Ankeny Fanatic

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Jaguars

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (1st team)

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Jerry Pezzetti has always started his pregame speeches with the same word during his legendary career as a football coach. "Men," he says. "Just by calling us 'men' we felt big, strong and powerful," said Jon Leverenz, a star linebacker for Pezzetti in the 1980s. "And he would proceed to make us feel unstoppable regardless of the challenges ahead. But … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (1st team)

Centennial teammates Simon, Targgart commit to play football at Iowa Western

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Ankeny Centennial football standouts Hudson Simon and Brody Targgart are both headed to Iowa Western Community College. Simon, a linebacker, announced his commitment to the Reivers on Friday. Targgart, a defensive lineman, committed on Saturday. The Centennial teammates visited Iowa Western on Monday. "I knew that day that was where I wanted to go," … [Read more...] about Centennial teammates Simon, Targgart commit to play football at Iowa Western

Ankeny swimmers pick events out of a hat, then place 3rd at conference meet

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For the most part, Ankeny boys' swimming coach Justin Crouch didn't enter his varsity swimmers in their best events for the CIML Conference meet on Saturday at Southeast Polk. He picked his lineup at random. "We decided to swim off events," said Crouch. "Considering we drew events out of a hat, we were able to finish third. I thought it was a great … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers pick events out of a hat, then place 3rd at conference meet

Ankeny bowling teams fall to Waukee despite their ‘best showing’ of season

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The Ankeny bowling teams ran into another tough opponent on Thursday at Warrior Lanes. Host Waukee swept the CIML Conference dual meet, but it was still a good day for coach Lane Richtsmeier's squads. The Hawks posted a season-high score by 50 pins, and the Hawkettes nearly matched their season-high total of 2,063. "Going into this meet, we knew … [Read more...] about Ankeny bowling teams fall to Waukee despite their ‘best showing’ of season

‘We got off to a great start’: Jaguars jump out to 29-4 lead, romp past Burke (Neb.)

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Coming off its worst loss of the season, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team rebounded in a big way. The fifth-ranked Jaguars jumped out to a 29-4 lead in the first quarter and went on to defeat visiting Burke (Neb.), 70-36, in a non-conference game on Friday. "We got off to a great start," said Centennial coach Bob Fontana, whose team had … [Read more...] about ‘We got off to a great start’: Jaguars jump out to 29-4 lead, romp past Burke (Neb.)

Jaguars rout Dowling on Senior Night, reach 20 wins for 3rd time under Groth

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It was a memorable Senior Night for the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers on Thursday. The sixth-ranked Jaguars recorded six pins and rolled to a 57-22 victory over visiting Dowling Catholic in a CIML Conference dual meet. "We wrestled well," said Centennial coach Jay Groth. "I thought all of our guys went out there and fought." Prior to the meet, … [Read more...] about Jaguars rout Dowling on Senior Night, reach 20 wins for 3rd time under Groth

Jaguars avenge loss to No. 4 Valley, move into 3rd-place tie with Tigers

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When the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team suffered a loss at Valley last month, the Jaguars were held to a season-low 40 points. On Tuesday night, that same offensive output was enough to produce a 40-34 victory in a rematch between the two teams at Centennial. "Valley's been a top-five team all year long," said Centennial coach Scott DeJong. … [Read more...] about Jaguars avenge loss to No. 4 Valley, move into 3rd-place tie with Tigers

Bondurant-Farrar tops Ankeny bowling teams in non-conference matchup

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The Ankeny bowling teams both lost to Bondurant-Farrar in a non-conference dual meet on Tuesday at Great Escape, which serves as the home venue for both schools. The Bluejays won the boys' meet by a score of 2,832 to 2,716. They won the girls' meet by a score of 2,154 to 1,944. The two Bondurant-Farrar squads are now a combined 13-3 on the … [Read more...] about Bondurant-Farrar tops Ankeny bowling teams in non-conference matchup

Ankeny girls rack up 26 pins, crown 5 champs en route to CIML team title

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During the regular season, the Ankeny girls' wrestling team went undefeated against the other schools in the CIML Conference. On Tuesday, Ankeny defeated those teams again to win the CIML individual tournament at Valley. It crowned five champions and racked up 230 points, 13 more than runner-up Raccoon River Northwest. Southeast Polk placed third in … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls rack up 26 pins, crown 5 champs en route to CIML team title

