Ankeny Fanatic

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Jaguars

Jaguars return 6 varsity regulars, led by two-time state placewinner Peterson

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Ankeny Centennial senior Caleb Peterson has a chance to join his former teammate, Will Blevins, as a three-time placewinner in the boys' state tennis tournament. Peterson placed sixth in doubles while playing with Nic Mackaman as a sophomore in 2021. He then placed fifth in singles last year. Now, Peterson will try to become the first state champion in … [Read more...] about Jaguars return 6 varsity regulars, led by two-time state placewinner Peterson

‘Leave it on the field’: Experienced Jaguars seek their 4th title in 7 seasons

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team has won three state championships in the last six seasons. Now, the Jaguars will try to defend the Class 3A title they won a year ago--something they were unable to do in 2017 and 2019. However, Centennial coach Chris Allen said his team isn't focusing on the big picture. "We have not set any goals as a team … [Read more...] about ‘Leave it on the field’: Experienced Jaguars seek their 4th title in 7 seasons

Football group assignments for Class 5A announced by IHSAA

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The district and group assignments for the 2023 and 2024 football seasons have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Districts and Class 5A groups are effective for a two-year cycle. The 2023 season will be the first with a socioeconomic factor added for classifications. Approved this winter by the State Board of Education, the … [Read more...] about Football group assignments for Class 5A announced by IHSAA

‘CCU has just what I was looking for’: White to join Phipps at Division II school

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Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball standout Kennedy White is following in the footsteps of another ex-Jaguar. White has committed to play for Colorado Christian University, an NCAA Division II school in Lakewood, Colo. One of her new teammates will be Maggie Phipps, who was an all-state guard at Centennial two years ago. "I talked to Maggie about CCU … [Read more...] about ‘CCU has just what I was looking for’: White to join Phipps at Division II school

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kambria Leazer, Centennial girls’ track

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Junior Kambria Leazer is one of 15 returning state qualifiers for the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team. She helped the Jaguars to a 20th-place finish in Class 4A a year ago. Leazer tied for sixth in the high jump (5 feet) and placed 16th in the long jump (15-9.5). She earlier set a school record in the long jump at the CIML Iowa Conference meet, where … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kambria Leazer, Centennial girls’ track

Winkel named to Class 4A first team, while Johnson earns 2nd-team honors

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Ankeny Centennial's Luke Winkel enjoyed a breakout season on the basketball court. His counterpart at Ankeny, Carson Johnson, spent much of the campaign trying to regain his form after undergoing knee surgery in the offseason. Both junior point guards have been rewarded for their efforts by earning all-state honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers … [Read more...] about Winkel named to Class 4A first team, while Johnson earns 2nd-team honors

Ankeny’s Johnson, Centennial’s Winkel named to CIML Conference first team

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Standout junior guards Carson Johnson of Ankeny and Luke Winkel of Ankeny Centennial have been named to the CIML Conference first team by a vote of the league's boys' basketball coaches. Winkel, who led the Jaguars to a 16-8 record and a trip to the Class 4A state tournament, was a unanimous pick. He averaged a team-high 16.8 points, 4.9 assists and 1.5 … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Johnson, Centennial’s Winkel named to CIML Conference first team

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Nick Vaske, Ankeny Centennial boys’ hoops

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Junior guard Nick Vaske helped the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a 16-8 record this season. He made 3-of-4 attempts from 3-point range and scored 10 points in the Jaguars' 55-37 loss to Waukee Northwest in the Class 4A quarterfinals on Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena. Vaske started all 24 games, averaging 9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds. He shot … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Nick Vaske, Ankeny Centennial boys’ hoops

Centennial boys return high-scoring trio of Duax, Heckenlaible and Ishibwami

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Perhaps no boys' soccer team in the state returns a trio as talented as Ankeny Centennial's threesome of Ty Duax, Andrew Heckenlaible and Rashidi Ishibwami. Last year, that triumvirate racked up 154 points while leading Centennial to a 16-4 record. The Jaguars advanced to the Class 3A semifinals before dropping a 2-1 decision to Waukee Northwest. "The … [Read more...] about Centennial boys return high-scoring trio of Duax, Heckenlaible and Ishibwami

