Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Winter

State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for Class 4A quarterfinals

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Last week, the Johnston girls' basketball team cruised to the Class 5A championship in Des Moines, capping off a second perfect season in the last three years and winning its third state title in five seasons. Now, it's the boys' turn to take over Wells Fargo Arena. This week, another top-ranked team will try to complete an undefeated campaign in the … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for Class 4A quarterfinals

Ankeny’s Howard, Jacks, Johnson named to academic all-state girls’ hoops team

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Ankeny seniors Hannah Howard, Karsen Jacks and Cassie Johnson have been named to the academic all-state girls' basketball team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. The trio helped the Hawkettes to a 13-10 record this season. Jacks, a Simpson recruit, has also been selected to play in the IGCA Senior All-Star Classic. The event will be held on April … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Howard, Jacks, Johnson named to academic all-state girls’ hoops team

Crawford, Pratt, Williams named all-state by Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association

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Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball standout Mya Crawford has been named to the Class 5A all-state first team by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association, while teammate Jaeden Pratt and Jayla Williams of Ankeny were both selected to the second team. Crawford, a junior guard, led the Jaguars to a 14-9 record and a trip to the state tournament. She set a school … [Read more...] about Crawford, Pratt, Williams named all-state by Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Rio Aguirre, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Sophomore guard Rio Aguirre has helped the eighth-ranked Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 17-6 record. The Hawks will take a seven-game winning streak into this week's state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Aguirre had 10 points, five rebounds and three assists in Ankeny's 64-41 victory over No. 10 Ankeny Centennial in a Class 4A substate final on … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Rio Aguirre, Ankeny boys’ basketball

‘We’ve worked all year for this’: Hawks top crosstown rival, earn trip to 4A tourney

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Ankeny senior Carson Johnson was determined to end his high school career at the boys' state basketball tournament. His teammates played a huge role in helping him get back to Wells Fargo Arena. Lio Aguirre scored a game-high 22 points, Cash Schoolen had all eight of his points in the first few minutes, and the eighth-ranked Hawks cruised to a 64-41 … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve worked all year for this’: Hawks top crosstown rival, earn trip to 4A tourney

Hawks knock off Centennial in substate final, will face Dubuque Senior at state

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Lio Aguirre made five 3-point goals and scored 22 points, Carson Johnson added 17, and the eighth-ranked Ankeny boys' basketball team pulled away in the second half for a 64-41 victory over No. 10 Ankeny Centennial in a Class 4A substate final on Tuesday at Southeast Polk. The Hawks (17-6) advanced to the state tournament for the third time in five years. … [Read more...] about Hawks knock off Centennial in substate final, will face Dubuque Senior at state

Jag-Hawk III: Breaking down showdown for trip to Class 4A state tournament

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A trip to the boys' Class 4A state basketball tournament will be at stake on Tuesday when Ankeny's crosstown rivals meet in the postseason for the first time ever. The Hawks and Jaguars will take the court at Southeast Polk at 7 p.m. for the Substate 8 final. Both teams are looking to advance to Wells Fargo Arena for the third time in five … [Read more...] about Jag-Hawk III: Breaking down showdown for trip to Class 4A state tournament

Johnson, Hawks cruise past Iowa City Liberty, setting up crosstown showdown

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(Story by Gabe Ploeger) The crowd was loud and the stakes were high as the eighth-ranked Ankeny boys' basketball team hosted Iowa City Liberty in a Class 4A substate semifinal on Friday. Liberty had won five of its last six games and was looking to continue that hot streak and move closer to the state tournament, but Carson Johnson and the Hawks had … [Read more...] about Johnson, Hawks cruise past Iowa City Liberty, setting up crosstown showdown

‘I’m proud of these girls’: Hawkettes fall short against Valley in regional final

