Ankeny Fanatic

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Jaguars

‘All props to Northwest’: No. 2 Wolves spoil Harken’s coaching debut at Centennial

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It wasn’t exactly the start to the Chris Harken era that the Jaguars wanted, but the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team knows there’s only going up from game one. Harken and the Jaguars ran into a well-oiled machine Tuesday in the second-ranked Waukee Northwest Wolves and started off the season with a 65-31 road … [Read more...] about ‘All props to Northwest’: No. 2 Wolves spoil Harken’s coaching debut at Centennial

‘Our mentality is to keep getting better’: Jaguars open their season with 64-21 loss

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team knows that each night is going to be a battle in a loaded CIML Conference. And the Jaguars opened their season with potentially one of their hardest fights of the entire year. New head coach Matt Delger and the Jaguars went on the road Tuesday to face Class 4A title-contending … [Read more...] about ‘Our mentality is to keep getting better’: Jaguars open their season with 64-21 loss

Ankeny girls defeat North Metro, but drop 54-26 decision to Cedar Falls for first loss

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Tuesday's girls' wrestling triangular meet at Ankeny Centennial turned into a pinning exhibition. In the three round-robin dual meets between Ankeny, Cedar Falls and North Metro, all but three of the 32 matches that were contested resulted in falls. In the end, Ankeny came away with a split on the night. Coach Dustin Roland's team posted a 54-30 … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls defeat North Metro, but drop 54-26 decision to Cedar Falls for first loss

Jags return state champ Dhabolt, runner-up Vandermark, placewinner Sodergren

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During his tenure as the head coach of the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers, Jay Groth has built a program that embodies hard work and toughness. That culture has led to a lot of success in the 12-year history of the program, but even Groth admits that it's not easy to be a Jaguar wrestler. "We have lost a few kids this season because wrestling is a hard … [Read more...] about Jags return state champ Dhabolt, runner-up Vandermark, placewinner Sodergren

‘We know every night will be a battle’: Delger, Jags ready for grueling schedule

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Matt Delger spent the last decade preparing for an opportunity that has now arrived. The longtime assistant coach under Bob Fontana has taken over the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball program. He was Fontana's top assistant the last three years after coaching the sophomore team for the previous eight. "The transition has been easy," said Delger. "I … [Read more...] about ‘We know every night will be a battle’: Delger, Jags ready for grueling schedule

‘There will be some growing pains’: Only 3 players return as Jaguars begin new era

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When legendary Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong announced his retirement at the end of last season, it marked the end of an era in more ways than one. Not only was DeJong stepping down after a 37-year coaching career that saw him win a record seven state titles, but the Jaguars also graduated nine of the 12 players from last year's … [Read more...] about ‘There will be some growing pains’: Only 3 players return as Jaguars begin new era

Pearson wins 50 butterfly, leads Ankeny boys to 5th-place finish at Sprint Invite

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The Ankeny boys' swimming team was only three points away from reaching its goal. Coach Dustin Rhoads' squad opened the season on Tuesday by placing fifth among eight teams in the Ankeny Sprint Invitational at Trail Point Aquatics Center. Ankeny scored 293.5 points and finished just behind fourth-place Dowling Catholic, which ended up with 296. "This … [Read more...] about Pearson wins 50 butterfly, leads Ankeny boys to 5th-place finish at Sprint Invite

Clark, Larmie, Morgan, McIntire, Whitinger, Dieken-Keahey earn IFCA all-state honors

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Ankeny defensive back La'Marious Clark has been named to the Class 5A all-state first team for the second year in a row by the Iowa Football Coaches Association. Clark, a senior, was joined on the first team by Ankeny running back Daniel Larmie. Larmie, a senior, was a second-team pick last year. Two Ankeny Centennial seniors also earned first-team … [Read more...] about Clark, Larmie, Morgan, McIntire, Whitinger, Dieken-Keahey earn IFCA all-state honors

‘I am excited for this group’: Ankeny boys’ swimming team returns 6 state qualifiers

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It won't be easy to replace the duo of Brock Peterson and Finn Stukerjurgen, but the Ankeny boys' swimming team returns a solid nucleus from last year's squad. Six state qualifiers are back from a team that tied with Dowling Catholic for 13th place in the state meet with 67 points. "It will be tough to replace Finn and Brock and the impact they … [Read more...] about ‘I am excited for this group’: Ankeny boys’ swimming team returns 6 state qualifiers

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Trudy Haag, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

