Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Fall

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ellie Blevins, Centennial girls’ cross country

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Junior Ellie Blevins helped the fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team to a runner-up finish in the Kirk Schmaltz Invitational on Thursday at the Iowa State cross country course in Ames. She placed third in the 5K race with a personal-best time of 18 minutes 2.4 seconds. Blevins, who is ranked fifth in Class 4A as an individual, is a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ellie Blevins, Centennial girls’ cross country

Jaguars overcome Heither’s injury to finish unbeaten run through Little Hawk Invite

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Ankeny Centennial's domination of the Little Hawk Invitational volleyball tournament continued on Saturday at Iowa City High. The second-ranked Jaguars won the event for the fifth straight year, but it may have been costly. Junior middle hitter Sophia Heither went down with an injury in the team's final match of the day. Centennial coach Jessica … [Read more...] about Jaguars overcome Heither’s injury to finish unbeaten run through Little Hawk Invite

Morgan’s huge night on ground, Reed’s pick-6 lead Jaguars to rout over Linn-Mar

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The Ankeny Centennial football team couldn't afford to have an 0-2 start to the season. JJ Morgan and Kiefer Reed made sure that the Jaguars didn't. Morgan rushed for 207 yards and four touchdowns in the first half alone, and Reed added a pick-6 as well as a fumble recovery as Centennial rolled to a 35-10 victory over visiting Linn-Mar (Marion) on … [Read more...] about Morgan’s huge night on ground, Reed’s pick-6 lead Jaguars to rout over Linn-Mar

‘I thought we battled hard’: Jaguars take No. 1 Waukee NW to 5 sets in nailbiter

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It took only three days for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team to drastically close the gap on top-ranked Waukee Northwest. After being swept by Northwest in the championship match of the Centennial Early Bird Invitational on Saturday, the No. 4 Jaguars traveled to Waukee on Tuesday for a rematch and took the unbeaten Wolves to a fifth set before … [Read more...] about ‘I thought we battled hard’: Jaguars take No. 1 Waukee NW to 5 sets in nailbiter

‘The little mistakes hurt us’: Kickoffs prove costly in Jaguars’ 30-14 loss at S.E. Polk

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Just when the Ankeny Centennial football team appeared to have all the momentum, Southeast Polk grabbed it right back in the next couple of plays. The four-time defending state champion Rams scored two touchdowns in a 2-minute span of the third quarter and went on to beat visiting Centennial, 30-14, in the season opener for both squads on Friday. "The … [Read more...] about ‘The little mistakes hurt us’: Kickoffs prove costly in Jaguars’ 30-14 loss at S.E. Polk

Centennial boys win Jaguar Invitational for their first team crown since 2020 season

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country runners may have surprised some of the other teams on Tuesday. The 17th-ranked Jaguars opened their season by winning the Jaguar Invitational at DMACC. They scored a total of 49 points when the results of the two boys' races were combined. It was Centennial's first team title since the 2020 season, when the … [Read more...] about Centennial boys win Jaguar Invitational for their first team crown since 2020 season

‘We’re excited for this season’: Jaguars to open up against 4-time defending champ

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Most football coaches would prefer to play an overmatched opponent in the season opener just to give their younger players an opportunity to gain some experience. Ankeny Centennial co-head coach Ryan Pezzetti won't have that luxury. The Jaguars will kick off the 2025 season on Friday with a game at Southeast Polk, the four-time defending Class 5A state … [Read more...] about ‘We’re excited for this season’: Jaguars to open up against 4-time defending champ

Miller, Logan sweep individual honors at Copper Creek, but Jags fall to NW, Rams

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Although the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team swept the top two individual places in a CIML Conference triangular meet on Tuesday at Copper Creek, the Jaguars were unable to pull out a victory against either Waukee Northwest or host Southeast Polk. The Wolves posted a score of 303 to defeat both of their conference rivals. Centennial and Southeast Polk … [Read more...] about Miller, Logan sweep individual honors at Copper Creek, but Jags fall to NW, Rams

Jaguars stay connected, outlast Indianola girls in 4 sets to win their season opener

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A year ago, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team opened its season by rallying for a dramatic five-set victory at Indianola. Monday's season opener against the Indians wasn't as much of a nailbiter, but the fourth-ranked Jaguars still had to survive some tense moments on their home court. Centennial bounced back from a loss in Set 2 to post a 25-17, … [Read more...] about Jaguars stay connected, outlast Indianola girls in 4 sets to win their season opener

