(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It’s not every day that the third-ranked team in Class 2A girls' wrestling can view itself as an underdog going into a triangular. But Tuesday night was the exception for the Ankeny girls' wrestling squad at Northview Middle School. Under one roof, Ankeny hosted and was defeated in two close duals by the only two teams … [Read more...] about ‘I couldn’t be happier’: Roland ecstatic despite Ankeny’s losses to top 2 teams
Hawks
Hawks use big run to rally past Centennial boys, take 13-12 lead in all-time series
The Ankeny boys' basketball players didn't panic when their crosstown rival surged to a five-point lead in the first half of Tuesday's game at Ankeny Centennial. The Hawks had been in this position before. Ankeny rallied from a five-point halftime deficit to beat the Jaguars a month ago, and the Hawks used a similar rally on Tuesday to pull away for a … [Read more...] about Hawks use big run to rally past Centennial boys, take 13-12 lead in all-time series
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 289
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Revive Dermatology Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm interviews Ankeny boys' basketball coach Brandt Carlson and junior guard Rio Aguirre about the Hawks' 69-51 victory at Ankeny Centennial and the team's 4-4 start to the season with an inexperienced roster. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 289
‘It felt so relieving’: Smith’s late 3-pointers seal Jaguars’ victory over Ankeny girls
The shots weren't falling on Tuesday night for Tillie Smith. But her teammates on the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball squad told her to keep shooting, and the advice paid off. The senior guard made just 2-of-9 shots from the field and went 2-of-8 from behind the arc, but she connected on a pair of 3-point goals in the final 3 minutes as the … [Read more...] about ‘It felt so relieving’: Smith’s late 3-pointers seal Jaguars’ victory over Ankeny girls
‘This was not our night’: Ankeny swimmers drop 92-78 decision to Dowling Catholic
The Ankeny boys' swimming team won't have any time to dwell on Tuesday's loss to visiting Dowling Catholic. The 11th-ranked Maroons won eight of the 11 events, including all three relays, and posted a 92-78 victory over No. 6 Ankeny at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The loss dropped the Hawks' records to 1-3 in the CIML Conference and 2-3 overall. "This … [Read more...] about ‘This was not our night’: Ankeny swimmers drop 92-78 decision to Dowling Catholic
CIML Conference basketball standings
This will be a big week for the fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. The Jaguars are sitting in fourth place in the CIML Conference with a 3-3 record. They trail the top three teams in Class 5A--Johnston, Dowling Catholic and Waukee Northwest--and are followed closely by four other squads in the middle of the pack. Centennial will … [Read more...] about CIML Conference basketball standings
Hawks knock off Linn-Mar at CIML/MVC Crossover event, will face Centennial next
For the second year in a row, the Ankeny boys' basketball team played in the CIML/MVC Crossover event and came away with an impressive victory. The Hawks broke away from a tie in the fourth quarter to defeat Linn-Mar (Marion), 61-55, on Saturday at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids. "It's a good venue and a fun environment," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about Hawks knock off Linn-Mar at CIML/MVC Crossover event, will face Centennial next
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Isaac Bruhl, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
Senior Isaac Bruhl has helped the sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial wrestling team to an 8-3 record, including a 3-1 mark in the CIML Conference. The fourth-ranked Bruhl won all four of his matches on Saturday at the Valley Duals, including a 9-4 decision over No. 5 Elijah Blewitt of Indianola. He also recorded two pins and a technical fall at 150 pounds … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Isaac Bruhl, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
‘We’ve got a lot of work to do’: Centennial wrestlers post 2-2 record at Valley Duals
Eight Ankeny Centennial wrestlers won at least three matches on the day as the Jaguars went 2-2 overall Saturday at the Valley Duals. Sixth-ranked Centennial opened the tournament with a 54-21 win over Valley that raised its record to 3-1 in the CIML Conference. The Jaguars began that dual with seven consecutive victories, including falls in the first six … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got a lot of work to do’: Centennial wrestlers post 2-2 record at Valley Duals
Ankeny wrestlers defeat Central Decatur, Centerville to raise their dual record to 9-3
The fourth-ranked Ankeny wrestling team bounced back from Thursday's loss to visiting Johnston with a pair of non-conference victories Saturday on its home mat. The Hawks rolled to a 61-12 win over Central Decatur, then followed with a 59-8 triumph over Centerville. They raised their overall dual record to 9-3. "We knew these two teams didn't have a … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers defeat Central Decatur, Centerville to raise their dual record to 9-3
No. 3 Wolves use fast start to hand Ankeny girls their 6th consecutive loss
