Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Dan Holm

Ex-Ankeny star Bayless lifts Niagara past Iona with buzzer-beating 3-pointer

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Braxton Bayless is still Mr. Clutch. The former Ankeny star drained a game-winning 3-point goal with less than a second left on the clock to give Niagara a 75-73 victory at Iona in a MAAC men's basketball game on Sunday. "The shot felt real good leaving my hands. I knew it was good," said Bayless. "I was in a comfortable spot on the move." Bayless … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny star Bayless lifts Niagara past Iona with buzzer-beating 3-pointer

Folkers captures individual title, leads Hawks to tie for 5th at Mendenhall Invite

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Ankeny wrestler Truman Folkers only needed to win two matches on Saturday to capture an individual title in the Jack Mendenhall Invitational at Ames. Folkers led his squad to a tie for fifth place in the 13-team field. Both Ankeny and Cedar Rapids Prairie finished with 138 points. Fort Dodge won the tournament with 195 points. Indianola was second with … [Read more...] about Folkers captures individual title, leads Hawks to tie for 5th at Mendenhall Invite

‘It was a total team effort’: Ankeny girls crown 5 champs, win team title at Ogden

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There's been no sophomore slump for the Ankeny girls' wrestling team. After a successful first year under coach Dustin Roland, Ankeny's program has reached new heights in its second season, including Saturday's outstanding performance at the Ogden Invitational. Ankeny crowned five individual champions and easily won the team title with 236.5 points. … [Read more...] about ‘It was a total team effort’: Ankeny girls crown 5 champs, win team title at Ogden

Centennial boys use late run to beat S.E. Polk, move into 2nd place in conference

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For the second time in four days, the Ankeny Centennial boys' team didn't play its best basketball but still managed to pull out a road victory. The eighth-ranked Jaguars closed out the game with a 15-3 run to post a 64-55 win at Southeast Polk on Friday. "Just like Tuesday night (at Waukee Northwest), we were like a rollercoaster at times," said … [Read more...] about Centennial boys use late run to beat S.E. Polk, move into 2nd place in conference

‘Our rebounding was really good’: Jags dominate boards in victory at S.E. Polk

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A fast start ignited the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 51-40 win at No. 11 Southeast Polk on Friday. The Jaguars jumped out to an 18-2 lead at the end of the first quarter and eventually built a 44-23 advantage after three periods. They cruised to their fourth straight victory. "It's never an easy place to play, and they … [Read more...] about ‘Our rebounding was really good’: Jags dominate boards in victory at S.E. Polk

Without leading scorer, Hawkettes pull away to beat Urbandale behind Gage

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team pulled away in the second half for a 50-29 victory over visiting Urbandale on Friday. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes led by just 21-19 at halftime, but then outscored Urbandale in the third quarter, 19-5, to build a 40-24 advantage. "It was close for quite a while," said Ankeny coach Nate Tobey. "But credit to Urbandale. … [Read more...] about Without leading scorer, Hawkettes pull away to beat Urbandale behind Gage

Ankeny boys shake off rust, rally in 2nd half for 70-58 victory over Urbandale

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It took awhile for the Ankeny boys' basketball team to shake off the rust. Following a 17-day layoff, the ninth-ranked Hawks struggled in the first half of Friday's game against visiting Urbandale and trailed at the break, 32-27. "There's no question about it that we were a little rusty," said Ankeny coach Brandt Carlson. "But with young kids like … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys shake off rust, rally in 2nd half for 70-58 victory over Urbandale

‘I can’t thank this group enough’: Seniors lead Ankeny swimmers past Johnston

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The seniors on the Ankeny boys' swimming team took center stage on Thursday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. On the team's Senior Night, the seventh-ranked Hawks rolled to a 123-47 victory over No. 15 Johnston in a CIML Conference dual meet. The win evened their records at 2-2 in the league and 4-4 overall. "We had a very fun and successful Senior … [Read more...] about ‘I can’t thank this group enough’: Seniors lead Ankeny swimmers past Johnston

Centennial wrestlers knock off No. 5 Johnston on Max Dhabolt’s technical fall

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Thursday's dual meet at Johnston came down to the final match for the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team. Freshman Max Dhabolt won by a technical fall over Wes Weiford at 144 pounds, 16-0, to give the 10th-ranked Jaguars a 35-30 victory over No. 5 Johnston. "I told Max before he went out on the mat that I don't know if I've ever been more confident … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers knock off No. 5 Johnston on Max Dhabolt’s technical fall

