Ankeny Fanatic

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Boys' Wrestling

Experienced Hawk wrestlers have ‘tough kids up and down the lineup’

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It has taken awhile for coach Jack Wignall to rebuild the Ankeny wrestling program following the split into two high schools. This could be the year that there's a huge payoff for the Hawks. Ankeny returns several varsity regulars from a team that posted an 11-9 record last year and placed 21st in the Class 3A state tournament with 26.5 points. "We … [Read more...] about Experienced Hawk wrestlers have ‘tough kids up and down the lineup’

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Caleb Rathjen, Ankeny wrestling

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Caleb Rathjen is the Ankeny Fanatic prep of the week sponsored by Revive Clinic and Spa. The Ankeny freshman placed second at 113 pounds in the Class 3A state wrestling tournament on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. Rathjen advanced to the finals before dropping a 10-8 decision to top-ranked Nick Oldham of Valley in a seesaw match. He compiled a 20-2 record … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Caleb Rathjen, Ankeny wrestling

Valley’s Oldham edges Rathjen in seesaw battle for state title

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On Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena, Caleb Rathjen was 2 minutes away from winning his first state wrestling title. Now, the Ankeny freshman will have to wait 365 days to get another shot at winning a crown. Valley's top-ranked Nick Oldham rallied in the third period to beat the second-ranked Rathjen, 10-8, in the Class 3A championship match at 113 … [Read more...] about Valley’s Oldham edges Rathjen in seesaw battle for state title

Neils earns 4th-place finish for Jaguars; Anderson takes 7th for Hawks

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Ankeny senior Spencer Anderson closed out his wrestling career in style. Ankeny Centennial sophomore Logan Neils showed that his career is just beginning to blossom. Neils earned a fourth-place finish at 160 pounds in the Class 3A state tournament on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. Anderson finished seventh at 132 with a 9-7 decision over 10th-ranked … [Read more...] about Neils earns 4th-place finish for Jaguars; Anderson takes 7th for Hawks

Ankeny’s Rathjen, Anderson advance to Friday’s quarterfinals

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall didn't want to spend too much time on the mat on Thursday afternoon. Thanks to strong performances by Caleb Rathjen and Spencer Anderson, he didn't have to. Both of Ankeny's state qualifiers won their first-round matches in the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena, allowing Wignall to spend the rest of the … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Rathjen, Anderson advance to Friday’s quarterfinals

Ankeny’s Caleb Rathjen, Spencer Anderson capture district titles, punch ticket to state

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After being placed in a tough district, Ankeny advanced only two wrestlers to this week's state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Caleb Rathjen at 113 pounds and Spencer Anderson at 132 each won an individual title for the Hawks, who placed fourth among the eight teams in a Class 3A district tournament on Saturday at Waukee. They finished with 171.5 … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Caleb Rathjen, Spencer Anderson capture district titles, punch ticket to state

No. 1 Fort Dodge wrestlers ‘flex their muscle’ in victory over Hawks

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After avenging one of its dual-meet losses, the Ankeny wrestlers were hoping to avenge another one while earning a trip to next week's state duals tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Unfortunately, top-ranked Fort Dodge had some other ideas. The Dodgers won eight of the last nine matches, all of them by falls, and rolled to a 58-18 victory over No. 17 … [Read more...] about No. 1 Fort Dodge wrestlers ‘flex their muscle’ in victory over Hawks

Hawk wrestlers rout Roosevelt, then slip past Carlisle

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The Ankeny wrestling team closed out the regular season on Thursday with a pair of victories in a double dual meet at Des Moines Roosevelt. The Hawks rolled to a 73-3 win over Roosevelt before posting a 42-32 triumph over Carlisle. They raised their record to 10-8 on the season. "It was a long night," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "Some of our guys … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers rout Roosevelt, then slip past Carlisle

