The Central Iowa Metropolitan League boasts seven of the top 11 teams in Class 5A in the latest girls' basketball rankings from the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Despite the overall strength of the nine-team league, top-ranked Johnston continues to dominate its CIML rivals. The defending state champion Dragons extended their winning streak to … [Read more...] about ‘We got exposed’: Ankeny hangs around for awhile before Dragons dominate
Winter
Johnston boys pull away with 24-5 run in 3rd quarter, defeat Hawks for 2nd time
This time, the Johnston boys' basketball team didn't blow a big lead. The Dragons, who let a 16-point cushion in the fourth quarter slip away in a 65-64 loss at fifth-ranked Indianola on Saturday, bounced back with a 63-50 victory over visiting Ankeny on Tuesday. They opened the second half with a 24-5 run to build a 54-29 advantage, then cruised to the … [Read more...] about Johnston boys pull away with 24-5 run in 3rd quarter, defeat Hawks for 2nd time
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
Ankeny Fanatic Preps of the Week: Chase Jordan and Kali Ogg, Ankeny bowling
Senior Chase Jordan leads the Ankeny boys' bowling team with a 358.5 series average. He bowled a season-high total of 413 in the Hawks' win over Johnston in their season opener on Dec. 1 at Game Day Lanes. Sophomore Kali Ogg ranks second on the Ankeny girls' squad with a 303 series average. She bowled a career-best total of 334 to lead the Hawkettes to a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Preps of the Week: Chase Jordan and Kali Ogg, Ankeny bowling
Hawkettes rout Roosevelt girls, avenge last year’s loss in Class 5A regional final
The Ankeny girls' basketball team took an early lead against visiting Des Moines Roosevelt on Saturday without any time running off the clock. The Roughriders were called for a technical foul before the opening tipoff because the uniform number for one of their players was incorrectly entered into the scorebook. It was that kind of day for … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rout Roosevelt girls, avenge last year’s loss in Class 5A regional final
Urbandale boys rally to force OT, then hold off Hawks to end losing streak
After Jamison Patton swished a 3-pointer from the left corner midway through the third quarter of Friday's game at Urbandale, he slapped the hand of Ankeny boys' basketball coach Brandt Carlson on his way back up the court. Patton's trey gave his team a 32-23 lead, and it appeared that the Hawks were on the verge of ending their three-game losing … [Read more...] about Urbandale boys rally to force OT, then hold off Hawks to end losing streak
Ankeny girls roll past Urbandale, snap three-game skid with 79-42 victory
Ankeny girls' basketball coach Dru McAnelly didn't want to call Friday's contest at Urbandale a must-win game. But it clearly was. The 11th-ranked Hawkettes raced out to a 48-21 halftime lead and cruised to a 79-42 victory in a CIML Conference matchup. They snapped a three-game losing skid while raising their records to 3-5 in the league and 6-5 … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls roll past Urbandale, snap three-game skid with 79-42 victory
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Lance Swanepoel, Ankeny boys’ swimming
The Wisconsin recruit wins 2 individual events and also swims on 2 winning relays to help the Hawks to a 114-56 victory over Johnston on Senior Night. … [Read more...] about Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Lance Swanepoel, Ankeny boys’ swimming
Ankeny girls’ bowling team tops Dowling, but boys’ squad falls to Maroons
The Ankeny bowling teams split a CIML Conference dual meet with visiting Dowling Catholic on Thursday at Great Escape. The girls' squad won by a score of 1,953 to 1,849. However, the boys' team fell by a score of 2,681 to 2,598. "It was our Senior Night," said Ankeny coach Lane Richtsmeier. "It was a great win for the girls. This was our first meet … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ bowling team tops Dowling, but boys’ squad falls to Maroons
Ankeny swimmers celebrate Senior Night with 114-56 victory over Johnston
The seniors on the Ankeny boys' swimming team were hungry for a dual-meet victory. There was no better time to get one than on Senior Night. The fifth-ranked Hawks dominated from start to finish and defeated No. 14 Johnston, 114-56, in a CIML Conference dual meet on Thursday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. It was the first win of the season for … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers celebrate Senior Night with 114-56 victory over Johnston
‘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 Podcast: Episode 207
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm interviews Ankeny girls’ basketball coach Dru McAnelly and senior guard Jenna Pitz about the Hawkettes' up-and-down start to the 2022-23 campaign and looks ahead to the rest of the season. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 207
Aguirre scores career-high 28 points, but Ankeny boys tumble to No. 5 Valley
Despite a career-high 28 points from Lio Aguirre, the Ankeny boys' basketball team dropped a 70-58 decision at fifth-ranked Valley on Tuesday. The Tigers pulled away in the second half for their fourth straight victory. They improved to 5-2 in the CIML Conference and 6-2 overall, while Ankeny's records dropped to 2-5 and 3-7. The Hawks have lost three … [Read more...] about Aguirre scores career-high 28 points, but Ankeny boys tumble to No. 5 Valley
‘It’s not the record we want’: Hawkettes drop to 5-5 with another close loss
There's an old saying, "Close only counts in horseshoes." For the Ankeny girls' basketball team, coming close to earning a victory is becoming a frustrating habit. The 10th-ranked Hawkettes were looking to start off 2023 with a big win on Tuesday, but their upset bid at No. 4 Valley fell just short. The Tigers made a late 3-point goal to post a 41-38 … [Read more...] about ‘It’s not the record we want’: Hawkettes drop to 5-5 with another close loss
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
‘They bowled amazing’: S.E. Polk teams sweep dual meet against Ankeny
There was no home lanes advantage for the Ankeny bowling teams on Tuesday at Great Escape. Both Ankeny squads were soundly defeated in a CIML Conference dual meet by Southeast Polk, which also uses Great Escape as its home venue. "It was a rough day for both teams," said Ankeny coach Lane Richtsmeier. "We just ran into a buzzsaw." The Rams won the … [Read more...] about ‘They bowled amazing’: S.E. Polk teams sweep dual meet against Ankeny
‘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
Motivated Jaguars dominate boards, roll past Ankeny to avenge last year’s loss
Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong didn't have to remind his players what happened the last time the Jaguars played at crosstown rival Ankeny. Last February, the Hawkettes posted a 49-45 victory to defeat Centennial for the first time ever. "That was definitely some extra motivation," Centennial senior Averi Porter said after the … [Read more...] about Motivated Jaguars dominate boards, roll past Ankeny to avenge last year’s loss