Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Hawks

Urbandale boys rally to force OT, then hold off Hawks to end losing streak

by

After Jamison Patton swished a 3-pointer from the left corner midway through the third quarter of Friday's game at Urbandale, he slapped the hand of Ankeny boys' basketball coach Brandt Carlson on his way back up the court. Patton's trey gave his team a 32-23 lead, and it appeared that the Hawks were on the verge of ending their three-game losing … [Read more...] about Urbandale boys rally to force OT, then hold off Hawks to end losing streak

Ankeny girls roll past Urbandale, snap three-game skid with 79-42 victory

by

Ankeny girls' basketball coach Dru McAnelly didn't want to call Friday's contest at Urbandale a must-win game. But it clearly was. The 11th-ranked Hawkettes raced out to a 48-21 halftime lead and cruised to a 79-42 victory in a CIML Conference matchup. They snapped a three-game losing skid while raising their records to 3-5 in the league and 6-5 … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls roll past Urbandale, snap three-game skid with 79-42 victory

Ankeny girls’ bowling team tops Dowling, but boys’ squad falls to Maroons

by

The Ankeny bowling teams split a CIML Conference dual meet with visiting Dowling Catholic on Thursday at Great Escape. The girls' squad won by a score of 1,953 to 1,849. However, the boys' team fell by a score of 2,681 to 2,598. "It was our Senior Night," said Ankeny coach Lane Richtsmeier. "It was a great win for the girls. This was our first meet … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ bowling team tops Dowling, but boys’ squad falls to Maroons

Ankeny swimmers celebrate Senior Night with 114-56 victory over Johnston

by

The seniors on the Ankeny boys' swimming team were hungry for a dual-meet victory. There was no better time to get one than on Senior Night. The fifth-ranked Hawks dominated from start to finish and defeated No. 14 Johnston, 114-56, in a CIML Conference dual meet on Thursday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. It was the first win of the season for … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers celebrate Senior Night with 114-56 victory over Johnston

‘We did what we needed to do’: Jaguars get bonus points to edge Fort Dodge

by

Last month, Ankeny Centennial wrestling coach Jay Groth said his team's runner-up finish at the Don Miller Invitational would have felt even better if the Jaguars could have defeated host Fort Dodge. On Thursday, Groth's team returned to Fort Dodge and accomplished what it couldn't on Dec. 17. Tenth-ranked Centennial posted a 35-33 victory over the No. … [Read more...] about ‘We did what we needed to do’: Jaguars get bonus points to edge Fort Dodge

‘This was a great test for our girls’: Five Ankeny wrestlers claim titles at Nevada

by

Five Ankeny girls captured individual titles on Thursday at the Nevada wrestling scramble. Third-ranked Dana Cleveland at 135 pounds was among Ankeny's champions. She raised her record to 22-3 on the season. Other individual winners were Elyse Engebretson at 115 (19-5), Trudy Haag at 120 (19-4), Josie Bishop at 190 (19-12) and Melanie Martinez at 235 … [Read more...] about ‘This was a great test for our girls’: Five Ankeny wrestlers claim titles at Nevada

Aguirre scores career-high 28 points, but Ankeny boys tumble to No. 5 Valley

by

Despite a career-high 28 points from Lio Aguirre, the Ankeny boys' basketball team dropped a 70-58 decision at fifth-ranked Valley on Tuesday. The Tigers pulled away in the second half for their fourth straight victory. They improved to 5-2 in the CIML Conference and 6-2 overall, while Ankeny's records dropped to 2-5 and 3-7. The Hawks have lost three … [Read more...] about Aguirre scores career-high 28 points, but Ankeny boys tumble to No. 5 Valley

‘It’s not the record we want’: Hawkettes drop to 5-5 with another close loss

by

There's an old saying, "Close only counts in horseshoes." For the Ankeny girls' basketball team, coming close to earning a victory is becoming a frustrating habit. The 10th-ranked Hawkettes were looking to start off 2023 with a big win on Tuesday, but their upset bid at No. 4 Valley fell just short. The Tigers made a late 3-point goal to post a 41-38 … [Read more...] about ‘It’s not the record we want’: Hawkettes drop to 5-5 with another close loss

Kohl racks up 62 total yards, helps team to 14-7 win at UA Next All-America Game

by

Ankeny quarterback JJ Kohl helped Team Phantom to a 14-7 victory over Team Speed in the 2023 Under Armour Next All-America Game on Tuesday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The game was televised on ESPN2. Kohl, an Iowa State recruit, was one of 100 players from across the nation who were selected to participate in the game. He shared the quarterback … [Read more...] about Kohl racks up 62 total yards, helps team to 14-7 win at UA Next All-America Game