‘They’re playing at a very high level’: Tigers race past Centennial in 2nd half

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Tuesday's showdown at Ankeny Centennial was a battle for third place in the CIML Conference boys' basketball standings. Fourth-ranked Valley turned the game into a rout. The Tigers closed out the third quarter with a 21-4 run to build a 65-44 advantage and went on to defeat No. 5 Centennial, 83-55. They shot 64.8 percent from the field (35-of-54) while … [Read more...] about ‘They’re playing at a very high level’: Tigers race past Centennial in 2nd half

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Owen Schwebach, Ankeny boys’ swimming

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Junior Owen Schwebach is one of the top swimmers on the fourth-ranked Ankeny boys' swimming team. He won two individual events and also anchored the winning 200 freestyle relay as the Hawks posted a 90-80 victory at No. 5 Linn-Mar (Marion) on Saturday to finish the dual-meet season with an overall record of 4-3-1. Schwebach is currently ranked fifth in … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Owen Schwebach, Ankeny boys’ swimming

Engebretson, Bishop win titles, lead Ankeny to team crown at Sharp Invite

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Ankeny girls' wrestling coach Dustin Roland was happy with his team's first-place finish in the Bob Sharp Invitational on Saturday at Southview Middle School. But he still wants more from his squad. "It wasn't our best outing, but we were able to edge Mason City for the team title," Roland said. "We won most of the matches we should have, but dropped … [Read more...] about Engebretson, Bishop win titles, lead Ankeny to team crown at Sharp Invite

Centennial wrestlers beat Humboldt to earn 3rd-place finish at Osage Duals

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers earned a third-place finish in the Osage Duals on Saturday. After going 2-2 during the preliminary rounds, the eighth-ranked Jaguars posted a 39-30 victory over Humboldt in the third-place match. They are now 19-5 on the season. "We had a little bit of a letdown after our big win over Johnston (on Thursday)," said … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers beat Humboldt to earn 3rd-place finish at Osage Duals

Hawk swimmers edge Linn-Mar in battle of top-5 teams, finish 4-3-1 in duals

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Saturday's non-conference dual meet at Linn-Mar (Marion) was a good test for the Ankeny boys' swimming team. The fourth-ranked Hawks, who will return to eastern Iowa in four weeks for the state meet, earned perhaps their biggest win of the season with a 90-80 victory over No. 5 Linn-Mar. They finished the dual-meet schedule with an overall record to … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers edge Linn-Mar in battle of top-5 teams, finish 4-3-1 in duals

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (2nd team)

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For several months, Ankeny Fanatic has been contacting the members of its all-time Ankeny football team to get a reaction from some of the players, as well as stories and favorite memories from their high school careers. One former Ankeny standout responded with a poem that he wrote. Ross Naylor entitled it, "Pezzetti's Proposal", in honor of his … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny football team (2nd team)

‘It was a good road win’: Centennial boys bounce back from loss to beat J-Hawks

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team missed an opportunity to make up some ground in the CIML Conference when Waukee Northwest lost to Valley on Tuesday--because the Jaguars also lost at Dowling Catholic. Centennial took advantage of another opportunity Friday when league leader Waukee lost at Ankeny. This time, the fourth-ranked Jaguars posted … [Read more...] about ‘It was a good road win’: Centennial boys bounce back from loss to beat J-Hawks

With a chip on their shoulder, Jaguars romp to 77-28 victory at Urbandale

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Each time the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team has suffered a loss this season, the Jaguars have bounced back with a resounding victory. Seventh-ranked Centennial did it again on Friday with a 77-28 win at Urbandale. The Jaguars are now 4-0 in games after a loss--with an average winning margin of 35.8 points. "You hope when you're coming off a … [Read more...] about With a chip on their shoulder, Jaguars romp to 77-28 victory at Urbandale

Jaguars roll past No. 7 Johnston, could be in position to host 3A regional dual

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers may have secured a top-eight seed for the Class 3A regional duals later this month. The eighth-ranked Jaguars defeated a pair of opponents on Thursday during a CIML Conference triangular at Centennial. After rolling to a 70-4 win over Waukee, Centennial followed with a 62-15 triumph over No. 7 Johnston--which is one of the … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past No. 7 Johnston, could be in position to host 3A regional dual

‘It was definitely a nailbiter’: Ankeny boys’ team edges Valley bowlers by 2 pins

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For the Ankeny boys' bowling team, Thursday's dual meet against visiting Valley came down to the last frame at Great Escape. A final shot by the Tigers left two pins standing, allowing Ankeny to emerge with the victory by the narrowest of margins. The Hawks won by a score of 2,807 to 2,805. "It literally came down to the last frame where a great shot … [Read more...] about ‘It was definitely a nailbiter’: Ankeny boys’ team edges Valley bowlers by 2 pins