Ankeny girls' basketball standouts Savannah Gage and Jenna Pitz have been named to the Class 5A West all-district team for the second straight year. The duo was joined on the squad by a pair of Ankeny Centennial players, Makenna Clark and Jaeden Pratt. The all-district teams were selected by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Gage, a sophomore guard, … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Gage, Pitz earn all-district honors along with Centennial duo
Jaguars
SWEET REVENGE: Jaguars oust No. 3 Waterloo West, will play Johnston next
A year ago, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team ended its season with a loss to Waterloo West in the Class 5A quarterfinals. On Monday at Wells Fargo Arena, the Jaguars returned the favor. Sixth-seeded Centennial got 20 points from senior guard Makenna Clark and defeated No. 3 Waterloo West, 60-51, on the opening day of the state … [Read more...] about SWEET REVENGE: Jaguars oust No. 3 Waterloo West, will play Johnston next
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Mya Crawford, Ankeny Centennial sophomore
The versatile guard scores 10 points and grabs nine rebounds to help the Jaguars to a 60-51 win over Waterloo West in a Class 5A quarterfinal at the girls' state basketball tournament. … [Read more...] about Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Mya Crawford, Ankeny Centennial sophomore
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Makenna Clark, Centennial girls’ hoops
Senior guard Makenna Clark scored six points and grabbed six rebounds to help the sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 35-32 victory over No. 11 Linn-Mar (Marion) in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Centennial. The Jaguars earned a third consecutive trip to the state tournament for the first time in school history. Clark is … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Makenna Clark, Centennial girls’ hoops
State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals
In recent years, the Central Iowa Metropolitan League has dominated the girls' Class 5A state basketball tournament. Waukee cruised to the title in 2021, winning its three games at Wells Fargo Arena by an average of 24 points. Then, last year, Johnston reached the championship game for the third straight year and won its second crown in that span in … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A quarterfinals
Jaguars topple Iowa City West, will play No. 8 Cedar Falls for state tourney berth
The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball players were prepared for a battle on Friday night. The 10th-ranked Jaguars survived their postseason opener, posting a 57-52 win over visiting Iowa City West in a Class 4A substate semifinal. "I thought we adjusted really well after the first quarter to the physicality of the game," said Centennial coach Bob … [Read more...] about Jaguars topple Iowa City West, will play No. 8 Cedar Falls for state tourney berth
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 214
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm breaks down the boys' basketball postseason with coaches Brandt Carlson of Ankeny and Bob Fontana of Ankeny Centennial and previews the girls' state tournament with Centennial senior post player Kennedy White. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 214
IT’S A THREEPEAT!: Centennial girls hold off Linn-Mar, earn another trip to state
The seniors on the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team got one last chance to play on their home court Tuesday night. They didn't want it to be their final game. Kennedy White scored 11 points, Averi Porter dished out six assists and Makenna Clark made a pair of 3-point goals to help the sixth-ranked Jaguars to a 35-32 victory over No. 11 Linn-Mar … [Read more...] about IT’S A THREEPEAT!: Centennial girls hold off Linn-Mar, earn another trip to state
Hawk wrestlers place 10th, Jaguars finish 12th in Class 3A state tournament
It was a rollercoaster Saturday for the Ankeny wrestling team during the consolation finals of the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. The Hawks went 3-7 on the day and finished in 10th place overall with 89.5 points. Still, they had six placewinners for the first time under coach Jack Wignall. "It was a really fun tournament," said … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers place 10th, Jaguars finish 12th in Class 3A state tournament
Jaguars rout Urbandale again, will host Linn-Mar for trip to 5A state tournament
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team has never qualified for the state tournament in three consecutive seasons. The sixth-ranked Jaguars moved a step closer toward doing just that with a 60-19 victory over visiting Urbandale in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday. They raced out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, built a 43-4 advantage at … [Read more...] about Jaguars rout Urbandale again, will host Linn-Mar for trip to 5A state tournament
Ankeny wrestlers fall to 10th, Jaguars drop to 12th after semifinal losses