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The new year has arrived, and the Ankeny girls' basketball team is still working on righting the ship following its 4-0 start to the season. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes looked to snap the five-game losing skid that they ended 2024 with, but a road matchup against No. 3 Waukee Northwest on Friday ended with a 70-49 loss that … [Read more...] about No. 3 Wolves use fast start to hand Ankeny girls their 6th consecutive loss
Ankeny girls’ team extends winning streak to 13 matches before falling to S.E. Polk
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The new year didn’t quite start with the bang that the Ankeny girls' wrestling team was hoping for. Ankeny bolstered an 11-0 record to close out the 2024 portion of its schedule, but a 2-1 mark during a quadrangular meet on Thursday at Southeast Polk snapped its undefeated streak to open up the new year. Coach Dustin … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ team extends winning streak to 13 matches before falling to S.E. Polk
‘We had a good night’: Ankeny swimmers win 9 events in 112-58 victory at Johnston
Any win in the Central Iowa Metropolitan League is a good one. Ankeny boys' swimming coach Dustin Rhoads certainly didn't take his team's victory at Johnston on Thursday for granted. "We had a good night at the pool," Rhoads said after his squad posted a 112-58 triumph over the Dragons at Summit Middle School. "It was fun to see the guys compete hard … [Read more...] about ‘We had a good night’: Ankeny swimmers win 9 events in 112-58 victory at Johnston
‘Our kids wrestled really hard’: Hawks build lead, but Dragons rally for 37-29 win
The Ankeny wrestling team built a double-digit lead against visiting Johnston in a top-10 matchup on Thursday night. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough of a cushion. The eighth-ranked Dragons recorded three pins and a technical fall in the final four matches to defeat No. 4 Ankeny, 37-29, in a CIML Conference dual. The Hawks dropped to 3-1 in the league … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids wrestled really hard’: Hawks build lead, but Dragons rally for 37-29 win
CIML Conference basketball standings
The CIML Conference boys' basketball race is shaping up to be a tremendous battle. Only one loss separates the top five teams in the league standings. Co-leaders Johnston and Valley, who have yet to meet, are both 5-1 heading into the holiday break with Waukee a half-game behind at 4-1. The Dragons' only loss came to Waukee Northwest, but the Wolves … [Read more...] about CIML Conference basketball standings
‘We had a great meet’: Ankeny swimmers capture 3rd straight Little Hawk Invite title
If the Ankeny boys' swimming team needed a shot of momentum heading into the holiday break, the Hawks certainly got one on Saturday. Seventh-ranked Ankeny won four events and easily captured its third consecutive title in the Little Hawk Invitational at Iowa City. The Hawks racked up 442 points to finish 63 points ahead of No. 6 Iowa City West, which took … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great meet’: Ankeny swimmers capture 3rd straight Little Hawk Invite title
Vandermark wins 3rd consecutive Miller crown, earns outstanding wrestler award
Ankeny Centennial's Cale Vandermark exercised a few demons on Saturday. The fourth-ranked junior won the 120-pound title in the Don Miller Invitational at Fort Dodge and earned the Tim Ascherl/Brent Helmkamp outstanding wrestler award after leading the Jaguars to a fifth-place finish in the 14-team field. "I was honored to have earned such an esteemed … [Read more...] about Vandermark wins 3rd consecutive Miller crown, earns outstanding wrestler award
Ankeny wrestlers earn 6th-place finish among 32 teams at Battle of Waterloo
The Ankeny wrestling team went 4-2 and placed sixth overall among 32 squads in the Battle of Waterloo on Friday and Saturday at Young Arena. The sixth-ranked Hawks are now 7-2 on the season heading into the holiday break. "We wrestled really well," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "The kids fought for every point that they could get all … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers earn 6th-place finish among 32 teams at Battle of Waterloo
Ankeny girls win Holiday Duals crown at DC-G to remain unbeaten on season
Saturday was another amazing day for the Ankeny girls' wrestling program. Third-ranked Ankeny remained unbeaten by defeating four opponents to win the Holiday Duals at Dallas Center-Grimes. Coach Dustin Roland's team improved to 11-0 on the season. Ankeny posted wins over Woodward-Granger (42-36), Valley (54-24), Vinton-Shellsburg (51-24) and Dallas … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls win Holiday Duals crown at DC-G to remain unbeaten on season
Johnson shines in collegiate debut for MSUM, will face Winkel later this season
Carson Johnson's collegiate debut on the hardwood proved to be a memorable one. The former Ankeny basketball standout poured in 22 points on Saturday to lead sixth-ranked Minnesota State Moorhead to a 90-64 victory over Minnesota-Crookston. The freshman guard was inserted into the starting lineup and played a team-high 31 minutes, going 8-of-16 from the … [Read more...] about Johnson shines in collegiate debut for MSUM, will face Winkel later this season