Cold shooting, foul trouble prove costly for Jaguars in loss to No. 3 Waukee NW

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Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana tried to look on the bright side Wednesday following his team's season-ending loss at Wells Fargo Arena. "We can be sad that we didn't win today, but let's be dang glad that it happened because you'd much rather have your season end here than before you get here," said Fontana. "This is a resilient … [Read more...] about Cold shooting, foul trouble prove costly for Jaguars in loss to No. 3 Waukee NW

CLASS 4A QUARTERFINAL: Waukee Northwest 55, Ankeny Centennial 37

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The third time was not a charm for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. After losing twice to third-ranked Waukee Northwest during the regular season, the No. 10 Jaguars dropped a 55-37 decision to their CIML Conference rival in a Class 4A quarterfinal on Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena. The Wolves (22-2) had won the first two meetings by scores of … [Read more...] about CLASS 4A QUARTERFINAL: Waukee Northwest 55, Ankeny Centennial 37

Boys’ state preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 4A quarterfinals

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Last week, top-ranked Pleasant Valley capped off an undefeated season by winning the girls' Class 5A state basketball title. Now, the No. 1 Cedar Rapids Kennedy boys' team will try to accomplish the same feat. The Class 4A tournament gets under way Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena. Whichever team cuts down the nets on Friday night will have to win three … [Read more...] about Boys’ state preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 4A quarterfinals

‘We have some talented individuals’: Jaguars need to stay healthy, be patient

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Two of the returning state qualifiers for the Ankeny Centennial boys' track team are still busy playing for the boys' basketball squad. Juniors Drake Dittmar and Connor Welsch are both reserve guards for the Jaguars, who will face Waukee Northwest in a Class 4A quarterfinal on Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena. Welsch has played in all 23 … [Read more...] about ‘We have some talented individuals’: Jaguars need to stay healthy, be patient

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Gage, Pratt among 6 sophs to earn Class 5A all-state honors

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The future looks very bright for Class 5A girls' basketball in the state of Iowa. Six sophomores and a pair of freshmen were among the players named to the Class 5A all-state teams by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association, who selected the squads during a meeting on Saturday in conjunction with a panel of coaches. Ankeny star Savannah Gage and … [Read more...] about YOUTH MOVEMENT: Gage, Pratt among 6 sophs to earn Class 5A all-state honors

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE: Fontana visits with pair of Ankeny legends

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Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana has been busy preparing his team for this week's Class 4A state tournament, but he still took some time on Sunday to visit Barney Alleman and Keith Hildreth, two former Ankeny players who played in three consecutive state tournaments in 1948-50. A third former player, Vern Herring, was unable to make it. … [Read more...] about A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE: Fontana visits with pair of Ankeny legends

‘We’ve got some great athletes’: Jaguars boast 15 returning state qualifiers

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With 120 athletes on the roster, the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team boasts a lot of depth in multiple areas. New head coach Tyler Asbe, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant for the Ankeny girls' team, likes what he has seen thus far from his squad. "The practices are going really well," said Asbe. "The girls have come to practice with … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got some great athletes’: Jaguars boast 15 returning state qualifiers

Unanimous pick Gage earns all-league first-team honors along with Clark, Pratt

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Ankeny sophomore guard Savannah Gage has been named to the CIML Conference girls' basketball first team along with a pair of Ankeny Centennial players--senior guard Makenna Clark and sophomore forward Jaeden Pratt. Gage, who led the Hawkettes to a 12-11 record this season, was one of five unanimous picks to the squad. She averaged 16.6 points per game, … [Read more...] about Unanimous pick Gage earns all-league first-team honors along with Clark, Pratt

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Drew Schreurs, Ankeny Centennial boys’ hoops

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Senior guard Drew Schreurs has helped the 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a 16-7 record. He scored seven points and grabbed three rebounds to help his team to a 54-47 win over No. 8 Cedar Falls in a Class 4A substate final on Tuesday at Marshalltown, allowing the Jaguars to advance to the state tournament for the second time in school … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Drew Schreurs, Ankeny Centennial boys’ hoops