When the Ankeny girls' soccer program began in 1996, the Hawkettes didn't immediately find success. Ankeny struggled in its first three seasons, going a combined 12-33-1 under coach Rhonda Fors. However, Fors turned the program around in 1999, guiding the Hawkettes to a 12-7 record for their first winning season. Since then, the Ankeny program … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ soccer team
Jaguars
Centennial softball team ranked No. 11 in Class 5A preseason rankings
The Ankeny Centennial softball team is ranked No. 11 in Class 5A in the preseason rankings by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. The Jaguars return several starters from a team that posted a 26-12 record last year, the winningest season in school history. They will open the season on June 15 at Des Moines Roosevelt. Here are the Class 5A … [Read more...] about Centennial softball team ranked No. 11 in Class 5A preseason rankings
Former Centennial standout Vipond earns Leopard Award in her final season
Former Ankeny Centennial basketball standout Tasha Vipond is the recipient of the Leopard Award from the Lafayette College women's basketball program. The Leopards announced the award via Twitter. "Our Leopard Award recipient is someone who embodies all the qualities of a Lafayette student-athlete: strong student, committed athlete, great teammate, and … [Read more...] about Former Centennial standout Vipond earns Leopard Award in her final season
Ankeny Fanatic Preps of the Week: Claire Beath and Rachel Moore, girls’ golf
Claire Beath is a member of the Ankeny Centennial girls' golf team, while fellow senior Rachel Moore plays for crosstown rival Ankeny. Their 2020 season was wiped out due to the coronavirus. Beath posted an average score of 56.9 strokes as a junior. Moore finished the 2019 season with a 59.4 average. Here is some inside info on the duo: Even though … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Preps of the Week: Claire Beath and Rachel Moore, girls’ golf
Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ golf team
Nobody is more associated with the Ankeny girls' golf program than Toni Dickey. Dickey played for the Hawkettes in high school and later became the head coach of the program for 31 years. She led Ankeny to three state titles and also coached four individual state champions before retiring after the 2017 season. Those individual champs--Sarah Gilbert, … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ golf team
Centennial’s Murray suffers ACL injury, will have surgery on June 4
Cleao Murray called it the worst pain she has ever felt in her life. The Ankeny Centennial basketball standout suffered a serious knee injury on May 11 while practicing with the All Iowa Attack in Ames. She tore her left ACL and part of her meniscus. "We were doing a drill, and I hyperextended (my knee) while I was passing to a teammate," said Murray. … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Murray suffers ACL injury, will have surgery on June 4
Summer sports athletes preparing for return to field with precautions
Jasmine Rumley wasn't sure if she'd get another chance to wear her Ankeny softball uniform. Now, it appears that she will. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced last week that summer athletic seasons may be conducted for high school baseball and softball following a two-month suspension of activities due to the coronavirus. Practices will begin on June … [Read more...] about Summer sports athletes preparing for return to field with precautions
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Samson Densmore, Centennial tennis
Senior Samson Densmore was a member of the Ankeny Centennial boys' tennis team. He helped the Jaguars reach the Class 2A semifinals of the state team tournament last year. Densmore also qualified for the state doubles tournament along with teammate Ryan Lofgren. He compiled an 8-3 record in singles and went 13-6 in doubles, including 11-5 while playing … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Samson Densmore, Centennial tennis
Centennial’s Petersen earns scholarship from Track Guy Foundation
Ankeny Centennial track standout Katie Petersen is one of the recipients of the 2020 Track Guy Foundation Scholarship awards. Petersen was among 47 Iowa high school seniors involved in track and field and/or cross country who applied for the scholarship. From those applicants, seven winners were selected by the Foundation's Board of Directors. Each of … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Petersen earns scholarship from Track Guy Foundation
Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny bowling teams
In the last month, Ankeny Fanatic has unveiled its all-time Ankeny teams in boys' and girls' basketball, wrestling and boys' swimming. Now, in order to complete the winter sports, it's time to focus on bowling--the newest of the sports that are sanctioned by the high school governing bodies. The girls' program began in the 2007-08 season after the Iowa … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny bowling teams
