After a disappointing loss on Thursday, the Ankeny wrestling team bounced back in a big way on Saturday. The seventh-ranked Hawks defeated all five of their opponents to win the Clyde Bean-Brad Smith Duals at Iowa City High. They raised their overall record to 15-5 with a 48-16 victory over No. 14 Clear … [Read more...] about ‘I think it motivated us’: Hawks rebound from loss to win Bean-Smith Duals
Boys' Wrestling
‘It was a tough night’: Johnston wrestlers record 7 falls in 58-17 win over Centennial
Although Max Dhabolt returned to the lineup on Thursday for the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team, the 17th-ranked Jaguars simply didn't have enough firepower against No. 3 Johnston. The Dragons recorded seven falls and rolled to a 58-17 victory at Centennial. The loss dropped the Jaguars' records to 5-2 in … [Read more...] about ‘It was a tough night’: Johnston wrestlers record 7 falls in 58-17 win over Centennial
Waukee Northwest wrestlers rally from 20-point deficit to beat Ankeny, 44-26
The seventh-ranked Ankeny wrestling team got off to a great start in Thursday's dual meet at No. 8 Waukee Northwest, building a 26-6 lead after the first six matches. The rest of the meet, though, didn't go nearly as well. The Wolves won the final eight matches, two of them by fall, and rallied for a 44-26 victory. The … [Read more...] about Waukee Northwest wrestlers rally from 20-point deficit to beat Ankeny, 44-26
‘I knew it would be close’: Hawks edge 3 other teams to claim Bob Sharp crown
For the first time in more than a decade, the Ankeny wrestlers captured the team title at their own Bob Sharp Invitational on Saturday. The Hawks battled three other squads down to the wire before emerging with a narrow victory. They finished with 211.5 points, just ahead of Norwalk (208), Linn-Mar (Marion) (207) and Indianola (202.5). Ankeny had not … [Read more...] about ‘I knew it would be close’: Hawks edge 3 other teams to claim Bob Sharp crown
Centennial wrestling team struggles to 10th-place finish at Osage Duals
Saturday was a rough day for the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team. With two open weights and some other wrestlers out of the lineup due to injuries, the Jaguars struggled to a 10th-place finish at the Osage Duals. They lost all five of their dual meets, dropping to 10-8 overall on the season. "We wrestled some really good teams, and we wrestled flat," … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestling team struggles to 10th-place finish at Osage Duals
‘We weren’t sure we could pull it off’: Jaguars’ depth pays off in win at Waukee
The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team was without a trio of varsity regulars on Thursday, including a pair of state placewinners in Isaac Bruhl and Max Dhabolt. No worries. The Jaguars relied on their depth to post a 47-22 victory over Waukee in a CIML Conference dual meet at Timberline Middle School. They improved their records to 5-1 in the league and … [Read more...] about ‘We weren’t sure we could pull it off’: Jaguars’ depth pays off in win at Waukee
Ankeny wrestlers romp past depleted Maroons, will host Sharp Invite Saturday
The Ankeny wrestling team tuned up for Saturday's Bob Sharp Invitational with a 62-14 victory over visiting Dowling Catholic on Thursday. The Hawks raised their dual-meet records to 4-2 in the CIML Conference and 10-4 overall. "We knew it was going to be a short night," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "They've got some kids who were out with … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers romp past depleted Maroons, will host Sharp Invite Saturday
Ankeny’s Rathjen claims Mendenhall title, while Jags’ Vandermark earns 100th win
Saturday's Jack Mendenhall Invitational proved to be a memorable tournament for Ankeny wrestler Calvin Rathjen. Ankeny Centennial's Cale Vandermark also enjoyed an historic moment. Rathjen won the 132-pound title to lead the Hawks to a fourth-place finish in the 15-team field, while the Jaguars took sixth behind a runner-up performance at 120 from … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Rathjen claims Mendenhall title, while Jags’ Vandermark earns 100th win
No. 1 S.E. Polk completes dominant win over Ankeny matmen before empty gym
Emotions were running high on Thursday night as two of the state's top wrestling teams in Class 3A collided in a CIML Conference dual at the Ankeny High School gym. The final six matches of top-ranked Southeast Polk's dominant win over No. 4 Ankeny were contested before an empty gym after the referee ejected the entire crowd due to some unruly fans and … [Read more...] about No. 1 S.E. Polk completes dominant win over Ankeny matmen before empty gym
‘That should do a lot for his confidence’: Keller’s pin seals Jaguars’ win at Dowling
After losing four of the first five matches, the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers won seven of the next eight bouts and posted a 45-33 victory at Dowling Catholic on Thursday. The sixth-ranked Jaguars raised their records to 4-1 in the CIML Conference and 9-3 overall, but coach Jay Groth still had some concerns after the meet. "We need to continue to not … [Read more...] about ‘That should do a lot for his confidence’: Keller’s pin seals Jaguars’ win at Dowling
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Isaac Bruhl, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