Neils captures CIML wrestling title, leads Jaguars to fifth-place finish

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Logan Neils made some history on Friday in the CIML Invitational at Southeast Polk. The 160-pound sophomore became the first Ankeny Centennial wrestler in the school's brief history to capture an individual conference title. After pinning his first three opponents, the fifth-ranked Neils posted a 3-0 decision over seventh-ranked Levi Egli of Fort Dodge in … [Read more...] about Neils captures CIML wrestling title, leads Jaguars to fifth-place finish

Hawks, Jaguars face difficult paths to state duals tournament

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The road to the Class 3A state duals tournament will be a difficult one for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial wrestling teams. The pairings for the regional duals were announced on Wednesday by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Both the Hawks and Jaguars will have to win two matches, one of them against a top-five opponent, to reach the state … [Read more...] about Hawks, Jaguars face difficult paths to state duals tournament

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Barsat Fnu, Ankeny wrestling

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Barsat Fnu of the Ankeny wrestling team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Fnu placed sixth at 113 pounds in the Bob Sharp Invitational on Jan. 13 at Ankeny. He has been filling in for injured freshman Caleb Rathjen, who is ranked second in Class 3A. "Barsat is a first-year wrestler, originally from Afghanistan, and just an … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Barsat Fnu, Ankeny wrestling

Jaguars capture 4th straight Bob Sharp title; Ankeny’s Anderson upsets Centennial’s Monroe

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers are beginning to feel right at home in their crosstown rival's gym. The Jaguars visited Ankeny on Saturday for the Bob Sharp Invitational and came away with the team title for the fourth straight year. They racked up 217.5 points in the 10-team tournament. "It's awesome. I'm pretty happy," said Centennial coach Jay … [Read more...] about Jaguars capture 4th straight Bob Sharp title; Ankeny’s Anderson upsets Centennial’s Monroe

Big meets ahead for Ankeny, Centennial wrestlers

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Crosstown rivals Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial will see a lot of each other on the wrestling mat over the next 10 days. Both teams will compete in the Bob Sharp Invitational on Saturday at Ankeny, beginning at 10 a.m. The Jaguars will be seeking their fourth consecutive Bob Sharp title after winning last year's tournament with 194 points, while the Hawks … [Read more...] about Big meets ahead for Ankeny, Centennial wrestlers

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Spencer Anderson, Ankeny wrestling

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Spencer Anderson is the Ankeny Fanatic prep of the week sponsored by Revive Clinic and Spa. The senior has compiled a 15-7 record at 132 pounds for the Ankeny wrestling team. Anderson placed third in the Rollin Dyer Invitational on Saturday at Atlantic, helping the Hawks to the team title. He will celebrate his 18th birthday on Jan. 16. Here is some … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Spencer Anderson, Ankeny wrestling

Hawks win Atlantic tournament; Kallem named most outstanding wrestler

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The Ankeny wrestlers needed a strong performance in the final round of the Rollin Dyer Invitational on Saturday to come away with the team title. And that's exactly what they got. The Hawks won 11 of their last 14 matches and racked up 234.5 points to edge Sergeant Bluff-Luton, which had 231 points, for the crown. The tournament was held at … [Read more...] about Hawks win Atlantic tournament; Kallem named most outstanding wrestler

Hawks fall to No. 4 Valley despite thrilling wins from Green, Cole Rathjen

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The Ankeny wrestling team is still seeking that breakthrough victory. The Hawks battled fourth-ranked Valley down to the wire before dropping a 38-29 decision in a CIML Central Conference dual meet on Thursday at Ankeny. "I thought the kids wrestled with a lot of heart tonight and that's been pretty typical," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall, whose team … [Read more...] about Hawks fall to No. 4 Valley despite thrilling wins from Green, Cole Rathjen

Hawk wrestlers off to 5-4 start, will host No. 5 Valley Thursday

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall is anxious to get the second half of the season under way. The Hawks, who will host fifth-ranked Valley on Thursday, finished 2017 with a 5-4 dual-meet record. Three of their four losses came to opponents ranked in the top five of the Iowa Wrestling Coaches Association dual team rankings. "We were ready for a break," … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers off to 5-4 start, will host No. 5 Valley Thursday