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
Winter
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
Ankeny boys pull away in 2nd half, hand defending champions their 1st loss
The Harrison Barnes Gym at Ames' new high school could become a tough place to play for opposing basketball teams. That wasn't the case on Friday for the Ankeny boys' squad. The visiting Hawks pulled away in the second half for a 64-50 victory over Ames in a non-conference game. The defending Class 4A state champion Little Cyclones (2-1) suffered their … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys pull away in 2nd half, hand defending champions their 1st loss
Hawkettes rout Ames, set school record for most points in five-player game
Coming off a pair of tough losses, the Ankeny girls' basketball team needed a little bit of a break. The Hawkettes' schedule provided one on Friday. Tenth-ranked Ankeny made 11-of-16 3-point shots and rolled to a 96-37 victory at Ames in a non-conference game. The Hawkettes set a school record for the most points in a five-player game, breaking the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rout Ames, set school record for most points in five-player game
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
‘Our guys are giving us everything they have’: Hawks top Webster City, Ballard
With some of its best wrestlers still out of the lineup, Ankeny nevertheless managed to earn a pair of victories on Thursday at Huxley. But it wasn't easy. The Hawks, who are sixth in the Class 3A dual rankings, opened the triangular meet with a 41-35 win over Webster City. They later posted a 36-30 triumph over the host Bombers to improve to 3-0 on … [Read more...] about ‘Our guys are giving us everything they have’: Hawks top Webster City, Ballard
Ankeny swimmers tie Dowling Catholic after being DQ’d in 400 freestyle relay
A dual-meet victory got away from the Ankeny boys' swimming team on Thursday. The fifth-ranked Hawks battled No. 8 Dowling Catholic to an 85-85 tie in a CIML Conference matchup at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The Maroons won the final event, the 400 freestyle relay, to forge the tie. Ankeny held an 81-75 lead going into the last race, but the Hawks' … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers tie Dowling Catholic after being DQ’d in 400 freestyle relay
‘We needed that for the team mojo’: Akers, Hawks pull away from S.E. Polk
The Ankeny boys' basketball team got a much-needed win on Tuesday. The Hawks pulled away in the second half to defeat visiting Southeast Polk, 57-40, for their first victory of the season. They improved to 1-2 in the CIML Conference, while the Rams' records dropped to 0-2 in the league and 0-3 overall. "Anytime you start the season and you get your … [Read more...] about ‘We needed that for the team mojo’: Akers, Hawks pull away from S.E. Polk
‘We got very stagnant’: Cold-shooting Ankeny girls tumble to No. 8 S.E. Polk
With the final seconds of the first half ticking off the clock on Tuesday night, Southeast Polk guard Alyssa Bartlett hurried the ball up the court during a CIML Conference girls' basketball game at Ankeny. Bartlett dribbled behind her back to avoid an Ankeny defender, then launched a 3-point shot from half-court that swished through the net as time … [Read more...] about ‘We got very stagnant’: Cold-shooting Ankeny girls tumble to No. 8 S.E. Polk
Jaguars rack up 23 pins, romp past 3 foes at C.B. Lewis Central quadrangular
The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team turned in a dominating performance on Tuesday at the Council Bluffs Lewis Central quadrangular. The Jaguars easily defeated all three of their opponents, racking up 23 pins while raising their record to 5-0. They posted a 66-16 win over Clarinda, a 66-18 victory over Denison-Schleswig, and a 65-11 triumph over Lewis … [Read more...] about Jaguars rack up 23 pins, romp past 3 foes at C.B. Lewis Central quadrangular
‘Our kids didn’t quit’: Hawk wrestlers run into tough foes at Donnybrook event
Coach Jack Wignall never wants his Ankeny wrestling team to shy away from strong competition. That's why the Dan Gable Donnybrook on Friday and Saturday at the Xtream Arena in Coralville was such a positive experience for the Hawks. "This was arguably the toughest high school tournament in the country this weekend," said Wignall. "There were some teams … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids didn’t quit’: Hawk wrestlers run into tough foes at Donnybrook event