Senior Isaac Bruhl has helped the sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial wrestling team to an 8-3 record, including a 3-1 mark in the CIML Conference. The fourth-ranked Bruhl won all four of his matches on Saturday at the Valley Duals, including a 9-4 decision over No. 5 Elijah Blewitt of Indianola. He also recorded two pins and a technical fall at 150 pounds … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Isaac Bruhl, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
‘We’ve got a lot of work to do’: Centennial wrestlers post 2-2 record at Valley Duals
Eight Ankeny Centennial wrestlers won at least three matches on the day as the Jaguars went 2-2 overall Saturday at the Valley Duals. Sixth-ranked Centennial opened the tournament with a 54-21 win over Valley that raised its record to 3-1 in the CIML Conference. The Jaguars began that dual with seven consecutive victories, including falls in the first six … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got a lot of work to do’: Centennial wrestlers post 2-2 record at Valley Duals
Ankeny wrestlers defeat Central Decatur, Centerville to raise their dual record to 9-3
The fourth-ranked Ankeny wrestling team bounced back from Thursday's loss to visiting Johnston with a pair of non-conference victories Saturday on its home mat. The Hawks rolled to a 61-12 win over Central Decatur, then followed with a 59-8 triumph over Centerville. They raised their overall dual record to 9-3. "We knew these two teams didn't have a … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers defeat Central Decatur, Centerville to raise their dual record to 9-3
‘Our kids wrestled really hard’: Hawks build lead, but Dragons rally for 37-29 win
The Ankeny wrestling team built a double-digit lead against visiting Johnston in a top-10 matchup on Thursday night. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough of a cushion. The eighth-ranked Dragons recorded three pins and a technical fall in the final four matches to defeat No. 4 Ankeny, 37-29, in a CIML Conference dual. The Hawks dropped to 3-1 in the league … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids wrestled really hard’: Hawks build lead, but Dragons rally for 37-29 win
Vandermark wins 3rd consecutive Miller crown, earns outstanding wrestler award
Ankeny Centennial's Cale Vandermark exercised a few demons on Saturday. The fourth-ranked junior won the 120-pound title in the Don Miller Invitational at Fort Dodge and earned the Tim Ascherl/Brent Helmkamp outstanding wrestler award after leading the Jaguars to a fifth-place finish in the 14-team field. "I was honored to have earned such an esteemed … [Read more...] about Vandermark wins 3rd consecutive Miller crown, earns outstanding wrestler award
Ankeny wrestlers earn 6th-place finish among 32 teams at Battle of Waterloo
The Ankeny wrestling team went 4-2 and placed sixth overall among 32 squads in the Battle of Waterloo on Friday and Saturday at Young Arena. The sixth-ranked Hawks are now 7-2 on the season heading into the holiday break. "We wrestled really well," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "The kids fought for every point that they could get all … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers earn 6th-place finish among 32 teams at Battle of Waterloo
Jaguars top Urbandale again, allow Groth to reach 450-victory career milestone
Behind every successful wrestling coach is a group of talented assistant coaches. At least that's what Ankeny Centennial coach Jay Groth believes. Groth paid credit to his assistants on Thursday after earning his 450th career victory when the Jaguars defeated visiting Urbandale, 42-30, in a CIML Conference dual meet. "Like I've said before, my best … [Read more...] about Jaguars top Urbandale again, allow Groth to reach 450-victory career milestone
Ankeny wrestlers rack up 5 pins, pair of technical falls in 40-28 victory at Waukee
For the second week in a row, bonus points proved to be the difference for the Ankeny wrestlers. The Hawks, who are sixth the Class 3A dual rankings, recorded five falls and a pair of technical falls in a 40-28 victory at No. 24 Waukee on Thursday. They improved to 3-0 in the CIML Conference and overall. The Warriors also won seven matches, but had … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers rack up 5 pins, pair of technical falls in 40-28 victory at Waukee
‘That’s a good run’: Jaguars win Centennial Duals crown for 8th consecutive year
The only question on Saturday was whether the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team would be able to host its home duals tournament. Once the competition began, there was little doubt which squad would prevail. The Jaguars rolled past four other teams to win the Centennial Duals for the eighth consecutive year. "That's a good run," said Centennial coach … [Read more...] about ‘That’s a good run’: Jaguars win Centennial Duals crown for 8th consecutive year
‘It was a fun night’: Ankeny wrestlers rely on bonus points to defeat Centennial
Ankeny senior Andrew Haase wanted his last Jag-Hawk wrestling dual to be a memorable one. He did his part to make sure that it was. Haase recorded one of his team's five falls as the Hawks rallied from an early 13-0 deficit to beat visiting Ankeny Centennial, 40-33, in a CIML Conference matchup on Thursday. "It feels really good," said Haase. "It … [Read more...] about ‘It was a fun night’: Ankeny wrestlers rely on bonus points to defeat Centennial