It was a memorable Senior Night for the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers on Thursday. The sixth-ranked Jaguars recorded six pins and rolled to a 57-22 victory over visiting Dowling Catholic in a CIML Conference dual meet. "We wrestled well," said Centennial coach Jay Groth. "I thought all of our guys went out there and fought." Prior to the meet, … [Read more...] about Jaguars rout Dowling on Senior Night, reach 20 wins for 3rd time under Groth
Boys' Wrestling
Hawks crown trio of champs at Sharp Invite, place 2nd overall behind W-SR
With three individual champions, the Ankeny wrestling team earned a runner-up finish in the Bob Sharp Invitational on Saturday at Ankeny. The fifth-ranked Hawks racked up 234 points in the 10-team tournament. Waverly-Shell Rock captured the team title with 267.5 points. "We were hoping to win it," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "But we lost a couple … [Read more...] about Hawks crown trio of champs at Sharp Invite, place 2nd overall behind W-SR
Centennial wrestlers beat Humboldt to earn 3rd-place finish at Osage Duals
The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers earned a third-place finish in the Osage Duals on Saturday. After going 2-2 during the preliminary rounds, the eighth-ranked Jaguars posted a 39-30 victory over Humboldt in the third-place match. They are now 19-5 on the season. "We had a little bit of a letdown after our big win over Johnston (on Thursday)," said … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers beat Humboldt to earn 3rd-place finish at Osage Duals
Hawks stay perfect in CIML Conference with victories over Valley, Dowling
With two more victories on Thursday, the Ankeny wrestling team has put itself in position to win the CIML Conference dual-meet championship. The fourth-ranked Hawks posted a 42-23 win at No. 5 Valley in the opener of a triangular meet. They then followed with a 46-30 triumph over Dowling Catholic. Ankeny raised its records to 7-0 in the conference and … [Read more...] about Hawks stay perfect in CIML Conference with victories over Valley, Dowling
Jaguars roll past No. 7 Johnston, could be in position to host 3A regional dual
The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers may have secured a top-eight seed for the Class 3A regional duals later this month. The eighth-ranked Jaguars defeated a pair of opponents on Thursday during a CIML Conference triangular at Centennial. After rolling to a 70-4 win over Waukee, Centennial followed with a 62-15 triumph over No. 7 Johnston--which is one of the … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past No. 7 Johnston, could be in position to host 3A regional dual
Hansen, Anderson win titles, lead Hawks to overall crown at Mendenhall Invite
A long layoff didn't seem to bother the Ankeny wrestling team. Competing for the first time since Dec. 20, the seventh-ranked Hawks easily captured the team title in the Jack Mendenhall Invitational on Saturday at Ames. They scored 211.5 points to finish 58.5 points ahead of No. 4 Fort Dodge, which placed second in the 17-team field. "We had an 18-day … [Read more...] about Hansen, Anderson win titles, lead Hawks to overall crown at Mendenhall Invite
Centennial wrestlers crown 4 champs, capture overall title at Lepic Invite
The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers crowned four individual champions and also captured the team title in the Tom Lepic Invitational on Saturday at Iowa City West. The Jaguars racked up 189.5 points, 16 more than runner-up Pleasant Valley. Norwalk, Fort Madison and Iowa City West also competed in the round-robin event. "We wrestled an aggressive style," … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers crown 4 champs, capture overall title at Lepic Invite
‘We did what we needed to do’: Jaguars get bonus points to edge Fort Dodge
Last month, Ankeny Centennial wrestling coach Jay Groth said his team's runner-up finish at the Don Miller Invitational would have felt even better if the Jaguars could have defeated host Fort Dodge. On Thursday, Groth's team returned to Fort Dodge and accomplished what it couldn't on Dec. 17. Tenth-ranked Centennial posted a 35-33 victory over the No. … [Read more...] about ‘We did what we needed to do’: Jaguars get bonus points to edge Fort Dodge
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Xander Kenworthy, Ankeny wrestling
Senior Xander Kenworthy has helped the fourth-ranked Ankeny wrestling team to a 12-1 record, including a 5-0 mark in the CIML Conference. He is currently ranked seventh in Class 3A at 182 pounds with a 13-2 record. Kenworthy was a state qualifier last year at 170. He posted a 26-15 mark as a junior. Here is some inside info on Kenworthy: How is the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Xander Kenworthy, Ankeny wrestling
Hawk wrestlers record 12 pins, throttle Waukee schools to raise record to 12-1
The Ankeny wrestling team is getting a well-deserved break. After placing third in the Battle of Waterloo over the weekend, the fourth-ranked Hawks completed their pre-Christmas schedule on Tuesday with a CIML Conference triangular meet at Waukee. They rolled to a 55-18 victory over the host Warriors, then followed with a 48-26 win over No. 13 Waukee … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers record 12 pins, throttle Waukee schools to raise record to 12-1
