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Centennial, Ankeny boys to play for state tournament berths on Tuesday

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A trip to the Class 4A state tournament is only 32 minutes away for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams. The top-ranked Jaguars (22-1) will meet CIML Central Conference rival Johnston (15-7) in a substate final on Tuesday at Southeast Polk, while the Hawks (17-5) will face Sioux City East (17-4) at Fort Dodge. Both games begin at 7 … [Read more...] about Centennial, Ankeny boys to play for state tournament berths on Tuesday

‘I’ve got more soccer in me’: Ankeny goalkeeper Frederick to play for Simpson

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Ankeny's Brenny Frederick wasn't sure if she wanted to continue playing soccer. Once she decided that she did, it wasn't difficult for the senior goalkeeper to make her future plans. Frederick has committed to play for Simpson College next year. "Playing soccer was the tough decision. Playing for Simpson was an easy decision," said Frederick. … [Read more...] about ‘I’ve got more soccer in me’: Ankeny goalkeeper Frederick to play for Simpson

Burns named to all-conference 1st team; Runchey, Pitz earn 2nd-team honors

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Ankeny Centennial standout Meg Burns has been unanimously selected to the CIML Central Conference first team by a vote of the league's girls' basketball coaches. She led the Jaguars to a 13-10 record this season. Burns, a senior guard, averaged a team-high 12.2 points per game and shot 48.4 percent from 3-point range, making 61-of-126 attempts. The … [Read more...] about Burns named to all-conference 1st team; Runchey, Pitz earn 2nd-team honors

‘They threw a lot of junk at us’: Hawks solve Fort Dodge’s defense in 66-46 win

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The Fort Dodge boys' basketball team tried several different defenses on Friday in an effort to slow down Ankeny star Braxton Bayless. None of them were very successful. Bayless poured in 26 points, 19 of them in the first half, to lead the Hawks to a 66-46 victory in a Class 4A substate semifinal at Ankeny. "They threw a lot of junk at us, but we … [Read more...] about ‘They threw a lot of junk at us’: Hawks solve Fort Dodge’s defense in 66-46 win

Jaguars, Hawks open substate play at home against familiar opponents

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The road to the state tournament begins on Friday night for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams. The top-ranked Jaguars (21-1) will host Des Moines Roosevelt (7-14) in a Class 4A Substate 6 semifinal, while the Hawks (16-5) will host Fort Dodge (3-19) in a Substate 1 semifinal. Both games begin at 7 p.m. Centennial enters the … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawks open substate play at home against familiar opponents

‘A dream come true’: Ankeny bowlers earn highest finish in school history

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Ankeny boys' bowling coach Lane Richtsmeier could hardly contain his excitement while watching his team compete in the Class 3A state tournament on Wednesday at Cadillac Lanes in Waterloo. He wasn't even concerned about the Hawks' scores. "This was a dream come true today, not just for me but for the boys as well," said Richtsmeier. "Going into today, … [Read more...] about ‘A dream come true’: Ankeny bowlers earn highest finish in school history

Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 84

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Check out the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by the Ankeny office of Iowa Realty. Ankeny boys' swimming coach Justin Crouch and four-time state champion Trent Frandson stopped by to discuss the Hawks' runner-up finish in the state meet with Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm, who also recapped the state wrestling tournament with … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 84

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Rachael Christmann, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Junior guard Rachael Christmann helped the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 10-13 record this season. Christmann played in 19 of the 23 games, averaging 3.7 points and 1.3 rebounds. She shot 43.5 percent from 3-point range, making 20-of-46 attempts. Christmann went 3-for-4 from behind the arc and scored a career-high 11 points in the Hawkettes' … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Rachael Christmann, Ankeny girls’ basketball

Hawks earn all-state honors from Iowa High School Swim Coaches Association

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The Ankeny boys' swimming team has received numerous all-state honors from the Iowa High School Swim Coaches Association after placing second in the state meet on Feb. 15 at Iowa City. Junior Trent Frandson was a first-team selection in both the 200 and 500 freestyle events. He defended his state titles in both of those events. Freshman Lance Swanepoel … [Read more...] about Hawks earn all-state honors from Iowa High School Swim Coaches Association

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Chris Winters, Ankeny boys’ bowling