It was a rough Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena for the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team. Crosstown rival Ankeny fared considerably better in the Class 3A state tournament, especially in the consolation rounds. The Hawks went 6-3 on the back sides of the brackets and are now in 10th place with 81.5 points. Six of Ankeny's nine state qualifiers earned … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers fall to 10th, Jaguars drop to 12th after semifinal losses
‘It was a tough road loss’: Jaguars fall to Johnston in final game of regular season
The eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team closed out the regular season on Friday with a 53-46 loss at Johnston. The Dragons pulled away from a tie in the last 4 minutes to earn their third straight win. They avenged an earlier 63-60 loss at Centennial in double overtime. Johnston finished 7-9 in the CIML Conference and improved to … [Read more...] about ‘It was a tough road loss’: Jaguars fall to Johnston in final game of regular season
‘That was awesome’: Cale Vandermark, Lucas Bruhl punch tickets to semifinals
Ankeny Centennial freshman Cale Vandermark was getting tired during his quarterfinal match at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament on Thursday. His opponent, though, was beginning to fade as well under the bright lights at Wells Fargo Arena. The sixth-seeded Vandermark got a takedown in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime, then got … [Read more...] about ‘That was awesome’: Cale Vandermark, Lucas Bruhl punch tickets to semifinals
Revive Clinic and Spa Coach of the Month: Jay Groth, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
The Jaguars are currently tied with Ankeny for 6th place midway through the Class 3A state tournament. … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Coach of the Month: Jay Groth, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
Jaguars advance 4 wrestlers into Thursday’s quarterfinals, sit in 7th place
The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team sits in seventh place with 36 points after Wednesday's opening session of the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The Jaguars qualified a school-record 12 wrestlers for the tournament and advanced four of them into Thursday night's quarterfinals. They are sixth-seeded Cale Vandermark at 106 … [Read more...] about Jaguars advance 4 wrestlers into Thursday’s quarterfinals, sit in 7th place
‘They really have grown’: Ankeny bowling teams place 7th at state qualifying meet
The Ankeny bowling teams closed out their season this week with seventh-place finishes in a Class 3A state qualifying meet at Wayward Social in Marshalltown. The Hawks competed in a district meet on Tuesday and posted a total of 2,579. That's an average of 172 for the 15 bakers games. Ankeny bowled a 203 in its sixth bakers game. The Hawks had their … [Read more...] about ‘They really have grown’: Ankeny bowling teams place 7th at state qualifying meet
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 213
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm previews the state wrestling tournament with coach Jack Wignall and senior Jace Anderson of Ankeny and coach Jay Groth and senior Cael Wiener of Ankeny Centennial. Ankeny senior Lance Swanepoel, who was named the Athlete of the Year at the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 213
Substate pairings announced: Jaguars earn No. 1 seed; Hawks to host Ottumwa
The Class 4A substate boys' basketball pairings have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial (14-6) received a No. 1 seed in Substate 2, while Ankeny (7-14) earned a No. 3 seed in Substate 6. The Jaguars will host a substate semifinal on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. They will play the winner of a quarterfinal … [Read more...] about Substate pairings announced: Jaguars earn No. 1 seed; Hawks to host Ottumwa
Here are 3A state wrestling matchups for Ankeny, Centennial qualifiers
The Class 3A state wrestling tournament gets under way on Wednesday with the preliminary and first-round matches at 6 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena. With 24 qualifiers in each weight class, the top eight seeds will receive a bye into the first round. Ankeny Centennial has four top-eight seeds among its 12 qualifiers, while Ankeny has three top-eight … [Read more...] about Here are 3A state wrestling matchups for Ankeny, Centennial qualifiers
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ari Ehlts, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
Junior Ari Ehlts is one of 12 state qualifiers for the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team. He helped the Jaguars to a second-place finish in a Class 3A district tournament on Saturday at Marshalltown. The ninth-ranked Ehlts pinned his way to the 160-pound title, capped off by a fall over Gerald Norton of Cedar Falls in 3 minutes 38 seconds. He will take a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ari Ehlts, Ankeny Centennial wrestling