‘We have to fight’: Jaguars seek mental toughness after losing to Valley, S.E. Polk
It's not often that a wrestling team would want to be compared to the NFL's Detroit Lions. But that's exactly who Ankeny Centennial coach Jay Groth compared his squad to following Tuesday's triangular meet at Southeast Polk. "We've got to get healthy," Groth said after the Jaguars suffered losses to Southeast Polk and Valley. "We have three varsity … [Read more...] about ‘We have to fight’: Jaguars seek mental toughness after losing to Valley, S.E. Polk
‘We’re putting the whole state on notice’: Hawks finish 3rd at Battle of Waterloo
The Ankeny wrestling program is moving into uncharted territory. The Hawks turned in a spectacular performance on Friday and Saturday at the Battle of Waterloo, where they advanced to the championship bracket for the first time ever and defeated two nationally-ranked teams en route to a third-place finish overall. "I tried to stay in the moment because … [Read more...] about ‘We’re putting the whole state on notice’: Hawks finish 3rd at Battle of Waterloo
Bruhl leads Jaguars to runner-up finish, named most outstanding wrestler
A strong performance in the Don Miller Invitational led to an enjoyable trip home from Fort Dodge for the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers on Saturday. Only one thing would have made it even better. "If we beat Fort Dodge, it would have been a really good day," said Centennial coach Jay Groth. "So we had a pretty good day." The fifth-ranked Dodgers won … [Read more...] about Bruhl leads Jaguars to runner-up finish, named most outstanding wrestler
‘We knew we could win this dual’: Hawks beat Jaguars, maintain bragging rights
The Ankeny wrestling team was confident going into Thursday's dual meet against its crosstown rival. But Ankeny coach Jack Wignall made sure that the sixth-ranked Hawks weren't too confident. "You've seen it in football. It's the game within the game," Wignall said. "You just never know, and Jay (Groth) is a good wrestling coach who knows how to win … [Read more...] about ‘We knew we could win this dual’: Hawks beat Jaguars, maintain bragging rights
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Truman Folkers, Ankeny sophomore
The No. 6 wrestler in Class 3A at 113 pounds posts a 7-2 decision over No. 12 Cody Vandermark of Ankeny Centennial to help the Hawks to a 42-26 victory over their crosstown rival. … [Read more...] about Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Truman Folkers, Ankeny sophomore
JAG-HAWK PREVIEW: Crosstown rivals battle for mat supremacy on Thursday
Due to some technical issues, we were not able to post this week's Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America that previewed Thursday night's Jag-Hawk wrestling dual. However, here are the highlights from publisher Dan Holm's interviews with Coldwell Banker realtor Tiffany Rumelhart, Ankeny assistant coach Austin Anderson, Ankeny … [Read more...] about JAG-HAWK PREVIEW: Crosstown rivals battle for mat supremacy on Thursday
Hawk matmen advance 5 to finals, crown 2 champs, place 3rd at Baltzley Invite
Saturday's Frank Baltzley Invitational at Johnston featured many of the top wrestling teams in Class 3A. Ninth-ranked Ankeny proved that it belongs among the state's elite squads. The Hawks crowned two individual champions and placed third in the 14-team field with 179.5 points. They finished nine points ahead of No. 1 Waverly-Shell Rock, the defending … [Read more...] about Hawk matmen advance 5 to finals, crown 2 champs, place 3rd at Baltzley Invite
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Cael Wiener, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
Senior Cael Wiener helped the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers to the championship of the Centennial Duals on Saturday. The Jaguars won the tournament for the sixth straight time. Wiener, who is ranked 11th in Class 3A at 138 pounds, won all five of his matches on the day--recording three falls and a pair of major decisions. He raised his record to … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Cael Wiener, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
Jaguars edge Carlisle, claim Centennial Duals crown for 6th straight time
The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team wasn't tested on Saturday until its final match at the Centennial Duals. The Jaguars easily defeated their first four opponents before edging Carlisle, 31-29, in the championship match. They won the tournament for the sixth straight time. "We wrestled well," said Centennial coach Jay Groth, whose team is now 11-0 on … [Read more...] about Jaguars edge Carlisle, claim Centennial Duals crown for 6th straight time
Jaguars improve to 6-0 with win over Missouri foe, will host dual tourney next
The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team tuned up for Saturday's Centennial Duals with a 57-16 victory over visiting Park Hill South (Mo.) on Friday. The Jaguars recorded seven falls while raising their mark to 6-0 on the season. "We wrestled OK," said Centennial coach Jay Groth. "Our guys fight and scrap so we are happy about that. We are still finding … [Read more...] about Jaguars improve to 6-0 with win over Missouri foe, will host dual tourney next