Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Winter

Ankeny swimmers celebrate Senior Night with 114-56 victory over Johnston

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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

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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

Aguirre scores career-high 28 points, but Ankeny boys tumble to No. 5 Valley

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Hawk swimmers tumble to No. 2 Ames, despite Swanepoel’s pair of pool records

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The fourth-ranked Ankeny boys' swimming team dropped a 108-62 decision at No. 2 Ames in a non-conference dual meet on Tuesday. The Little Cyclones won nine of the 11 events, including all three relays. The Hawks dropped to 0-3-1 on the season. "Our team did pretty well," said Ankeny assistant coach Steve Jones, who is directing the team during the … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers tumble to No. 2 Ames, despite Swanepoel’s pair of pool records

Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Jag-Hawk basketball showdowns

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The Jag-Hawk basketball rivalry will resume on Tuesday night at Ankeny, where all four teams will be looking to build some momentum heading into the holiday break. While the girls' all-time series has been dominated by Centennial, the boys' series has been a back-and-forth affair that is now tied at nine wins apiece. Both the Hawks and Jaguars have won as … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Jag-Hawk basketball showdowns

‘We’re putting the whole state on notice’: Hawks finish 3rd at Battle of Waterloo

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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

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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

‘It felt so good to finally get a win’: Ankeny swimmers capture Little Hawk Invite title

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The Ankeny boys' swimming team won only two events but came away with the overall crown in the Little Hawk Invitational on Saturday at the Mercer Park Aquatic Center in Iowa City. The fourth-ranked Hawks racked up 373 points in the seven-team meet. No. 3 Pleasant Valley was second with 331.5, edging No. 8 Iowa City West by three points for the runner-up … [Read more...] about ‘It felt so good to finally get a win’: Ankeny swimmers capture Little Hawk Invite title

Hawks finish brutal 4-game stretch in 6 days with 70-52 loss to No. 6 S.C. East

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A brutal four-game stretch for the Ankeny boys' basketball team ended on Saturday with a 70-52 loss to sixth-ranked Sioux City East in the Arena Basketball Invitational Showcase at the Tyson Events Center. The Hawks started the week with home losses to No. 7 Indianola on Monday and No. 1 Waukee Northwest on Tuesday, then rebounded with a win at Dowling … [Read more...] about Hawks finish brutal 4-game stretch in 6 days with 70-52 loss to No. 6 S.C. East

Dowling girls edge Hawkettes on Muller’s 3-point play with 2 seconds left

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Any scouting report on the Dowling Catholic girls' basketball team is going to start with the Maroons' best player, point guard Ava Zediker. But it was Dowling's supporting cast--and freshman post player Ellie Muller in particular--who proved to be the difference on Friday. Muller converted a 3-point play with 2 seconds left to give the 11th-ranked … [Read more...] about Dowling girls edge Hawkettes on Muller’s 3-point play with 2 seconds left

Ankeny boys get much-needed road win before taking trip to Sioux City

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Just three nights after being held to 29 points, the Ankeny boys' basketball team erupted for a season-high offensive output in a 74-65 victory on Friday at Dowling Catholic. The Hawks pulled away in the second half to improve their records to 2-3 in the CIML Conference and 3-4 overall. Dowling, which had won two of its last three games after being blown … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys get much-needed road win before taking trip to Sioux City

‘We knew we could win this dual’: Hawks beat Jaguars, maintain bragging rights

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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

Swanepoel returns, but Valley sets 4 pool records and tops Ankeny swimmers

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On paper, Thursday's dual meet between the fifth-ranked Ankeny boys' swimming team and No. 4 Valley appeared to be a toss-up. The two squads entered the CIML Conference matchup separated by just four points in the latest power rankings of the state's top teams. In the end, though, host Valley dominated the meet, winning seven of the 11 events and … [Read more...] about Swanepoel returns, but Valley sets 4 pool records and tops Ankeny swimmers