Ankeny Fanatic

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Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Elyse Engebretson, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

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Sophomore Elyse Engebretson is one of eight state qualifiers for the Ankeny girls' wrestling team. She helped lead the squad to a runner-up finish in a regional tournament on Friday at the Iowa Events Center. Engebretson pinned all three of her opponents to win the 115-pound title. In the finals, she recorded a fall over Jasmine Oleson of Cedar Falls in 1 … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Elyse Engebretson, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

‘We played them pretty tough’: Hawks show progress in 66-55 loss at No. 3 NW

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For nearly three quarters on Friday night, the Ankeny boys' basketball team threatened to knock off the state's No. 3 squad for the second time in two weeks. The Hawks, who posted a 56-51 upset over Waukee on Jan. 13, battled host Waukee Northwest to a 41-41 tie about 5 minutes into the second half. But the Wolves then closed the third quarter with an 8-2 … [Read more...] about ‘We played them pretty tough’: Hawks show progress in 66-55 loss at No. 3 NW

‘It was huge’: Gage, Hawkettes dominate final 4 minutes to earn road win over NW

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If the Ankeny girls' basketball team hopes to finish the season with a winning record, Friday's contest at Waukee Northwest was a must-win game. The 14th-ranked Hawkettes got what they needed with a 59-52 victory, allowing them to sweep the season series. They improved to 4-9 in the CIML Conference and 9-9 overall with three games left in the regular … [Read more...] about ‘It was huge’: Gage, Hawkettes dominate final 4 minutes to earn road win over NW

Ankeny advances 2 champions, 6 other qualifiers to girls’ state wrestling tourney

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Friday was another historic day for the Ankeny girls' wrestling program. Competing in a regional tournament at the Iowa Events Center, Ankeny placed second in the 25-team field and qualified eight of its wrestlers for the first girls' state tournament next week at Xtream Arena in Coralville. "It was a great day!" said Ankeny coach Dustin Roland. "We … [Read more...] about Ankeny advances 2 champions, 6 other qualifiers to girls’ state wrestling tourney

RAM TOUGH: S.E. Polk wrestlers top Ankeny to capture conference crown

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There's still a gap between the Southeast Polk wrestling team and the rest of the CIML Conference. The top-ranked Rams won 11 of the 14 matches and rolled to a 45-12 victory at No. 4 Ankeny on Thursday, allowing them to wrap up the league's dual-meet crown. The Hawks finished 7-1 in the conference and dropped to 19-2 overall. "We got outwrestled in … [Read more...] about RAM TOUGH: S.E. Polk wrestlers top Ankeny to capture conference crown

Centennial wrestlers close out regular season with 36-34 loss at Waukee NW

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team closed out the regular season on Thursday with a 36-34 loss at Waukee Northwest. The Wolves won eight of the 14 matches to offset four pins and two technical falls by Centennial. The 10th-ranked Jaguars finished 4-4 in the CIML Conference and dropped to 20-6 overall. Northwest sealed the win when defending state … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers close out regular season with 36-34 loss at Waukee NW

‘It was another nailbiter’: Ankeny bowlers fall to Urbandale by combined 15 pins

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The Ankeny bowling teams entered Wednesday's dual meet against Urbandale with a chance to even their record at .500 in the CIML Conference. Instead, both squads suffered a narrow loss to the host J-Hawks at Merle Hay Lanes. Urbandale won the boys' meet by a score of 2,813 to 2,806. The J-Hawks won the girls' meet by a score of 1,885 to 1,877. "It … [Read more...] about ‘It was another nailbiter’: Ankeny bowlers fall to Urbandale by combined 15 pins

Hawks struggle in loss to Dowling after leading scorer Johnson injures ankle

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A challenging season for the Ankeny boys' basketball team may have gotten even more challenging on Tuesday. Junior guard Carson Johnson, the Hawks' leading scorer, suffered an ankle injury during his team's 61-49 loss to visiting Dowling Catholic. The Maroons avenged a 74-65 loss to Ankeny last month. "We struggled offensively," said Ankeny coach … [Read more...] about Hawks struggle in loss to Dowling after leading scorer Johnson injures ankle

‘They’re on a roll’: Surging Maroons top Ankeny girls for 9th straight victory

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The schedule hasn't been kind to the Ankeny girls' basketball team. The 15th-ranked Hawkettes ran into perhaps the state's hottest team on Tuesday in No. 4 Dowling Catholic, which entered the contest on an eight-game winning streak. The Maroons, who snapped No. 1 Johnston's 42-game winning streak with a 62-48 victory on Friday, kept their momentum … [Read more...] about ‘They’re on a roll’: Surging Maroons top Ankeny girls for 9th straight victory

