A dramatic rally allowed Ankeny freshman Kira Smith to advance to the semifinals of the Class 2A singles bracket in the girls' state tennis tournament on Friday at Waukee Northwest. The fourth-seeded Smith won the final four games in the third set to post a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 victory over Sasha Hyacinth of Waterloo West in the quarterfinals. She raised her … [Read more...] about NO ORDINARY SMITH: Ankeny freshman advances to Class 2A singles semifinals
Jaguars
Jaguars again shoot season-best score, finish 10th in Class 4A state meet
There was nothing to lose for the Ankeny Centennial girls' golf team on Friday. Sitting in 10th place heading into the final round of the Class 4A state meet at Otter Creek, the Jaguars simply went out to have fun on a beautiful day for golf. "I think it helped a lot," Centennial sophomore Payton Drefke said of the sunny skies and temperatures in the … [Read more...] about Jaguars again shoot season-best score, finish 10th in Class 4A state meet
Saves by Bergan, Becker allow Jaguars to outlast Johnston, return to state tourney
The Johnston girls' soccer team entered Thursday's Class 3A regional final at Ankeny Centennial with a pedestrian 9-7 mark. Centennial coach Chris Allen and his players knew, however, that the 14th-ranked Dragons were better than what their record showed. "We went to overtime with them earlier this season so we were expecting a really competitive … [Read more...] about Saves by Bergan, Becker allow Jaguars to outlast Johnston, return to state tourney
‘I’m not disappointed at all!’: Jaguars sit in 10th place after shooting a 364
The Ankeny Centennial girls' golf squad sits at the bottom of the team standings heading into Friday's final round in the Class 4A state meet at Otter Creek. Centennial coach John Petersen isn't concerned, however, with where the Jaguars finish in the 10-team field. "I'm not disappointed at all!" Petersen said. "We shot our best score of the year. I am … [Read more...] about ‘I’m not disappointed at all!’: Jaguars sit in 10th place after shooting a 364
‘It feels so good!’: Jaguars advance to state, will play Urbandale next
Even with a sore back, Ankeny Centennial's Rashidi Ishibwami could not contain his excitement following Wednesday's Class 3A substate final against the visiting Des Moines Hoover boys' soccer team. Ishibwami scored a goal in the first half and the fifth-ranked Jaguars overcame the rainy conditions to post a 2-1 victory that allowed them to qualify for the … [Read more...] about ‘It feels so good!’: Jaguars advance to state, will play Urbandale next
Peterson places 5th in Class 2A, sets his sights on state championship next year
There's little doubt that Ankeny Centennial boys' tennis standout Caleb Peterson will be one of the favorites to win the Class 2A state singles title next year. "That's definitely my goal--to win state," Peterson said. The junior earned a fifth-place finish in Class 2A on Wednesday with a dominant performance at the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation … [Read more...] about Peterson places 5th in Class 2A, sets his sights on state championship next year
‘A win is a win’: Jaguars overcome rainy conditions to advance to regional final
The rainy weather conditions proved to be a huge obstacle for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team on Tuesday. "The biggest thing we faced was connecting passes in those conditions," said Centennial coach Chris Allen. "We had a lot of balls that would just skip past a player. It kind of made it difficult to play the style we wanted to … [Read more...] about ‘A win is a win’: Jaguars overcome rainy conditions to advance to regional final
Peterson rebounds from 1st-round loss, earns top-8 finish in Class 2A singles
Ankeny Centennial junior Caleb Peterson is guaranteed a second consecutive top-eight finish in the boys' Class 2A state tennis tournament. After placing sixth in doubles a year ago, Peterson was hoping to contend for the singles title this season. But he lost to second-seeded Kaden Taylor of Waukee Northwest, 6-2, 0-6, 6-4, in the opening round of the … [Read more...] about Peterson rebounds from 1st-round loss, earns top-8 finish in Class 2A singles
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 184
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm previews the girls' state golf meet with the Ankeny Centennial duo of Kaitlyn Ault and Payton Drefke and the girls' state tennis meet with the Ankeny trio of Kira Smith, Anna Schmitz and Tori Johnson. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 184
Lacey tosses perfect game, Severson follows with 4 triples in Jaguars’ sweep
Ankeny Centennial pitcher Lincoln Lacey accomplished a rare feat during the first game of Monday's CIML Iowa Conference baseball doubleheader at Marshalltown. Teammate Nick Severson then may have topped Lacey with his performance in the second game. After Lacey threw a three-inning perfect game in the opener, Severson went 4-for-4 in the nightcap and … [Read more...] about Lacey tosses perfect game, Severson follows with 4 triples in Jaguars’ sweep
‘We’ve got a lot of talent’: No. 2 Jaguars rout Marshalltown twice to open season