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When Karsen Jacks made a tough shot in the lane with 3 minutes 4 seconds left in Tuesday's Class 5A regional final, the Ankeny girls' basketball team appeared to be on the verge of qualifying for the state tournament for the first time since the split into two high schools in 2013. Jacks' basket gave the eighth-ranked Hawkettes a 34-29 lead over visiting … [Read more...] about ‘I’m proud of these girls’: Hawkettes fall short against Valley in regional final

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Cale Vandermark, Centennial wrestling

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Sophomore Cale Vandermark helped the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team to a fourth-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament last week at Wells Fargo Arena. It matched the Jaguars' highest finish in school history. Vandermark took fourth for the second year in a row, this time at 113 pounds. He finished the season with a 36-7 record. Here is some … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Cale Vandermark, Centennial wrestling

Centennial wrestlers place 4th, Hawks finish 14th in Class 3A state tournament

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Jack Wignall and Jay Groth both walked away from Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday with their heads held high. The respective coaches for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial wrestling teams had plenty of reasons to be proud of their teams' performances over the last four days. They also had bright futures to be excited about. Fourth-ranked Centennial placed … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers place 4th, Hawks finish 14th in Class 3A state tournament

Hawkettes roll past C.R. Kennedy, will host Valley for trip to state tournament

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For the fourth year in a row, the Ankeny girls' basketball team is just one win away from a trip to the state tournament. This time, the Hawkettes will get to host the regional final. Eighth-ranked Ankeny opened postseason play on Saturday with a 58-40 victory over visiting Cedar Rapids Kennedy in a Class 5A regional semifinal. The Cougars finished the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes roll past C.R. Kennedy, will host Valley for trip to state tournament

Centennial quartet, Ankeny duo come up short in Class 3A semifinal matches

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It was a rough Friday afternoon for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial wrestling teams. The two squads combined to go 0-for-6 in the semifinals of the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. "That blood round has come back to haunt us for the second year in a row," said Centennial coach Jay Groth. "We didn't have a very good one last year … [Read more...] about Centennial quartet, Ankeny duo come up short in Class 3A semifinal matches

‘We fought hard’: Jaguars advance 4 to semis, stay in contention for team trophy

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Four Ankeny Centennial wrestlers advanced to Friday's semifinals in a variety of ways at the Class 3A state tournament. In the process, the quartet moved the fourth-ranked Jaguars closer to a coveted team trophy. Centennial sits in third place at the midway point of the tournament with 77.5 points, 12 more than fourth-place Indianola. No. 1 Southeast … [Read more...] about ‘We fought hard’: Jaguars advance 4 to semis, stay in contention for team trophy

Hansen, Wignall reach semifinals, but trio of OT losses sting for Hawk wrestlers

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Ankeny's bid for a top-10 finish in the Class 3A state wrestling tournament took a major hit on Thursday afternoon during the second day of the four-day meet at Wells Fargo Arena. The Hawks advanced two wrestlers into Friday's semifinals, but lost three matches in overtime and another one by just one point. They are now in 15th place with 45.5 points … [Read more...] about Hansen, Wignall reach semifinals, but trio of OT losses sting for Hawk wrestlers

Jaguars sit in 2nd place, advance 8 of their 11 state qualifiers to quarterfinals

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In 2019, the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team placed fourth in the Class 3A state tournament, the school's highest finish ever. This week at Wells Fargo Arena, the fourth-ranked Jaguars are looking to finish even higher. Centennial got off to a great start on Wednesday, when the Jaguars went 11-3 on the opening day of the tournament and advanced eight … [Read more...] about Jaguars sit in 2nd place, advance 8 of their 11 state qualifiers to quarterfinals

Hawks are tied for 9th place in Class 3A, advance 5 wrestlers to quarterfinals

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With only three top-eight seeds among its nine state qualifiers, the Ankeny wrestling team likely wasn't expected to contend for a top-10 finish at this week's Class 3A tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. But the Hawks are doing just that. On Wednesday, Ankeny went 8-4 on the opening day of the tournament and advanced five wrestlers to Thursday's … [Read more...] about Hawks are tied for 9th place in Class 3A, advance 5 wrestlers to quarterfinals