Ankeny Fanatic

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Boys' Wrestling

Anderson defeats Nebraska state champ at IAWrestle’s Night of Conflict

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Ankeny wrestler Trever Anderson isn't usually satisfied with just winning his match. The 2019 state champion likes to dominate his opponents. Anderson posted an impressive 7-2 decision over Nebraska prep standout Caleb Coyle in IAWrestle's Night of Conflict on Saturday at The Arena in Sioux City. But as usual, he thought he could have done even … [Read more...] about Anderson defeats Nebraska state champ at IAWrestle’s Night of Conflict

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny wrestling team

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is dedicated to longtime Des Moines Register wrestling reporter Dan McCool, who died on Monday at the age of 60. Dan was a legend in the wrestling community and will be sorely missed. I was working for the Register as a correspondent in the 80s and one of the first big events that I was asked to cover was to help out Dan with state … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny wrestling team

Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 84

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Check out the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by the Ankeny office of Iowa Realty. Ankeny boys' swimming coach Justin Crouch and four-time state champion Trent Frandson stopped by to discuss the Hawks' runner-up finish in the state meet with Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm, who also recapped the state wrestling tournament with … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 84

Rathjen dominates, becomes Ankeny’s fourth two-time state champion

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Ankeny's Caleb Rathjen doesn't want to just win state titles. He also wants to dominate his opponents on the wrestling mat. On Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena, Rathjen did both of those things. The top-ranked junior racked up eight takedowns and rolled to a 17-6 major decision over No. 2 Dreyzon Phillips of Fort Dodge to win the Class 3A crown … [Read more...] about Rathjen dominates, becomes Ankeny’s fourth two-time state champion

BLOODY GOOD: Ankeny’s Rathjen claims 2nd straight state wrestling crown

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Ankeny junior Caleb Rathjen captured his second straight state wrestling title on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena, despite getting a bloody nose for the second year in a row. The top-ranked Rathjen rolled to a 17-6 major decision over No. 2 Dreyzon Phillips of Fort Dodge to win the Class 3A crown at 138 pounds. He finished the season with a 43-1 … [Read more...] about BLOODY GOOD: Ankeny’s Rathjen claims 2nd straight state wrestling crown

‘I went back and got the best thing I could’: Anderson earns 3rd-place medal

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It took Ankeny's Trever Anderson a little while to recover from his semifinal loss in the Class 3A state wrestling tournament on Friday. The top-ranked sophomore dropped a 5-2 decision to No. 4 Ryder Downey of Indianola, ending his bid for a second straight title. "At first my mindset was that I failed a lot," said Anderson. "I failed myself and a lot … [Read more...] about ‘I went back and got the best thing I could’: Anderson earns 3rd-place medal

WELL DONE: Ankeny’s Rathjen, Kallem to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night

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Whenever Caleb Rathjen steps on the wrestling mat, he brings a ton of confidence with him. His teammate on the Ankeny squad, Sam Kallem, boasts just as much confidence in his own abilities. Both Rathjen and Kallem advanced to the Class 3A finals on Saturday night with a pair of victories on Friday in the state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. The duo … [Read more...] about WELL DONE: Ankeny’s Rathjen, Kallem to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night

Ankeny advances 3 wrestlers into semifinals, surges into top 10 of Class 3A

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Sixth-ranked Ankeny has surged into eighth place in the Class 3A state tournament after advancing three wrestlers into the semifinals on Friday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena. The Hawks will also have a fourth placewinner in 10th-ranked Cael Cox at 120 pounds. The junior lost to defending state champion Drake Ayala of Fort Dodge in the quarterfinals on … [Read more...] about Ankeny advances 3 wrestlers into semifinals, surges into top 10 of Class 3A

Hawks rack up 4 falls in opening round, sit in 12th place heading into Friday

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The Ankeny wrestling team stormed through the opening round of the Class 3A state tournament on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena. The sixth-ranked Hawks advanced four of their five qualifiers to Friday's quarterfinals, and all four of them recorded falls. "It's kind of what I hoped for and what I expected out of those four guys," said Ankeny coach Jack … [Read more...] about Hawks rack up 4 falls in opening round, sit in 12th place heading into Friday

