Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Winter

Hawks overcome sluggish start to beat Hoover for 14th win of season

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In Friday's loss to top-ranked Ankeny Centennial, the Ankeny boys' basketball team got a game-high 26 points from Braxton Bayless, but none of his teammates scored more than six. On Tuesday, Bayless again led the way with 20 points, but he got some much-needed help as the Hawks posted a 65-58 victory at Des Moines Hoover in a non-conference game. Jaxon … [Read more...] about Hawks overcome sluggish start to beat Hoover for 14th win of season

Hawkettes make 15 3-point goals, score season-high 78 points at Hoover

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Once the shots started falling for the Ankeny girls' basketball team on Tuesday, they just kept dropping. The Hawkettes made 15 3-point goals and rolled to a 78-46 victory at Des Moines Hoover in a non-conference game. It was their highest offensive output of the season and their highest in four years under coach Dru McAnelly. "Hoover isn't very good, … [Read more...] about Hawkettes make 15 3-point goals, score season-high 78 points at Hoover

Hawk bowlers surpass 3,000-pin mark in victory over Fort Dodge

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All season long, the Ankeny boys' bowling team has been inching closer to the 3,000-pin mark. On Monday, the Hawks finally surpassed it. Ankeny bowled a season-high score to defeat visiting Fort Dodge in a non-conference dual meet at Great Escape. The Hawks won by a score of 3,069 to 2,909. "We've been chasing that number all year, and we all were … [Read more...] about Hawk bowlers surpass 3,000-pin mark in victory over Fort Dodge

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Weston Miner, Ankeny boys’ swimming

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Junior Weston Miner helped the Ankeny boys' swimming team to its third straight district title on Saturday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. He placed second in both the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke. Miner and the Hawks will try to win a second consecutive state championship on Saturday in Iowa City. He placed eighth in the backstroke and also swam … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Weston Miner, Ankeny boys’ swimming

Hawk swimmers claim district title, but fail to qualify for state in some events

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Although the second-ranked Ankeny boys' swimming team easily captured a district title on Saturday at Trail Point Aquatics Center, the Hawks' dominance wasn't necessarily a good thing. The defending state champions were competing in a field that included only one other top-20 squad--No. 16 Des Moines Roosevelt. The lack of competition proved costly at … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers claim district title, but fail to qualify for state in some events

No. 2 Jaguars hold off Ankeny, capture first conference crown since 2015

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Braxton Bayless wouldn't hesitate to pass the ball to Jaxon Smith again. Smith missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds of Friday's Jag-Hawk rematch at Ankeny, allowing the second-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to escape with a 50-48 victory. "I'll give it to him 100 percent of the time if he's wide open like … [Read more...] about No. 2 Jaguars hold off Ankeny, capture first conference crown since 2015

‘It’s always been a slugfest’: Centennial tops Hawkettes in defensive battle

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team turned in a spectacular defensive effort on Friday. It wasn't enough to knock off archrival Ankeny Centennial. The 12th-ranked Jaguars pulled away in the fourth quarter to post a 43-27 victory at Ankeny. They closed out the game with a 16-2 run. "This is the way it's been down here for the last seven years. It's … [Read more...] about ‘It’s always been a slugfest’: Centennial tops Hawkettes in defensive battle

‘It’s a really great feeling’: Jaguars edge Ankeny to clinch conference title

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Ankeny Centennial's Cody McCullough wasn't happy when he missed a free throw with 9 seconds left in Friday's game at Ankeny. The miss allowed the Hawks to have an opportunity to win the game on the final possession. Braxton Bayless fired a pass to Jaxon Smith in the left corner, but Smith's 3-point try bounced off the rim in the final seconds. … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a really great feeling’: Jaguars edge Ankeny to clinch conference title

Jag-Hawk II: Boys to play for league crown; Girls’ game more about pride

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A lot will be at stake on Friday when the two Ankeny boys' basketball teams meet for the second time in less than three weeks. Second-ranked Ankeny Centennial heads across town for a rematch against the Hawks, who will be looking to avenge a 69-61 loss at Centennial on Jan. 20. The Jaguars (7-1, 16-1) can clinch the outright CIML Central Conference title … [Read more...] about Jag-Hawk II: Boys to play for league crown; Girls’ game more about pride

