Ankeny Fanatic

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Dan Holm

‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars knock off Waukee NW to capture Urbandale crown

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Some familiar opponents stood between the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team and the championship of the Urbandale Invitational on Saturday. The top-ranked Jaguars proved to be up for the challenge. After dispatching No. 5 Indianola in the semifinals, Centennial posted a 25-17, 25-21 win over No. 6 Waukee Northwest in the title match. The Jaguars (23-3) … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great weekend’: Jaguars knock off Waukee NW to capture Urbandale crown

‘They had to dig deep’: Ankeny spikers overcome illnesses to win W-SR Invite

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The Ankeny volleyball team dropped two sets along the way, but still managed to win the championship of the Waverly-Shell Rock Invitational on Saturday. The third-ranked Hawkettes posted a 25-20, 24-26, 15-9 victory in the title match over Denver, the No. 1 team in Class 2A. They extended their winning streak to seven matches while improving to 32-4 on … [Read more...] about ‘They had to dig deep’: Ankeny spikers overcome illnesses to win W-SR Invite

‘It came down to the last play’: Centennial falls to No. 1 Dowling in triple-OT thriller

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As the pass from Ankeny Centennial's Chase Kluver sailed toward the right corner of the end zone, Sam Heither dove for the ball in an effort to make a spectacular catch. Heither somehow made the grab, which would have provided the tying points for the sixth-ranked Jaguars in the third overtime of Friday's game against No. 1 Dowling Catholic. Centennial … [Read more...] about ‘It came down to the last play’: Centennial falls to No. 1 Dowling in triple-OT thriller

Hawks even record, continue push for playoff bid with 35-16 win over C.R. Prairie

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Regardless of gold jerseys or white jerseys, one of two Hawk teams was bound to exit Ankeny Stadium on Friday with a much-needed victory to keep its playoff hopes alive. And in the end, it was the Ankeny Hawks who soared past the visiting Cedar Rapids Prairie Hawks, 35-16, to improve to 3-3 on the season. “We needed (the … [Read more...] about Hawks even record, continue push for playoff bid with 35-16 win over C.R. Prairie

‘I felt really good’: Kiene places 14th in her 2nd race, helps Ankeny finish 4th at SEP

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Ainsley Kiene appears to be rounding into shape just in time for the Ankeny girls' cross country team. Competing in just her second race of the season, Kiene placed 14th in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Thursday. The junior posted a time of 20 minutes 18 seconds to help the ninth-ranked Hawkettes to a fourth-place finish in the 11-team … [Read more...] about ‘I felt really good’: Kiene places 14th in her 2nd race, helps Ankeny finish 4th at SEP

Centennial cross country teams race to 3rd-place finishes in Williams Invitational

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The Ankeny Centennial cross country teams raced to third-place finishes in the Bud Williams Invitational on Thursday at the Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City. The Centennial girls' squad lost to opponents from Iowa for the first time this season. The third-ranked Jaguars had won their first three meets of the year before placing fourth in the Gold … [Read more...] about Centennial cross country teams race to 3rd-place finishes in Williams Invitational

Jaguars sweep past Valley for another road win, improve to 6-0 in conference

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Playing on the road doesn't seem to bother the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. The top-ranked Jaguars earned their fifth consecutive road victory--and their second sweep in three days--with a 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 win at No. 12 Valley on Thursday. The win allowed Centennial to remain unbeaten in CIML Conference play. The Jaguars are now 6-0 in the … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep past Valley for another road win, improve to 6-0 in conference

Hawks place 5th, Jaguars finish 7th at CIML meet; will now gear up for districts

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Many of the teams competing in the CIML Conference meet on Wednesday at Otter Creek could be headed to the boys' Class 4A state golf meet next week at Briarwood Golf Club. The nine-team CIML boasts eight of the top 15 squads in the Class 4A rankings. As many as seven of them could qualify for state, because they'll be spread across three different … [Read more...] about Hawks place 5th, Jaguars finish 7th at CIML meet; will now gear up for districts

Jaguars move closer to conference crown with road sweep over No. 8 Waukee

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Jaguars know there’s no such thing as a “gimme game” when it comes to the Central Iowa Metropolitan League. But after sweeping the Waukee Warriors in three sets on the road Tuesday night, the top-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team is so close to locking up its first league title since 2021 that the Jaguars can … [Read more...] about Jaguars move closer to conference crown with road sweep over No. 8 Waukee

