There was nothing scary about the volleyball match between Ankeny Centennial and Dowling Catholic that was played on Halloween. The two CIML Conference rivals simply played an all-time classic on the state's biggest stage. Sixth-ranked Centennial outlasted the No. 4 Maroons, 25-22, 23-25, 19-25, 29-27, 15-11, in a Class 5A quarterfinal at the state … [Read more...] about ‘We just had to keep fighting’: Jaguars outlast Dowling Catholic in 5-set thriller
Fall
Quass places 5th to become 3-time medalist, leads Jags to 4th-place finish
The final race of Rondi Quass' high school cross country career could not have gone much better. The Ankeny Centennial senior raced to a fifth-place finish in the girls' Class 4A state meet on Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. She broke her own school record with a time of 18 minutes 16 seconds on the 5k course. "That was probably about … [Read more...] about Quass places 5th to become 3-time medalist, leads Jags to 4th-place finish
Schermerhorn races to 12th-place finish, becoming 2nd Jaguar to medal at state
When Ankeny Centennial's AJ Schermerhorn crossed the finish line in 97th place at last year's boys' Class 4A state cross country meet, he wasn't satisfied with his performance. On Saturday, the junior made up for it. Schermerhorn earned a spot on the awards podium with a 12th-place finish in the 5k race at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. He posted … [Read more...] about Schermerhorn races to 12th-place finish, becoming 2nd Jaguar to medal at state
‘It’s a tough one to swallow’: Turnovers prove costly in Jags’ loss at Cedar Falls
The Ankeny Centennial football players were hoping to finish their season in the UNI-Dome. The Jaguars ended up doing just that, but not in the Class 5A championship game like they would have preferred. No. 12 Centennial traveled to Cedar Falls on Friday and fell to the No. 5 Tigers, 14-10, in the opening round of the playoffs. The Jaguars, who had … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a tough one to swallow’: Turnovers prove costly in Jags’ loss at Cedar Falls
‘It was a great night’: Jaguars rout Riders, earn their 9th trip to state in 10 years
One statistic stood out from Tuesday's Class 5A regional volleyball final between sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial and visiting Des Moines Roosevelt. The Roughriders finished with more hitting errors (16) than kills (15), resulting in a -.013 hitting percentage. "It was a great night for us," Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart said after her team swept … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great night’: Jaguars rout Riders, earn their 9th trip to state in 10 years
Jaguars romp past East to clinch playoff berth, await postseason pairings
The Ankeny Centennial football team entered Friday's regular-season finale against visiting Des Moines East ranked 14th in the PRI ratings and badly needing a victory to clinch a Class 5A playoff berth. The Jaguars got what they needed in resounding fashion. Centennial scored a touchdown just 19 seconds into the game and went on to rout the Scarlets, … [Read more...] about Jaguars romp past East to clinch playoff berth, await postseason pairings
‘I think we can go all the way’: Confident Jaguars rout S.C. West in regional opener
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball players didn't spend a lot of time preparing for their first postseason opponent. The sixth-ranked Jaguars focused most of their attention over the last week on themselves. "We decided to (play) more as a team and try and do things more as a team," said Centennial sophomore Jaeden Pratt. "We knew that Sioux City (West) … [Read more...] about ‘I think we can go all the way’: Confident Jaguars rout S.C. West in regional opener
‘We knew it would be tough’: Jaguars fall to No. 2 S.E. Polk without Porter, Smith
This wasn't the best week for the Ankeny Centennial football team to be missing two of its key players. With quarterback Trenton Smith and running back Elijah Porter both out with injuries, the eighth-ranked Jaguars traveled to defending Class 5A state champion Southeast Polk and suffered a 42-16 loss on Friday. "We knew it would be tough," said … [Read more...] about ‘We knew it would be tough’: Jaguars fall to No. 2 S.E. Polk without Porter, Smith
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Taylor Bechen, Ankeny Centennial senior
‘We just kept fighting’: Winkel, Jaguars hold off Waukee NW on Senior Night
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team let two match points slip away during Tuesday's battle against visiting Waukee Northwest. Delainey Winkel made sure that the Jaguars didn't waste their next opportunity to close out the match. Winkel pounded a kill to break a 24-24 tie in the fourth set, then delivered an ace to give fifth-ranked Centennial a … [Read more...] about ‘We just kept fighting’: Winkel, Jaguars hold off Waukee NW on Senior Night
‘Thanks for a great ride!’: Centennial boys’ golf coach Fee resigns from post