A look at first-round matchups and beyond at state wrestling tournament

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The brackets for the state wrestling tournament were released on Sunday by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Two Ankeny wrestlers and one from Ankeny Centennial enter the tournament as No. 1 seeds. The Jaguars placed fourth in last year's Class 3A tournament, their highest finish ever under coach Jay Groth. The Hawks took 11th, their highest … [Read more...] about A look at first-round matchups and beyond at state wrestling tournament

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Cael Cox, Ankeny wrestling

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Ankeny junior Cael Cox won a Class 3A district title at 120 pounds on Saturday to qualify for this week's state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. He helped the Hawks to a second-place finish in the district at Dallas Center-Grimes. The 10th-ranked Cox posted a 5-3 decision over No. 8 Logan Stotts of Valley in the finals. He raised his record to … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Cael Cox, Ankeny wrestling

Ankeny wrestlers crown 5 champs, place 2nd overall at district tourney

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The Ankeny wrestling team crowned five individual champions en route to a second-place finish in a Class 3A district tournament on Saturday at Dallas Center-Grimes. Leading the way were defending state champions Trever Anderson at 113 pounds and Caleb Rathjen at 138. The top-ranked duo easily captured district titles to punch their ticket to next week's … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers crown 5 champs, place 2nd overall at district tourney

Without 4 regulars, Hawk wrestlers tumble to Norwalk in regional dual

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Although his team failed to advance to the state duals tournament, Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall was happy that the Hawks got an opportunity to compete on Wednesday night. Ankeny, the No. 14 team in the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Class 3A dual rankings, dropped a 43-28 decision to No. 15 Norwalk in the opening round of a … [Read more...] about Without 4 regulars, Hawk wrestlers tumble to Norwalk in regional dual

Ankeny wrestlers fall into 16-0 hole, then win final 11 matches against Bobcats

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The Ankeny wrestlers tuned up for the postseason with a 65-16 victory at Marshalltown in a non-conference meet on Thursday. The Hawks, who are 13th in the Class 3A dual rankings by The Predicament, improved to 14-5 on the season. Marshalltown dropped to 8-14. "We had some kids get a win tonight that really needed it," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "I … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers fall into 16-0 hole, then win final 11 matches against Bobcats

Ankeny trio, Centennial’s Neils capture individual titles at CIML Invitational

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If Friday's CIML Invitational at Southeast Polk was any indication of what's going to happen later this month at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament, then both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial could make a lot of noise at Wells Fargo Arena. The eighth-ranked Jaguars placed second in Friday's 16-team tournament, while the No. 7 Hawks took fourth. It was … [Read more...] about Ankeny trio, Centennial’s Neils capture individual titles at CIML Invitational

Busy week for Hawk wrestlers ends with win over Dowling, Dave Ewing Duals title

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The Ankeny wrestlers got some much-needed time on the mat last week. After placing third in their own Bob Sharp Invitational on Jan. 20, the Hawks celebrated their Senior Night on Thursday with a 42-33 victory over visiting Dowling Catholic. They then defeated five more opponents on Saturday to win the Dave Ewing Duals at Ankeny. "Some of our kids … [Read more...] about Busy week for Hawk wrestlers ends with win over Dowling, Dave Ewing Duals title

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Nike Coulthard, Ankeny wrestling

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Nike Coulthard is a member of the Ankeny wrestling team. He has helped the Hawks to a 7-5 dual record. Coulthard filled in at 126 pounds during Ankeny's 40-23 loss to visiting Johnston on Thursday. He dropped a 5-3 decision to Aidan Honkomp. "Nike is a good kid," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "He is always there for us and works hard." Ankeny … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Nike Coulthard, Ankeny wrestling

Hawks crown 3 champs, earn 3rd-place finish overall at Bob Sharp Invitational

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While Martin Luther King Jr. Day provided a day off for many people, that wasn't the case for the Ankeny wrestlers. The seventh-ranked Hawks hosted the Bob Sharp Invitational after Saturday's tournament was postponed until Monday due to inclement weather. Ten of the 13 teams that were originally slated to compete traveled to Ankeny for the rescheduled … [Read more...] about Hawks crown 3 champs, earn 3rd-place finish overall at Bob Sharp Invitational