Ankeny swimmers battle No. 5 Johnston to wire before dropping 95-91 decision

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The Ankeny girls' swimming team nearly pulled off a huge victory Tuesday on its Senior Night. The ninth-ranked Hawkettes battled No. 5 Johnston down to the wire before dropping a 95-91 decision in a CIML Conference dual meet at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The Dragons trailed, 87-85, before winning the final event--the 400 freestyle relay. "It was … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers battle No. 5 Johnston to wire before dropping 95-91 decision

‘We needed that really bad’: Hawkettes top Dowling, move into tie for 3rd place

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After losing to its crosstown rival five days earlier, the Ankeny volleyball team couldn't afford another loss. The third-ranked Hawkettes responded with one of their biggest wins of the season. Ankeny moved into a third-place tie with No. 4 Dowling Catholic in the CIML Conference by posting a 25-23, 21-25, 25-16, 25-20 victory over the visiting … [Read more...] about ‘We needed that really bad’: Hawkettes top Dowling, move into tie for 3rd place

Centennial’s Arndt commits to play baseball at University of St. Thomas

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Ankeny Centennial pitcher Colton Arndt has verbally committed to play baseball for the University of St. Thomas. Arndt, a junior, said he wanted to stay in the Midwest and found what he was looking for at St. Thomas--which is located in St. Paul, Minn. "I liked that I was going to get a really good education, along with playing baseball at the Division … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Arndt commits to play baseball at University of St. Thomas

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ethan Zuber, Ankeny boys’ cross country

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Senior Ethan Zuber led the sixth-ranked Ankeny boys' cross country team to a runner-up finish in the Eastern Iowa Classic on Thursday at the Seminole Valley Park cross country course in Cedar Rapids. The Hawks posted a total of 72 points, finishing six points behind No. 8 Iowa City High. Zuber, the defending Class 4A state champion, pulled away from the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ethan Zuber, Ankeny boys’ cross country

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Haley Hveem, Centennial girls’ cross country

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Senior Haley Hveem helped the third-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team to a fourth-place finish in the Rim Rock Farm Classic on Saturday at Lawrence, Kan. It was the highest finish by an Iowa team in five years. Hveem placed 12th in a field of 179 runners. She posted a time of 18 minutes 46 seconds on the 5K course. Hveem is eighth in … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Haley Hveem, Centennial girls’ cross country

Jackson scores on opening kickoff to spark Jaguars to 44-7 victory at East

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A trip to Williams Stadium on Friday night provided an opportunity for the Ankeny Centennial football team to bounce back from its first loss of the season. The Jaguars took advantage of it. Braeden Jackson returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and Centennial went on to beat host Des Moines East, 44-7, in its district opener. "My … [Read more...] about Jackson scores on opening kickoff to spark Jaguars to 44-7 victory at East

‘This was a great experience’: Centennial girls place 4th at Rim Rock Farm Classic

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After winning its first three meets of the season, the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country squad traveled to Lawrence, Kan., this weekend to face some of the top teams in the Midwest. The third-ranked Jaguars placed fourth in the Gold Division of the Rim Rock Farm Classic on Saturday. They finished with 210 points. The prestigious meet featured … [Read more...] about ‘This was a great experience’: Centennial girls place 4th at Rim Rock Farm Classic

Henkes, Hawks run past Iowa City West for 38-22 win, keep playoff hopes alive

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Caden Henkes and the Ankeny football team got a much-needed win on Friday night. Henkes ran for two touchdowns in the first half and the Hawks went on to beat visiting Iowa City West, 38-22, in their district opener. The homecoming victory raised Ankeny's record to 2-3, keeping its playoff hopes alive. "We needed that one," said Ankeny coach Jeff … [Read more...] about Henkes, Hawks run past Iowa City West for 38-22 win, keep playoff hopes alive

‘That’s a huge win for us’: Jaguars topple Ankeny to move closer to conference title

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It took awhile for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team to hit its stride on Thursday night. But once the Jaguars did, they were nearly unstoppable. Top-ranked Centennial rallied from a one-set deficit to post a 19-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-15 victory at No. 3 Ankeny in a CIML Conference showdown. The Jaguars shook off some rust to defeat their crosstown … [Read more...] about ‘That’s a huge win for us’: Jaguars topple Ankeny to move closer to conference title

Ankeny swimmers drop 131-55 decision to No. 3 Cedar Falls, tumble to 6-2 overall

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The ninth-ranked Ankeny girls' swimming team dropped a 131-55 decision to visiting Cedar Falls in a non-conference dual meet on Thursday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The No. 3 Tigers (4-0) have won all four of their dual meets by similar scores. Ankeny dropped to 6-2 on the season. The Hawkettes got a pair of second-place finishes from Paige … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers drop 131-55 decision to No. 3 Cedar Falls, tumble to 6-2 overall