It didn't take long for the Ankeny Centennial softball team to show off its potential. The second-ranked Jaguars opened their season on Monday by sweeping a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader at Marshalltown in impressive fashion. They rolled to a 16-0 victory in three innings in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 14-0 triumph. "Our girls … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got a lot of talent’: No. 2 Jaguars rout Marshalltown twice to open season
Jaguars roll past S.E. Polk in substate semifinal behind Ishibwami’s hat trick
Brian Duax hasn't forgotten what happened in 2019. His Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team made sure that history didn't repeat itself. The fifth-ranked Jaguars got a hat trick from Rashidi Ishibwami and rolled to a 6-0 victory over visiting Southeast Polk in a Class 3A substate semifinal on Monday. The result was similar to last month's meeting at … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past S.E. Polk in substate semifinal behind Ishibwami’s hat trick
Jaguars return 7 starters from last year’s Class 5A state runner-up squad
In the last two seasons, the Ankeny Centennial softball team has gotten progressively closer to a Class 5A state championship. Maybe this will be the year that the Jaguars reach their ultimate goal. "The goal every season is to get to Fort Dodge in July, and this season is no different," said Centennial coach Brett Delaney. "Our goal right now is to … [Read more...] about Jaguars return 7 starters from last year’s Class 5A state runner-up squad
State pairings announced: Peterson to play No. 2 seed in 1st round of 2A singles
The pairings for the boys' Class 2A state tennis tournament have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Ankeny Centennial junior Caleb Peterson received a tough draw in the singles bracket. He will open up against second-seeded Kaden Taylor of Waukee Northwest, who was a part of last year's state champion doubles team at … [Read more...] about State pairings announced: Peterson to play No. 2 seed in 1st round of 2A singles
Ankeny boys race to sprint medley relay crown, place 3rd overall in Class 4A
The strategy for the Ankeny boys' sprint medley relay team was simple. Get the baton to anchor runner Tyrese Miller--the Class 4A 400-meter champion--within striking distance of the lead, and let him do the rest. It turned out that Miller didn't need to make up any ground after all. His teammates--Jack Belding, Tyler Sickerson and Tyson … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys race to sprint medley relay crown, place 3rd overall in Class 4A
Runner-up finishes in 4×400 relay, 800 allow Hawkettes to place 7th in Class 4A
Ankeny senior Eva Fulk sat on the infield turf at Drake Stadium and tried to catch her breath after running the final race of her high school career. Fulk helped the Hawkettes to a second-place finish in the final event of the Class 4A state meet--the 4x400 relay--on Saturday afternoon. "It's sad, but I wouldn't have wanted to do it with any other … [Read more...] about Runner-up finishes in 4×400 relay, 800 allow Hawkettes to place 7th in Class 4A
Jaguars struggle at plate while being swept at Waukee, fall to 0-3 on season
The bats were silent on Thursday for the Ankeny Centennial baseball team. The fourth-ranked Jaguars were held to just six hits in a non-conference doubleheader at Waukee and were swept by the Warriors, 4-0 and 3-2. "Waukee's a pretty good team," said Centennial coach Mark Hey. "We saw three really outstanding pitchers for them." Waukee's Camden … [Read more...] about Jaguars struggle at plate while being swept at Waukee, fall to 0-3 on season
‘I think we really proved ourselves today’: Hawkettes capture state title in DMR
When the Ankeny girls' distance medley relay team stepped on the track Friday morning at the Class 4A state meet, the Hawkettes were not only racing against some of the state's top squads in the final section of the event. Ankeny was also racing the clock. Defending champion Cedar Rapids Prairie got a 2:13.39 anchor leg from Gabby Cortez and won the … [Read more...] about ‘I think we really proved ourselves today’: Hawkettes capture state title in DMR
Centennial’s Valentine places 4th in long jump; Hawks take 5th in 4×200 relay
Ankeny Centennial senior Isaiah Valentine jumped 21 feet 6 inches on his second attempt in the long jump at the Class 4A state track meet on Friday at Drake Stadium. Valentine wasn't able to improve his mark on the next four jumps, but he held on for a fourth-place finish. He scored five points for the Jaguars, who are tied for 23rd place heading into the … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Valentine places 4th in long jump; Hawks take 5th in 4×200 relay
‘Nobody can beat me’: Ankeny’s Miller cruises to Class 4A state title in 400
As he sped around the blue oval at Drake Stadium on Thursday, Ankeny senior Tyrese Miller knew that he was about to become a state champion for the first time. Miller won the 400 in the boys' Class 4A state track meet in a time of 48.71 seconds. He finished nearly a full second ahead of runner-up Luke Meyers of Iowa City Liberty. "That's definitely the … [Read more...] about ‘Nobody can beat me’: Ankeny’s Miller cruises to Class 4A state title in 400





