Rick Fee wants to spend more time with his family. The Ankeny Centennial boys' golf coach resigned from his position, just two days after the season officially ended. "My time now needs to be with my wife and kids as they grow older," Fee said in a Facebook post on Monday. Fee has been a part of the Centennial program since it began in 2013. He … [Read more...] about ‘Thanks for a great ride!’: Centennial boys’ golf coach Fee resigns from post
Jaguars’ winning streak ends as 2nd-half rally falls short vs. Waukee Northwest
Friday's loss to visiting Waukee Northwest may not cost the Ankeny Centennial football team a Class 5A playoff berth. But the 20-14 setback could hurt the Jaguars' playoff seeding. Centennial entered the game with a No. 7 ranking in last week's RPI ratings by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Because of their strength of schedule, the Jaguars … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ winning streak ends as 2nd-half rally falls short vs. Waukee Northwest
‘We reached a whole new level’: Jaguars top Mount Vernon, finish 4-1 at tourney
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team is hoping to peak at the end of the season. The fifth-ranked Jaguars took another step toward reaching that goal with a strong performance on Saturday in the Westside Invitational at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. Centennial won all three of its matches during pool play, capped off by a 21-13, 21-6 victory over Mount … [Read more...] about ‘We reached a whole new level’: Jaguars top Mount Vernon, finish 4-1 at tourney
‘It wasn’t in the cards for us’: Jaguars fall 3 strokes short of state meet berth
The Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team knew what it needed to do on Monday. The 14th-ranked Jaguars needed to beat No. 7 Dowling Catholic in a Class 4A district meet in order to qualify for state, but they came up three strokes short at Blank Golf Course in Des Moines. The Maroons placed third in the 13-team field with a 314, while Centennial shot a … [Read more...] about ‘It wasn’t in the cards for us’: Jaguars fall 3 strokes short of state meet berth
Jaguars gear up for showdown at Ankeny after placing 2nd at Urbandale Invite
There's no time to rest for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. Not with a showdown at second-ranked Ankeny coming up on Tuesday. After placing second in the Urbandale Invitational on Saturday, the No. 5 Jaguars are going back into the gym on Sunday to prepare for their crosstown rival. "Overall, we were happy with the results, but we were … [Read more...] about Jaguars gear up for showdown at Ankeny after placing 2nd at Urbandale Invite
AIR RAID?: Jaguars ride Smith’s 4 TD passes to 28-23 win at No. 6 Urbandale
The identity of the Ankeny Centennial football program appears to be changing. Traditionally known as a power running team, the Jaguars have now evolved into a dangerous passing squad--somewhat out of necessity. With standout junior running back Elijah Porter sidelined by an injury, quarterback Trenton Smith took over on Friday and passed for four … [Read more...] about AIR RAID?: Jaguars ride Smith’s 4 TD passes to 28-23 win at No. 6 Urbandale
Quass earns 1st career win, leads Jaguars to runner-up finish; ACHS boys place 4th
Although its winning streak came to an end, the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team still enjoyed a successful meet on Thursday. The fourth-ranked Jaguars placed second among eight teams in the Bud Williams Invitational at Iowa City. They finished with 47 points. "We had an outstanding day of racing after a terrific week of training!" said … [Read more...] about Quass earns 1st career win, leads Jaguars to runner-up finish; ACHS boys place 4th
‘Let’s get this done!’: Jaguars close out Johnston with 25-7 rout in Set 4
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball players didn't want to go to a fifth set on Tuesday. A dominant fourth set made sure that they didn't have to. After letting the third set slip away, the sixth-ranked Jaguars regrouped and rolled to a 25-22, 25-22, 24-26, 25-7 victory over No. 8 Johnston in a CIML Conference match at the Centennial gym. "After the … [Read more...] about ‘Let’s get this done!’: Jaguars close out Johnston with 25-7 rout in Set 4
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: AJ Schermerhorn, ACHS boys’ cross country
Junior AJ Schermerhorn led the Ankeny boys' cross country team to an eighth-place finish in the Indianola Invitational on Thursday at Pickard Park. He placed third in the 5k race with a time of 16 minutes 10 seconds. Schermerhorn, who is ranked in the top 10 of Class 4A as an individual, has been the Jaguars' top finisher at all five meets this season. He … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: AJ Schermerhorn, ACHS boys’ cross country
Jaguars hand No. 6 Sioux City East its first loss on Wiener’s late field goal, 31-28
A drizzling rain couldn't put a damper on Ankeny Centennial's homecoming football game. Cael Wiener booted an 18-yard field goal with 58 seconds left to give the 10th-ranked Jaguars a 31-28 victory over No. 6 Sioux City East on Friday at Ankeny Stadium. "I was very confident I was going to make it," said Wiener, who had earlier converted all four of … [Read more...] about Jaguars hand No. 6 Sioux City East its first loss on Wiener’s late field goal, 31-28