to coach again

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Even though Connie Yori has returned to the collegiate coaching ranks, the Ankeny legend has no plans to become a head coach again at the Division I level. "I have no interest in coaching anymore. I am not seeking to get back in it," said Yori, who answered some questions about her future and her past during a press conference on Wednesday in Omaha, where … [Read more...] about Yori returns to Creighton as Program Advisor, but has no plans to coach again

Ankeny teams enter Friday’s rematch at Centennial with plenty of confidence

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If Friday's basketball doubleheader at Ankeny Centennial is as entertaining as last month's rivalry games at Ankeny, then fans of the Hawks and Jaguars will be in for a treat. Both the girls' and boys' games came down to the last possession on Dec. 21, when Centennial posted a pair of narrow wins. The Jaguars escaped with a 43-41 victory in the opener as … [Read more...] about Ankeny teams enter Friday’s rematch at Centennial with plenty of confidence

Hawks, Jaguars face difficult paths to state duals tournament

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The road to the Class 3A state duals tournament will be a difficult one for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial wrestling teams. The pairings for the regional duals were announced on Wednesday by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Both the Hawks and Jaguars will have to win two matches, one of them against a top-five opponent, to reach the state … [Read more...] about Hawks, Jaguars face difficult paths to state duals tournament

Ankeny boys romp to their 3rd straight victory, keep Scarlets winless

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If the Ankeny boys' basketball team wants to qualify for the Class 4A state tournament, the Hawks are going to have to win three consecutive games during postseason play. Now they know they're capable of doing just that. Ankeny built a 30-17 halftime lead and rolled to a 67-51 victory at Des Moines East in a CIML non-conference game on Tuesday. It was … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys romp to their 3rd straight victory, keep Scarlets winless

Hawkettes focus on themselves, respond with ‘satisfying’ victory at East

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team didn't spend much time preparing for Tuesday's opponent. Ankeny coach Dru McAnelly wanted his players to focus on themselves after losing five of their previous six games. It paid off with a 67-58 victory at Des Moines East in a CIML non-conference game. "I actually spent the least amount of time on our opponent … [Read more...] about Hawkettes focus on themselves, respond with ‘satisfying’ victory at East

Centennial girls build big lead, then hold off Mohawks

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  One of the state's best girls' basketball players scored 25 points on Tuesday in a game against Ankeny Centennial. It still wasn't nearly enough. The eighth-ranked Jaguars traveled to Mason City for a CIML non-conference contest and came away with a 59-40 victory over the Mohawks, who are ranked seventh in Class 4A. Centennial relied … [Read more...] about Centennial girls build big lead, then hold off Mohawks

Jaguars overcome bus trouble, slow start to defeat Mason City

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It took the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team a little longer than expected to make its trip to Mason City on Tuesday. "There was something wrong with the bus, and we had to pull off the road on the way up there," said Centennial coach Bob Fontana. "We didn't get there until there was 4 minutes left in the first half of the girls' game." It also … [Read more...] about Jaguars overcome bus trouble, slow start to defeat Mason City

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Barsat Fnu, Ankeny wrestling

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Barsat Fnu of the Ankeny wrestling team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Fnu placed sixth at 113 pounds in the Bob Sharp Invitational on Jan. 13 at Ankeny. He has been filling in for injured freshman Caleb Rathjen, who is ranked second in Class 3A. "Barsat is a first-year wrestler, originally from Afghanistan, and just an … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Barsat Fnu, Ankeny wrestling

Valley wrestlers record 8 pins, roll to 51-22 victory over Jaguars

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Coming off an emotional week, the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers didn't have much energy left for Tuesday's dual meet at fourth-ranked Valley. The Jaguars won only five of the 14 matches and suffered a 51-22 loss in a CIML Central Conference matchup. Eight of the Tigers' nine victories came by fall. "We were pretty flat," said Centennial coach Jay Groth, … [Read more...] about Valley wrestlers record 8 pins, roll to 51-22 victory over Jaguars