‘This team will be solid’: Centennial boys’ squad boasts 4 returning varsity regulars

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After just missing last year's state meet, the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team will be looking to return to Fort Dodge in 2025. The Jaguars are seeking their fifth trip to the state meet in school history. They previously qualified in 2015, 2020, 2021 and 2023. Centennial placed ninth in Class 4A in 2020, its highest finish ever. That … [Read more...] about ‘This team will be solid’: Centennial boys’ squad boasts 4 returning varsity regulars

Jaguars look to reload with 3 returning state qualifiers, talented freshman class

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In the past, Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country coach Eric Cogdill has always been able to reload--rather than rebuild--his squad. The Jaguars have qualified for the state meet 11 times in the 12-year history of the program. The only year that Cogdill's team failed to make it to Fort Dodge was 2019. Now, Cogdill faces the challenge of replacing … [Read more...] about Jaguars look to reload with 3 returning state qualifiers, talented freshman class

Deep, talented Centennial volleyball team looks to get over Class 5A semifinal hump

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A year ago, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team posted an undefeated 8-0 record to win the title in the CIML Conference--arguably the best league from top to bottom in the state. It was an amazing accomplishment for the Jaguars, but unfortunately they fell short of their ultimate goal. They finished with a 32-5 overall mark after losing in the Class 5A … [Read more...] about Deep, talented Centennial volleyball team looks to get over Class 5A semifinal hump

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Tiernan Logan, Ankeny Centennial boys’ golf

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Senior Tiernan Logan shot a 2-over-par 73 on Thursday as the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team opened its season by posting a 296 total in a triangular meet at Terrace Hills. The Jaguars lost to both Dowling Catholic (284) and Johnston (292). Logan helped Centennial to a ninth-place finish in last year's Class 4A state meet at Briarwood Golf Club. He … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Tiernan Logan, Ankeny Centennial boys’ golf

‘I am very excited about our depth!’: Jags show promise in opener at Terrace Hills

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Thursday's season-opening triangular meet at Terrace Hills provided a glimpse of the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team's potential. It also showed the kind of competition that the Jaguars will be facing in the CIML Conference. Centennial played well in the 18-hole meet, but came away from the opener with a pair of losses. Dowling Catholic shot a 284 to … [Read more...] about ‘I am very excited about our depth!’: Jags show promise in opener at Terrace Hills

‘There is a ton of potential’: Jags return 4 of top 6 golfers from 4A’s 9th-place team

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It won't take long for the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team to find out where it stands. The Jaguars will open their season on Thursday with a CIML Conference triangular meet against Dowling Catholic and Johnston at Terrace Hills. The Dragons are coming off their second state title in three years and return three of the top 15 players in Class 4A, led by … [Read more...] about ‘There is a ton of potential’: Jags return 4 of top 6 golfers from 4A’s 9th-place team

‘SDSU is the place to be’: Centennial’s Dieken-Keahey commits to Jackrabbits

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Ankeny Centennial football standout Braylin Dieken-Keahey has made his college decision. The junior offensive lineman announced on Monday that he has verbally committed to South Dakota State. "SDSU is the place to be," said Dieken-Keahey. "Great town, great team, and great people. Coach (Dan) Jackson and (offensive line) coach (Mike) Bangtson are the … [Read more...] about ‘SDSU is the place to be’: Centennial’s Dieken-Keahey commits to Jackrabbits

Bruhl chooses football over baseball, commits to play receiver for Iowa Western

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Ankeny Centennial senior Isaac Bruhl is a two-time state placewinner in wrestling and an all-state infielder on the baseball team. He discovered last fall, though, that football was his favorite sport. "I knew I wanted to play either baseball or football in college and after this year’s football season, I had a lot of fun and didn’t want to give up … [Read more...] about Bruhl chooses football over baseball, commits to play receiver for Iowa Western

DOG PILE: Grider commits to join Kluver, Anderson on Drake football roster

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Ankeny Centennial football standout Mitchell Grider has decided to follow in the footsteps of teammates Reed Anderson and Chase Kluver. The senior defensive lineman said he would have committed to play for Drake anyway. "Their commitment had no effect on my choice," said Grider, who announced his verbal commitment to the Bulldogs on … [Read more...] about DOG PILE: Grider commits to join Kluver, Anderson on Drake football roster