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Chris Winters helped the Ankeny boys' bowling team qualify for this week's Class 3A state tournament. The Hawks will compete against seven other teams on Wednesday at Cadillac Lanes in Waterloo. Winters has posted a 375.3 series average this season, which ranks third among the Hawks. He bowled a career-high total of 456 during a dual meet at Ottumwa on … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Chris Winters, Ankeny boys’ bowling

Third-quarter scoring drought proves costly as Hawkettes fall to C.B. Lincoln

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The Ankeny girls' basketball players had no reason to hang their heads following Saturday's 67-53 loss at Council Bluffs Lincoln in a Class 5A regional semifinal. The Hawkettes, who finished with a 10-13 record, exceeded most expectations after losing two of their top players to season-ending injuries. "I think we only had three or four wins when we … [Read more...] about Third-quarter scoring drought proves costly as Hawkettes fall to C.B. Lincoln

Rathjen dominates, becomes Ankeny’s fourth two-time state champion

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Ankeny's Caleb Rathjen doesn't want to just win state titles. He also wants to dominate his opponents on the wrestling mat. On Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena, Rathjen did both of those things. The top-ranked junior racked up eight takedowns and rolled to a 17-6 major decision over No. 2 Dreyzon Phillips of Fort Dodge to win the Class 3A crown … [Read more...] about Rathjen dominates, becomes Ankeny’s fourth two-time state champion

BLOODY GOOD: Ankeny’s Rathjen claims 2nd straight state wrestling crown

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Ankeny junior Caleb Rathjen captured his second straight state wrestling title on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena, despite getting a bloody nose for the second year in a row. The top-ranked Rathjen rolled to a 17-6 major decision over No. 2 Dreyzon Phillips of Fort Dodge to win the Class 3A crown at 138 pounds. He finished the season with a 43-1 … [Read more...] about BLOODY GOOD: Ankeny’s Rathjen claims 2nd straight state wrestling crown

‘I went back and got the best thing I could’: Anderson earns 3rd-place medal

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It took Ankeny's Trever Anderson a little while to recover from his semifinal loss in the Class 3A state wrestling tournament on Friday. The top-ranked sophomore dropped a 5-2 decision to No. 4 Ryder Downey of Indianola, ending his bid for a second straight title. "At first my mindset was that I failed a lot," said Anderson. "I failed myself and a lot … [Read more...] about ‘I went back and got the best thing I could’: Anderson earns 3rd-place medal

Ankeny boys close out regular season with 87-62 victory over Mason City

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A 59-point first half allowed the Ankeny boys' basketball team to cruise to an 87-62 victory over visiting Mason City in its regular-season finale on Friday. The Hawks jumped out to a 28-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. They extended the margin to 59-27 at halftime. "It was another good first half for our guys. They really established … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys close out regular season with 87-62 victory over Mason City

WELL DONE: Ankeny’s Rathjen, Kallem to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night

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Whenever Caleb Rathjen steps on the wrestling mat, he brings a ton of confidence with him. His teammate on the Ankeny squad, Sam Kallem, boasts just as much confidence in his own abilities. Both Rathjen and Kallem advanced to the Class 3A finals on Saturday night with a pair of victories on Friday in the state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. The duo … [Read more...] about WELL DONE: Ankeny’s Rathjen, Kallem to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night

Ankeny advances 3 wrestlers into semifinals, surges into top 10 of Class 3A

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Sixth-ranked Ankeny has surged into eighth place in the Class 3A state tournament after advancing three wrestlers into the semifinals on Friday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena. The Hawks will also have a fourth placewinner in 10th-ranked Cael Cox at 120 pounds. The junior lost to defending state champion Drake Ayala of Fort Dodge in the quarterfinals on … [Read more...] about Ankeny advances 3 wrestlers into semifinals, surges into top 10 of Class 3A

Hawks rack up 4 falls in opening round, sit in 12th place heading into Friday

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The Ankeny wrestling team stormed through the opening round of the Class 3A state tournament on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena. The sixth-ranked Hawks advanced four of their five qualifiers to Friday's quarterfinals, and all four of them recorded falls. "It's kind of what I hoped for and what I expected out of those four guys," said Ankeny coach Jack … [Read more...] about Hawks rack up 4 falls in opening round, sit in 12th place heading into Friday