Ankeny Fanatic

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Boys' Wrestling

Rathjen earns runner-up medal after falling, 4-2, to longtime training partner

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It was the kind of match that you'd expect between two wrestlers who have been training partners for several years. When Ankeny sophomore Calvin Rathjen and Indianola junior Mac Crosson battled for the Class 3A 165-pound championship on Saturday night at the Casey's Center, both competitors knew that one takedown--or one mistake--could decide the … [Read more...] about Rathjen earns runner-up medal after falling, 4-2, to longtime training partner

Vandermark, Walsh close out high school wrestling careers with 4th-place finishes

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Seniors Cale Vandermark of Ankeny Centennial at 126 pounds and Ben Walsh of Ankeny at 120 closed out their high school wrestling careers with fourth-place finishes in the Class 3A state tournament on Saturday at the Casey's Center. Centennial also got a sixth-place finish from senior Brandon Bogseth at 215. Junior Ethan Sodergren took seventh for the … [Read more...] about Vandermark, Walsh close out high school wrestling careers with 4th-place finishes

Ankeny’s Rathjen, Centennial’s Dhabolt to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night

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Ankeny Centennial junior Max Dhabolt is one win away from capturing a second consecutive state wrestling title. Sophomore Calvin Rathjen of Ankeny has a chance to claim his first crown. Both standouts advanced to Saturday's championship matches with dominant performances on Friday night in the Class 3A semifinals at the Casey's Center. The … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Rathjen, Centennial’s Dhabolt to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night

Walsh, Rathjen advance to semifinals, but Hawks fall into tie for 12th in Class 3A

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The Ankeny wrestling team advanced the third-seeded duo of Ben Walsh and Calvin Rathjen into Friday night's semifinals of the Class 3A state tournament at the Casey's Center. The Hawks have scored 52.5 points, but their hopes for a top-10 finish took a major hit on Thursday when all five of their wrestlers in the consolation bracket were eliminated from … [Read more...] about Walsh, Rathjen advance to semifinals, but Hawks fall into tie for 12th in Class 3A

Hawks sit in 10th place in Class 3A; Jags advance 4 wrestlers into quarterfinals

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The Ankeny wrestling team sits in 10th place with 34.5 points heading into the second day of the Class 3A state tournament at the Casey's Center. Crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial, meanwhile, bounced back from a winless opening round on Wednesday to advance four wrestlers into Thursday's quarterfinals. The Jaguars are tied for 22nd place with 23 … [Read more...] about Hawks sit in 10th place in Class 3A; Jags advance 4 wrestlers into quarterfinals

THE MADNESS BEGINS: State wrestling tourney brackets announced by IHSAA

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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

‘That was a super tough district’: Hawks advance 9 wrestlers to state tournament

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Walsh, Dobson claim crowns, lead Hawks to runner-up finish at Bob Sharp Invite

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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