The Class 3A state wrestling tournament brackets have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Four of Ankeny Centennial's 10 qualifiers earned a top-eight seed and will receive a first-round bye. Two of Ankeny's nine qualifiers earned a No. 3 seed and will also receive a first-round bye. The Class 3A tournament begins on Wednesday … [Read more...] about THE MADNESS BEGINS: State wrestling tourney brackets announced by IHSAA
Boys' Wrestling
‘That was a super tough district’: Hawks advance 9 wrestlers to state tournament
Whatever advantage the Ankeny wrestling team enjoyed by hosting a Class 3A district tournament on Saturday was offset by a loaded field that provided a huge challenge for the Hawks. Ankeny placed third in the eight-team field with 185.5 points and qualified nine wrestlers for the state tournament. Linn-Mar (Marion) captured the district crown with 218 … [Read more...] about ‘That was a super tough district’: Hawks advance 9 wrestlers to state tournament
Depleted Hawks top Centennial before falling to No. 4 Mustangs in regional final
The Ankeny wrestling team was hoping to take its best shot at qualifying for Saturday's state duals in Coralville. The 12th-ranked Hawks did just that on Tuesday night at Dallas Center-Grimes, but they did so without three of their best wrestlers. After posting a 37-28 victory over No. 21 Ankeny Centennial in a Class 3A regional dual, Ankeny then … [Read more...] about Depleted Hawks top Centennial before falling to No. 4 Mustangs in regional final
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Aiden Winkie, Ankeny wrestling
Junior Aiden Winkie has helped the Ankeny wrestling team to a 13-6 record, including a 4-4 mark in the CIML Conference. He earned a pair of wins last week at 138 pounds as the 10th-ranked Hawks closed out the regular season with victories over Waukee on Tuesday and Urbandale on Thursday. Winkie, a two-time state qualifier, has compiled a 23-11 record this … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Aiden Winkie, Ankeny wrestling
‘It was a good win’: Hawks rout Urbandale in tune-up for showdown vs. Jaguars
The Ankeny wrestling team won nine of the 14 matches and defeated visiting Urbandale, 42-20, in its regular-season finale on Thursday. The 12th-ranked Hawks finished 4-4 in the CIML Conference and improved to 13-6 overall. They defeated No. 20 Urbandale after knocking off another league foe, No. 22 Waukee, two nights earlier. "I'm not a big fan of … [Read more...] about ‘It was a good win’: Hawks rout Urbandale in tune-up for showdown vs. Jaguars
Ankeny wrestlers rack up 9 bonus-point wins, cruise to 54-20 victory over Waukee
It was all about pride for the Ankeny wrestling team. After the pairings for the regional duals were announced earlier in the day, the 12th-ranked Hawks hosted No. 22 Waukee on Tuesday in a CIML Conference dual meet with little at stake. Ankeny recorded four pins and a technical fall to cruise to a 54-20 victory over the Warriors. The Hawks improved to … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers rack up 9 bonus-point wins, cruise to 54-20 victory over Waukee
Hawks, Jaguars to meet in Class 3A regional dual at Dallas Center-Grimes
There's going to be a Jag-Hawk rematch on the wrestling mat. Ankeny (11-6) will face Ankeny Centennial (6-12) in a Class 3A regional dual on Feb. 3 at Dallas Center-Grimes. The winner will then meet Dallas Center-Grimes for a trip to the state duals on Feb. 7 at Coralville. The Hawks are 12th in the final dual rankings from the Iowa High School … [Read more...] about Hawks, Jaguars to meet in Class 3A regional dual at Dallas Center-Grimes
Walsh reaches 100-victory milestone while helping Hawks to runner-up finish
The Ankeny wrestling team earned a runner-up finish in the Bean-Smith Duals on Saturday at Iowa City High. The 11th-ranked Hawks defeated their first four opponents before dropping a 37-28 decision to No. 10 Pleasant Valley in the championship match. They are now 11-6 on the season. "I thought overall we wrestled pretty well," said Ankeny coach Jack … [Read more...] about Walsh reaches 100-victory milestone while helping Hawks to runner-up finish
‘I did not expect that’: Ankeny wrestlers tumble to No. 6 Wolves on Senior Night
The Ankeny wrestling team was hoping to pull off an upset on its Senior Night. Visiting Waukee Northwest had other ideas. The sixth-ranked Wolves won 10 of the 14 matches and rolled to a 49-20 victory over No. 11 Ankeny on a frigid Thursday night. "I did not expect that (result)," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "I'm going to need a night to process … [Read more...] about ‘I did not expect that’: Ankeny wrestlers tumble to No. 6 Wolves on Senior Night
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 332
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Legacy Realty of Iowa and Revive Dermatology Clinic and Spa, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the boys' wrestling season with coach Jack Wignall and senior Ben Walsh of Ankeny and coach Jay Groth and senior Dirk Winkel of Ankeny Centennial. Realtor Jennifer Aguirre also stops by for a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 332
Walsh, Dobson claim crowns, lead Hawks to runner-up finish at Bob Sharp Invite