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Senior Trudy Haag placed fourth at 130 pounds in the Central Iowa Kickoff on Saturday at Nevada. She helped the Ankeny girls' wrestling squad to a third-place finish in the 33-team field. Haag is a three-time state qualifier who placed fifth in Class 2A at 120 as a junior, when she helped Ankeny to a runner-up finish. She has won 99 matches in her … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Trudy Haag, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

‘What a stud’: Bratland outlasts two-time state champ, wins title at Nevada tourney

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Ankeny's Hayden Bratland has won a lot of big matches in her wrestling career. Saturday's victory over Colbie Tenborg of Saydel in the Central Iowa Kickoff at Nevada may have been one of her biggest yet. Bratland, the defending Class 2A state champion at 140 pounds, posted a 7-5 decision over Tenborg in the title match at 145. Tenborg is a two-time … [Read more...] about ‘What a stud’: Bratland outlasts two-time state champ, wins title at Nevada tourney

Ankeny girls ‘take care of business’, roll to 66-15 victory over West Des Moines team

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After handling business in its season-opening triangular meet, the Ankeny girls' wrestling team turned around on Thursday and flexed its muscles in the squad's first CIML Conference dual of the season. Ankeny walked into Valley High School and won 11 of 14 matches with seven wins by fall and four forfeits for a 66-15 victory … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls ‘take care of business’, roll to 66-15 victory over West Des Moines team

Dietz shines as Ankeny girls’ bowling squad falls to Waukee in season opener

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Brooklyn Dietz tied her career-high with a 326 series, but it wasn't enough as the Ankeny girls' bowling team opened its season on Thursday with a loss to Waukee in a CIML Conference dual meet at B-Roll Bowling. The Warriors won the meet by a score of 2,304 to 1,938. "I was pleased with how we bowled for our first meet," said Ankeny coach Adam Booth. … [Read more...] about Dietz shines as Ankeny girls’ bowling squad falls to Waukee in season opener

‘We have really good athletes to work with’: Booth takes over as bowling coach

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The high school bowling season will have a different look this winter. While the girls' teams have already been practicing since early November, the boys' squads didn't begin practice until this week. The Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association will hold separate state tournaments at the end of the … [Read more...] about ‘We have really good athletes to work with’: Booth takes over as bowling coach

‘Lake Land feels like the right place’: Jags’ Starr commits to play for Illinois JUCO

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Ankeny Centennial pitcher and infielder Elijah Starr has committed to play baseball next year at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill. Starr picked the Lakers after looking at a variety of schools. "It was most definitely a tough decision," said Starr. "I had my decision narrowed down to Lake Land, Dodge City in Kansas, and Dakota County in Minnesota. All … [Read more...] about ‘Lake Land feels like the right place’: Jags’ Starr commits to play for Illinois JUCO

Ankeny girls get 2 falls from Shade, 3 others in victories over W-SR, Decorah

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The Ankeny girls' wrestling team came away with a pair of victories on Tuesday in a season-opening triangular meet at Waverly-Shell Rock. Ankeny won 10 of the 14 matches to post a 60-19 triumph over the host Go-Hawks. The team recorded six falls and won four other matches by forfeit. Ankeny also defeated Decorah, 49-30. The squad had five more pins … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls get 2 falls from Shade, 3 others in victories over W-SR, Decorah

Centennial trio, Ankeny threesome earn all-state volleyball honors from IGCA

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Three Ankeny Centennial volleyball stars have earned all-state honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association along with a trio of Ankeny standouts. Centennial's Mya Lei-Butters and Tatem Schmidt were joined on the Class 5A second team by fellow senior Hailey Flanders of Ankeny. Lei-Butters was a third-team pick as a junior. Two other Ankeny players, … [Read more...] about Centennial trio, Ankeny threesome earn all-state volleyball honors from IGCA

Morgan, Dieken-Keahey, McIntire among 10 Jaguars on all-district first team

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The Ankeny Centennial football team landed 10 players on the all-district first team, led by senior running back JJ Morgan, who was named the District 4 Offensive MVP. Senior offensive lineman Braylin Dieken-Keahey and senior punter Austin McIntire were among the other first-team picks. Dieken-Keahey earned first-team honors for the second straight year … [Read more...] about Morgan, Dieken-Keahey, McIntire among 10 Jaguars on all-district first team

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Madi Trosper, Ankeny girls’ swimming

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Senior Madi Trosper helped the Ankeny girls' swimming team to a 27th-place finish in the state meet last week at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center in Iowa City. She placed 31st in the 50 freestyle for the second straight year, posting a time of 25.63 seconds. Trosper swam the backstroke leg of the 200 medley relay in 28.21 seconds, helping her … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Madi Trosper, Ankeny girls’ swimming