Ankeny wrestlers fall into 16-0 hole, then win final 11 matches against Bobcats

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The Ankeny wrestlers tuned up for the postseason with a 65-16 victory at Marshalltown in a non-conference meet on Thursday. The Hawks, who are 13th in the Class 3A dual rankings by The Predicament, improved to 14-5 on the season. Marshalltown dropped to 8-14. "We had some kids get a win tonight that really needed it," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "I … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers fall into 16-0 hole, then win final 11 matches against Bobcats

Reserves shine as Hawkettes romp past Marshalltown to extend winning streak

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Ankeny girls' basketball coach Dru McAnelly wasn't happy with his team's effort in the first quarter of Tuesday's game against visiting Marshalltown. The Hawkettes held a 12-9 lead after the opening period against a struggling squad that had scored just 14 and 18 points in its previous two losses to fifth-ranked Waukee and No. 11 Valley. "I got after … [Read more...] about Reserves shine as Hawkettes romp past Marshalltown to extend winning streak

Ankeny boys erupt for 96 points in lopsided victory over Marshalltown

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team needed a breather on Tuesday. The Hawks got one. After winning two of its previous three games in the final seconds, ninth-ranked Ankeny raced out to a 45-22 halftime lead and rolled to a 96-50 victory over visiting Marshalltown in a non-conference contest. It was the Hawks' highest offensive output of the … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys erupt for 96 points in lopsided victory over Marshalltown

Hawk bowlers roll 251 in last baker game to edge East, even record at 5-5

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The Ankeny boys' bowling team pulled out another narrow victory on Tuesday to even its overall record at 5-5. The Hawks posted a score of 251 in their final baker game to defeat visiting Des Moines East in a non-conference dual meet at Great Escape. They won by a score of 2,968 to 2,918. Ankeny was coming off a 44-pin win over Dowling Catholic on … [Read more...] about Hawk bowlers roll 251 in last baker game to edge East, even record at 5-5

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Matt Stueckradt, Ankeny boys’ basketball

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Junior guard Matt Stueckradt has helped the ninth-ranked Ankeny boys' basketball team to a 13-3 record. The Hawks rolled to a 96-50 victory over visiting Marshalltown on Tuesday. Stueckradt is averaging 2.1 points per game. He is shooting 29.4 percent from 3-point range (5-of-17). "Matt has played well off the bench," said Ankeny coach Brandt … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Matt Stueckradt, Ankeny boys’ basketball

Smith’s late 3-pointer stuns Ames, keeps Hawks in race for conference title

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For the second time in three games, the Ankeny boys' basketball team escaped with a victory on a last-second basket. Jaxon Smith drained a 3-pointer from the left corner with 2 seconds left to give the ninth-ranked Hawks a 45-42 win at Ames on Friday. Smith hit the shot after receiving a pass from Braxton Bayless, whose last-second basket gave Ankeny a … [Read more...] about Smith’s late 3-pointer stuns Ames, keeps Hawks in race for conference title

‘It was just a matter of time’: Hawkettes stifle Ames for first conference victory

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Ashley Harrington knew that the Ankeny girls' basketball team was going to win its first conference game. She just didn't know when. Friday turned out to be the night as Harrington scored 16 points to lead the Hawkettes to a 60-49 victory at Ames. They improved to 1-7 in the CIML Central Conference and 7-10 overall, while Ames' records fell to 3-5 and … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a matter of time’: Hawkettes stifle Ames for first conference victory

Ankeny trio, Centennial’s Neils capture individual titles at CIML Invitational

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If Friday's CIML Invitational at Southeast Polk was any indication of what's going to happen later this month at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament, then both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial could make a lot of noise at Wells Fargo Arena. The eighth-ranked Jaguars placed second in Friday's 16-team tournament, while the No. 7 Hawks took fourth. It was … [Read more...] about Ankeny trio, Centennial’s Neils capture individual titles at CIML Invitational

Hawk bowlers come from behind to beat Dowling; Hawkettes also prevail

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Don't ever count out the Ankeny boys' bowling team. Head coach Lane Richtsmeier certainly won't following Wednesday's dual meet at Val Lanes. The Hawks rallied from a sizable deficit to beat Dowling Catholic by a score of 2,996 to 2,952. It was a season-high total for the Ankeny boys' squad. "I'm going to start calling them 'The Comeback Kids,'" … [Read more...] about Hawk bowlers come from behind to beat Dowling; Hawkettes also prevail