‘Our girls continue to impress’: Ankeny extends winning streak to 10 matches

by

The Ankeny girls' wrestling team doesn't look like a first-year varsity program to most outside observers. Ankeny extended its dual-meet winning streak to 10 matches by defeating a pair of opponents on Tuesday at West Marshall. Coach Dustin Roland's team rolled to a 70-6 victory over Marshalltown and a 57-24 win over the host Trojans. Ankeny raised its … [Read more...] about ‘Our girls continue to impress’: Ankeny extends winning streak to 10 matches

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (4th team)

by

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit in March of 2020, Ankeny Fanatic took advantage of the unexpected break from high school sports to publish the first of its many all-time Ankeny teams, recognizing the best boys' basketball players in the community's history. This has since turned into a three-year project. Ankeny Fanatic has now published its … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (4th team)

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Xander Kenworthy, Ankeny wrestling

by

Senior Xander Kenworthy has helped the fourth-ranked Ankeny wrestling team to a 12-1 record, including a 5-0 mark in the CIML Conference. He is currently ranked seventh in Class 3A at 182 pounds with a 13-2 record. Kenworthy was a state qualifier last year at 170. He posted a 26-15 mark as a junior. Here is some inside info on Kenworthy: How is the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Xander Kenworthy, Ankeny wrestling

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Gia Blaser, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

by

Senior Gia Blaser of the Ankeny girls' wrestling team currently boasts a 20-6 record. She ranks second on the squad in wins behind Nora Bockes, who is 21-4. Blaser started the season at 145 pounds, but has since dropped down to 140. She placed second in the Raccoon River tournament on Dec. 17 at Adel. Here is some inside info on Blaser: How is the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Gia Blaser, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

Hawk wrestlers record 12 pins, throttle Waukee schools to raise record to 12-1

by

The Ankeny wrestling team is getting a well-deserved break. After placing third in the Battle of Waterloo over the weekend, the fourth-ranked Hawks completed their pre-Christmas schedule on Tuesday with a CIML Conference triangular meet at Waukee. They rolled to a 55-18 victory over the host Warriors, then followed with a 48-26 win over No. 13 Waukee … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers record 12 pins, throttle Waukee schools to raise record to 12-1

‘They bowled amazing’: S.E. Polk teams sweep dual meet against Ankeny

by

There was no home lanes advantage for the Ankeny bowling teams on Tuesday at Great Escape. Both Ankeny squads were soundly defeated in a CIML Conference dual meet by Southeast Polk, which also uses Great Escape as its home venue. "It was a rough day for both teams," said Ankeny coach Lane Richtsmeier. "We just ran into a buzzsaw." The Rams won the … [Read more...] about ‘They bowled amazing’: S.E. Polk teams sweep dual meet against Ankeny

IN THE ZONE: Winkel scores career-high 30, leads No. 4 Jaguars past Ankeny boys

by

It's been a dream season thus far for Luke Winkel and the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. On Tuesday night, it only got better. Winkel poured in a career-high 30 points and the fourth-ranked Jaguars pulled away in the second half for a 65-46 victory at Ankeny. The win allowed Centennial to take a 10-9 lead in the all-time series and avenged … [Read more...] about IN THE ZONE: Winkel scores career-high 30, leads No. 4 Jaguars past Ankeny boys

‘We have to fight’: Jaguars seek mental toughness after losing to Valley, S.E. Polk

by

It's not often that a wrestling team would want to be compared to the NFL's Detroit Lions. But that's exactly who Ankeny Centennial coach Jay Groth compared his squad to following Tuesday's triangular meet at Southeast Polk. "We've got to get healthy," Groth said after the Jaguars suffered losses to Southeast Polk and Valley. "We have three varsity … [Read more...] about ‘We have to fight’: Jaguars seek mental toughness after losing to Valley, S.E. Polk

Motivated Jaguars dominate boards, roll past Ankeny to avenge last year’s loss

by

Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong didn't have to remind his players what happened the last time the Jaguars played at crosstown rival Ankeny. Last February, the Hawkettes posted a 49-45 victory to defeat Centennial for the first time ever. "That was definitely some extra motivation," Centennial senior Averi Porter said after the … [Read more...] about Motivated Jaguars dominate boards, roll past Ankeny to avenge last year’s loss