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Karsen Jacks, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Junior guard Karsen Jacks has helped the ninth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 2-1 record. She made 4-of-5 3-point shots and scored 14 points in the Hawkettes' 68-59 loss to No. 2 Johnston on Friday at Ankeny. Jacks is averaging 9.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. She has committed just one turnover on the season. Jacks is the team's best … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Karsen Jacks, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Schwebach wins 2 events, leads Ankeny to 3rd-place finish at Wittmer Invite
Only 62 points separated the top four teams in the Mike Wittmer Invitational boys' swimming meet on Saturday at Ames. Pleasant Valley won the team title with 378 points, edging defending champion Ames by 17 points. Ankeny was third in the eight-team field with 326 points, followed by Cedar Falls with 306. "It was definitely hit or miss in terms of … [Read more...] about Schwebach wins 2 events, leads Ankeny to 3rd-place finish at Wittmer Invite
Bruhl, Cody Vandermark claim titles; Jaguars place 4th at Mustang Invite
This isn't the same Ankeny Centennial wrestling team that opponents will see later in the season. That's what coach Jay Groth is hoping anyway. The Jaguars placed fourth among 14 teams in the Andy Davidson Mustang Invitational on Saturday at Dallas Center-Grimes. They finished with 184.5 points. "We had some guys who overperformed and some guys who … [Read more...] about Bruhl, Cody Vandermark claim titles; Jaguars place 4th at Mustang Invite
‘We just couldn’t get the lid off the rim’: Hawks struggle late in loss to Johnston
Brandt Carlson isn't too concerned about his team's 0-2 start. The Ankeny boys' basketball coach knows that the Hawks will continue to improve. "We're getting better in some ways, but it's just not showing up in the win column," said Carlson. "But I like our team." The Hawks dropped a 61-45 decision to visiting Johnston in a CIML Conference game on … [Read more...] about ‘We just couldn’t get the lid off the rim’: Hawks struggle late in loss to Johnston
Without injured Moser, Hawkettes’ valiant effort falls short against No. 2 Johnston
For more than a half, the Ankeny girls' basketball team had defending Class 5A state champion Johnston on the ropes on Friday night. The ninth-ranked Hawkettes jumped out to a 19-8 lead in the first quarter and held a 30-27 advantage at halftime before No. 2 Johnston took control and pulled away for a 68-59 victory in a CIML Conference game at Ankeny. The … [Read more...] about Without injured Moser, Hawkettes’ valiant effort falls short against No. 2 Johnston
‘This is a great start to the season’: Ankeny bowling teams sweep Johnston
For the first time since the 2020-21 season, the Ankeny boys' and girls' bowling teams both enjoyed a victory on the same day. The two squads opened their season on Thursday with narrow wins over Johnston at Game Day Lanes. The Hawks won by a score of 2,464 to 2,428, while the Hawkettes prevailed by a 2,063 to 1,931 margin. "I was very happy with how … [Read more...] about ‘This is a great start to the season’: Ankeny bowling teams sweep Johnston
Ankeny swimmers drop 101-69 decision to two-time defending state champs
At least the Ankeny boys' swimming team won't have to see Waukee again until 2023. The Hawks dropped a 101-69 decision to the two-time defending state champions in a CIML Conference dual meet on Thursday at the Waukee YMCA. Ankeny competed against the Warriors for the second time in two weeks. Waukee easily won the season-opening Ankeny Sprint … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers drop 101-69 decision to two-time defending state champs
‘It’s pretty gratifying’: Hawk matmen open season with 39-32 win at No. 3 Johnston
Last month, Joe Kingston and the Ankeny football team ended the season with a loss to Johnston in the Class 5A quarterfinals. On Thursday, Kingston and a couple of his football teammates earned a measure of revenge on the wrestling mat. Kingston, Will Hinrichs and Cade Bennethum each recorded a fall as the sixth-ranked Hawks opened their season with a … [Read more...] about ‘It’s pretty gratifying’: Hawk matmen open season with 39-32 win at No. 3 Johnston