A year ago, the Ankeny wrestling team won its own Bob Sharp Invitational with 211.5 points. The Hawks surpassed that total in Saturday's annual tournament, but they were nevertheless unable to defend their championship. Fourth-ranked Indianola crowned seven individual champs and easily captured the team title with 270 points. Ankeny took second in the … [Read more...] about Walsh, Dobson claim crowns, lead Hawks to runner-up finish at Bob Sharp Invite
‘They have some really good kids’: No. 2 Maroons defeat Ankeny wrestlers, 47-21
Dowling Catholic's success on the football field last fall has carried over to the wrestling mat. The second-ranked Maroons won nine of the 14 matches and defeated No. 11 Ankeny, 47-21, in a CIML Conference dual meet on Thursday at Dowling. The loss dropped the Hawks' records to 2-3 in the league and 7-4 overall. Dowling was coming off a double dual on … [Read more...] about ‘They have some really good kids’: No. 2 Maroons defeat Ankeny wrestlers, 47-21
Rathjen leads Hawks to 5th-place finish at Mendenhall Invite; Centennial takes 9th
Both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial wrestling teams had multiple placewinners in the Jack Mendenhall Invitational on Saturday at Ames. The Hawks placed fifth in the 15-team field with 141.5 points. They had nine top-eight finishers. Centennial, meanwhile, took ninth with 83.5 points. The Jaguars had six placewinners. "We didn't bring a full group, … [Read more...] about Rathjen leads Hawks to 5th-place finish at Mendenhall Invite; Centennial takes 9th
Salgado’s pin provides lone victory for Ankeny wrestlers in 70-6 loss to S.E. Polk
Coming out of the holiday break, the Ankeny wrestling team couldn't have asked for a tougher matchup than the one that faced the Hawks on Thursday. Coach Jack Wignall's team traveled to Southeast Polk for a CIML Conference dual meet and dropped a 70-6 decision to the Rams, who recorded eight pins and two technical falls. The Hawks were without two of … [Read more...] about Salgado’s pin provides lone victory for Ankeny wrestlers in 70-6 loss to S.E. Polk
‘It’s a privilege to wrestle in this event’: Hawks place 9th at Battle of Waterloo
The holiday break is coming at a good time for the Ankeny wrestlers. The Hawks turned in a strong performance at the Battle of Waterloo, where they defeated all three of their opponents on Saturday to win Pool 3 and place ninth overall in the 32-team field. "It's a privilege to wrestle in this event," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall, whose team improved … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a privilege to wrestle in this event’: Hawks place 9th at Battle of Waterloo
Hawks take 3rd in pool, will wrestle for 9th through 12th place at Battle of Waterloo
The Ankeny wrestling team went 2-1 in Bracket B and placed third in its pool on Friday at the Battle of Waterloo. The Hawks opened the tournament with a 37-32 victory over Waverly-Shell Rock. They then dropped a 41-31 decision to Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, one of the top teams in Class 2A, in the semifinals. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows avenged a 54-25 loss to … [Read more...] about Hawks take 3rd in pool, will wrestle for 9th through 12th place at Battle of Waterloo
‘We were confident we could come back’: Hawks rally for 41-30 victory at Johnston
The Ankeny wrestling team won four of the last five matches to post a 41-30 victory at Johnston on Thursday night. The Hawks defeated Johnston in a dual meet for the first time since the 2022-23 season opener. They had finished nine points behind the Dragons while placing sixth on Saturday in the Frank Baltzley Invitational, which was held in the same … [Read more...] about ‘We were confident we could come back’: Hawks rally for 41-30 victory at Johnston
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ryleigh Egeberg, Ankeny wrestling
Junior Ryleigh Egeberg helped the Ankeny wrestling team to a 40-28 victory at Ankeny Centennial in a CIML Conference dual meet on Thursday. He recorded a fall over Wes Schroder at 190 pounds to give his squad a 34-25 lead with just two matches left. Egeberg then placed fifth in the Frank Baltzley Invitational on Saturday at Johnston, where he helped the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ryleigh Egeberg, Ankeny wrestling
Hawks place 6th at Baltzley Invite behind champion Walsh, while Jaguars finish 13th
It didn't take long for Ankeny wrestler Ben Walsh to get into midseason form. After making his season debut two nights earlier, the fifth-ranked Walsh cruised to the 126-pound title in the Frank Baltzley Invitational on Saturday at Johnston. He posted a 10-3 decision over Lou Elsten of Lawrence (Kan.) in the title match. "Sometimes when you have a kid … [Read more...] about Hawks place 6th at Baltzley Invite behind champion Walsh, while Jaguars finish 13th
‘We’re heading in right direction’: Hawks top Centennial for 2nd consecutive year
With two of their stalwarts back in the lineup, the Ankeny wrestlers defeated their crosstown rival for the second consecutive year. The Hawks traveled across town to Ankeny Centennial on Thursday and posted a 40-28 victory, getting a pair of pins from returning state placewinners Ben Walsh and Calvin Rathjen. "It was nice having both Ben and Calvin … [Read more...] about ‘We’re heading in right direction’: Hawks top Centennial for 2nd consecutive year