Ankeny girls defeat Algona, W. Marshall, Winterset at North Polk Duals

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The Ankeny girls' wrestling team turned in a dominant performance on Thursday at the North Polk Duals. Ankeny posted wins over Algona (57-15), West Marshall (48-36) and Winterset (84-0) to raise its overall record to 17-2. Coach Dustin Roland's team won every match against Winterset, all but three against Algona and eight of the 14 matches against West … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls defeat Algona, W. Marshall, Winterset at North Polk Duals

‘We knew it was going to be tough’: AHS wrestlers drop 60-6 decision at S.E. Polk

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall wasn't looking forward to Thursday's dual meet at top-ranked Southeast Polk. "We knew it was going to be tough, and I think I had more anxiety about that than when we have a dual meet that is fun and close," said Wignall. "They're just really good, and where we're good they're a little bit better." The Rams won 12 of … [Read more...] about ‘We knew it was going to be tough’: AHS wrestlers drop 60-6 decision at S.E. Polk

Ex-Ankeny setter Wallace transfers from William Jewell to Pittsburg State

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By all accounts, former Ankeny volleyball standout Jesa Wallace had a productive freshman season at William Jewell College. She wasn't sure, though, if the Cardinals would even field a team next year. "Entering the transfer portal definitely wasn’t on my radar, but there was a lot of things going on that were out of my control at Jewell," said Wallace, … [Read more...] about Ex-Ankeny setter Wallace transfers from William Jewell to Pittsburg State

‘I know what I’m getting’: Starr to follow in mother’s footsteps, will play for Central

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Ankeny Centennial third baseman Addi Starr is already pretty familiar with the Central College softball program. Her mother, Missy, was one of the captains for the 2002 Central squad. "I grew up hearing stories about and following the team," said Starr, who has committed to playing for the Dutch and legendary coach George Wares. "I know what I'm … [Read more...] about ‘I know what I’m getting’: Starr to follow in mother’s footsteps, will play for Central

‘We were good at the right time’: Jaguars use late run to beat NW for first time ever

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It wasn't pretty, but the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team finally earned its first victory against Waukee Northwest on Tuesday. There were seven ties and six lead changes before the eighth-ranked Jaguars pulled away down the stretch for a 57-53 win at Northwest. They broke away from a 49-49 tie with an 8-4 run over the final 2 minutes 57 … [Read more...] about ‘We were good at the right time’: Jaguars use late run to beat NW for first time ever

‘We finished it out strong’: Centennial girls hold off Wolves’ rally for road victory

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It's never easy to win on the road. The sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team built a 17-point lead and then held off a furious rally by No. 12 Waukee Northwest to escape with a 52-45 road victory on Tuesday. The Wolves, who never led, closed the gap to 44-42 in the fourth quarter before Centennial ended the game with an 8-3 … [Read more...] about ‘We finished it out strong’: Centennial girls hold off Wolves’ rally for road victory

Late free throws by Jacks, Gage allow Hawkettes to beat No. 5 Valley, 55-50

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Anytime the ball is in Karsen Jacks' hands, Ankeny girls' basketball coach Nate Tobey is confident that the senior point guard will make the right play. Jacks was fouled with 17.5 seconds left to go and made two free throws to put her team ahead, and the eighth-ranked Hawkettes went on to post a 55-50 victory over No. 5 Valley in a CIML Conference game on … [Read more...] about Late free throws by Jacks, Gage allow Hawkettes to beat No. 5 Valley, 55-50

‘Wartburg had the full package’: Ankeny’s Cleveland to wrestle for Knights

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Dana Cleveland has been a trailblazer for the Ankeny girls' wrestling team. A year ago, she became the first state placewinner in program history as a junior, when she compiled a 40-6 record and placed fourth at 135 pounds. Now, Cleveland has become the first female wrestler from Ankeny to take her talents to the next level. She has signed a letter of … [Read more...] about ‘Wartburg had the full package’: Ankeny’s Cleveland to wrestle for Knights

‘She’s baaaack’: Ex-Jaguar star Robinson to play 5th collegiate season for Badgers

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With a simple tweet, Devyn Robinson announced some breaking news. "Tell a friend to tell a friend...she's baaaack. #5thyear," she tweeted on Dec. 22. The former Ankeny Centennial volleyball star has elected to play a fifth collegiate season at Wisconsin, where she helped the Badgers to a national championship in 2021. Robinson, a 6-foot-2 right-side … [Read more...] about ‘She’s baaaack’: Ex-Jaguar star Robinson to play 5th collegiate season for Badgers