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Trey Morris, Centennial senior
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Roland Agyeman, Centennial boys’ soccer
Roland Agyeman is a senior on the Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team. He would have been one of the Jaguars' top returning players this season. Agyeman started 10 games for Centennial a year ago. He helped the Jaguars to a 13-4 record. Here is some inside info on Agyeman: How are you dealing with the pandemic? Are you getting used to the "new … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Roland Agyeman, Centennial boys’ soccer
Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny boys’ swimming team
The history of Ankeny boys' swimming dates back to the 1980s--before the Ankeny YMCA was even built. Mike Johnson graduated before Ankeny had an indoor swimming pool, so he traveled to Dowling High School twice a day for a pair of three-hour practices. He participated in high school meets in order to qualify for the state meet by swimming in Valley's … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny boys’ swimming team
‘I like how it’s close to home’: DeAngelo to continue track career at Drake
An opportunity to keep running on the blue oval was one that Dylan DeAngelo couldn't pass up. The Ankeny Centennial senior verbally committed earlier this week to continue his track career at Drake University. The standout hurdler picked the Bulldogs over the University of Missouri-Kansas City. "It was a very tough decision," said DeAngelo. "I really … [Read more...] about ‘I like how it’s close to home’: DeAngelo to continue track career at Drake
Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny wrestling team
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is dedicated to longtime Des Moines Register wrestling reporter Dan McCool, who died on Monday at the age of 60. Dan was a legend in the wrestling community and will be sorely missed. I was working for the Register as a correspondent in the 80s and one of the first big events that I was asked to cover was to help out Dan with state … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny wrestling team
Ankeny’s Reynolds, Centennial’s Hron to play soccer at Simpson College
Two more Ankeny-area soccer players have decided to spend the next four years in Indianola. Ankeny senior Ben Reynolds has committed to play for Simpson College. He joins his teammate Colby Cheney, who previously committed to the Storm. "The fact that I already knew Colby was going to Simpson helped me in knowing that I would be going along with a … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Reynolds, Centennial’s Hron to play soccer at Simpson College
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Grace Nemmers, Centennial girls’ tennis
Senior Grace Nemmers was one of the top returning players on the Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis team, which had its season cancelled last month due to the coronavirus. Nemmers helped the Jaguars to an 8-5 record in 2019. She posted a 6-6 mark at the No. 5 singles position and went 5-4 in doubles. Here is some inside info on Nemmers: You've had a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Grace Nemmers, Centennial girls’ tennis
Centennial’s Sease: ‘Choosing Wartburg was an easy decision for me’
Ankeny Centennial's Lauren Sease didn't need another season of golf to figure out where she wanted to play in college. She had already made up her mind. Sease, who verbally committed to Wartburg College last fall, is still convinced that she made the right choice. "Choosing Wartburg was an easy decision for me," Sease said. "I only visited one … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Sease: ‘Choosing Wartburg was an easy decision for me’
First-year coaches Varnum, Espinosa deal with devastation of lost season
Perhaps nobody was more excited to coach his team this spring than Ankeny boys' soccer coach Marcus Varnum. Unless it was Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis coach Armando Espinosa. Both Espinosa and Varnum were first-year head coaches who had their debut seasons wiped out by the coronavirus. Espinosa, the head tennis professional at Ames Fitness Center, … [Read more...] about First-year coaches Varnum, Espinosa deal with devastation of lost season
Jaguars’ Pieper earns National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award
Ankeny Centennial defensive lineman Lucas Pieper has been named a winner of the National Football Foundation's Iowa Chapter Scholar Athlete Award for 2020. This award recognizes high school football players who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in their communities. Pieper helped the Jaguars to an 8-2 record … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ Pieper earns National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award