No. 4 Ankeny, No. 6 Centennial to host regional wrestling duals on Jan. 31

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Both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial will host Class 3A regional wrestling duals on Jan. 31. The fourth-ranked Hawks (19-1) will host either No. 13 Bondurant-Farrar or No. 19 Iowa City High in the regional final. Those two teams will meet in the preliminary round at 6 p.m., with the winner advancing to face Ankeny. The Hawks defeated Bondurant-Farrar, … [Read more...] about No. 4 Ankeny, No. 6 Centennial to host regional wrestling duals on Jan. 31

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carson Johnson, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Junior guard Carson Johnson scored 15 points as the Ankeny boys' basketball team posted a 59-55 win at Southeast Polk on Friday for its third consecutive win. He made 3-of-4 free throws in the final 1 minute 19 seconds to help seal the triumph. Johnson, who recently scored his 500th career point, has helped the Hawks to records of 4-7 in the CIML … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carson Johnson, Ankeny boys’ basketball

‘It’s a good feeling to win it again’: Hawks capture 4th straight Ewing Duals title

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The storybook season continues for the Ankeny wrestling team. The fourth-ranked Hawks easily won their own Dave Ewing Duals on Saturday for the fourth consecutive year. They defeated their four opponents by an average margin of 50 points to raise their overall record to 19-1. Ankeny surpassed its total of 17 wins from last year, which had been its … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a good feeling to win it again’: Hawks capture 4th straight Ewing Duals title

‘They weren’t afraid of the competition’: Jaguars take 4th at rugged Winger Invite

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Saturday's Ed Winger Invitational at Urbandale gave the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers an opportunity to test themselves against some of the state's top grapplers. The Jaguars responded with a strong performance, placing fourth in a field of 24 teams with 120 points. They had eight top-six finishes. "I was pretty pleased with the way things went," said … [Read more...] about ‘They weren’t afraid of the competition’: Jaguars take 4th at rugged Winger Invite

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (1st team)

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Jerry Pezzetti has always started his pregame speeches with the same word during his legendary career as a football coach. "Men," he says. "Just by calling us 'men' we felt big, strong and powerful," said Jon Leverenz, a star linebacker for Pezzetti in the 1980s. "And he would proceed to make us feel unstoppable regardless of the challenges ahead. But … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (1st team)

Ankeny swimmers pick events out of a hat, then place 3rd at conference meet

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For the most part, Ankeny boys' swimming coach Justin Crouch didn't enter his varsity swimmers in their best events for the CIML Conference meet on Saturday at Southeast Polk. He picked his lineup at random. "We decided to swim off events," said Crouch. "Considering we drew events out of a hat, we were able to finish third. I thought it was a great … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers pick events out of a hat, then place 3rd at conference meet

Ankeny bowling teams fall to Waukee despite their ‘best showing’ of season

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The Ankeny bowling teams ran into another tough opponent on Thursday at Warrior Lanes. Host Waukee swept the CIML Conference dual meet, but it was still a good day for coach Lane Richtsmeier's squads. The Hawks posted a season-high score by 50 pins, and the Hawkettes nearly matched their season-high total of 2,063. "Going into this meet, we knew … [Read more...] about Ankeny bowling teams fall to Waukee despite their ‘best showing’ of season

Hawks rally from 10-point deficit in 2nd half to post 59-55 victory at S.E. Polk

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Earlier this season, the Ankeny boys' basketball team was finding ways to lose games. Now, the Hawks are doing just the opposite, finding ways to come through in the clutch. Ankeny extended its winning streak to three games with a 59-55 victory at Southeast Polk on Friday. The Hawks overcame a 10-point deficit in the second half. "It's a pretty good … [Read more...] about Hawks rally from 10-point deficit in 2nd half to post 59-55 victory at S.E. Polk

Without injured Dailey, hot-shooting Rams make 15 treys in win over Ankeny

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Ankeny girls' basketball coach Dru McAnelly wasn't sure if Southeast Polk star Brooklin Dailey would play in Friday's game at Pleasant Hill. It turned out that the eighth-ranked Rams didn't need her. Playing without the injured Dailey, Southeast Polk made 15 3-point goals and defeated No. 15 Ankeny, 77-65, in a CIML Conference game. "Credit to … [Read more...] about Without injured Dailey, hot-shooting Rams make 15 treys in win over Ankeny

HAPPY HOMECOMING: Wignall guides Hawks to 72-6 victory at Knoxville

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Thursday's trip to Knoxville was a sentimental one for Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall. Wignall, who spent a lot of time in Knoxville while growing up in southern Iowa, guided the fourth-ranked Hawks to a 72-6 victory in the non-conference dual meet. "We had a good time," said Wignall. "It was good to see my family there. They hadn't seen me coach … [Read more...] about HAPPY HOMECOMING: Wignall guides Hawks to 72-6 victory at Knoxville