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Jaguars

‘We set the tone right off the bat’: Jaguars build big lead, roll past Iowa City Liberty

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Coming off a tough loss on Friday at Dowling Catholic, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team got off to a fast start on Tuesday and never looked back. The Jaguars jumped out to a 22-5 lead in the first quarter against visiting Iowa City Liberty, built a 45-17 halftime advantage and rolled to a 70-48 victory in a non-conference game. "I thought we … [Read more...] about ‘We set the tone right off the bat’: Jaguars build big lead, roll past Iowa City Liberty

Jaguars crown 3 individual champs, take 2nd overall at Keith Young Invitational

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Even with a depleted lineup, the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers earned runner-up honors in the Keith Young Invitational on Saturday at Cedar Falls. The Jaguars scored 177 points in the 16-team tournament. Dubuque Hempstead captured the crown with 184.5 points. "Our guys wrestled much better than they did on Thursday (against Waukee)," said Centennial … [Read more...] about Jaguars crown 3 individual champs, take 2nd overall at Keith Young Invitational

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Haylee McGrew, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

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Junior Haylee McGrew led the Ankeny girls' wrestling team to a fourth-place finish in the Dan Gable Donnybrook on Thursday and Friday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. McGrew placed second at 155 pounds. She currently boasts an 11-1 record. Here is some inside info on McGrew: What was your goal going into the tournament? Did you think you had a chance … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Haylee McGrew, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

McGrew earns runner-up honors, leads Ankeny to 4th-place finish at Donnybrook

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The level of competition in the Dan Gable Donnybrook was every bit as tough as Dustin Roland expected. His Ankeny girls' wrestling team placed fourth among 43 squads in the two-day event that concluded on Friday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Ankeny finished with 338 points. The tournament featured many of the top wrestlers in the Midwest. Decorah … [Read more...] about McGrew earns runner-up honors, leads Ankeny to 4th-place finish at Donnybrook

‘They took the fight to us and we just didn’t respond’: Dowling boys top Jaguars

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(Story by Gabe Ploeger) The Dowling Catholic boys' basketball team got off to a hot start Friday and never cooled off. The Maroons made 5-of-8 3-point shots in the first quarter and went on to beat visiting Ankeny Centennial, 79-64, in a CIML Conference game. Both teams are now 1-1 in the league and overall. “Down 33 to 11 in the first half…we just … [Read more...] about ‘They took the fight to us and we just didn’t respond’: Dowling boys top Jaguars

‘Give Dowling credit’: No. 6 Maroons hand cold-shooting Centennial its first loss

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(Story by Gabe Ploeger) The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team just couldn’t get the shots to fall. Sixth-ranked Dowling Catholic outscored No. 2 Centennial in all four quarters and cruised to a 60-34 win over the visiting Jaguars on Friday. The Maroons bounced back from a 55-42 loss to No. 5 Valley on Tuesday, which could be a sign of things to … [Read more...] about ‘Give Dowling credit’: No. 6 Maroons hand cold-shooting Centennial its first loss

Ankeny bowling teams fall to Johnston in first-ever meet at B-Roll Bowling

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The Ankeny bowling teams were hoping to make a smashing debut in their first-ever meet at B-Roll Bowling. But visiting Johnston had other ideas. The Dragons swept Ankeny in a season-opening CIML Conference dual meet on Thursday. They won the boys' meet by a score of 2,315 to 2,303 and the girls' meet by a score of 1,973 to 1,844. The Johnston … [Read more...] about Ankeny bowling teams fall to Johnston in first-ever meet at B-Roll Bowling

‘We got the job done’: Jags top Waukee, but aren’t satisfied with performance

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A moral victory is defined as a defeat that can be interpreted as a victory on moral terms, because the defeated team exceeded its expectations. The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team may have experienced the opposite of a moral victory on Thursday, when the Jaguars posted a 39-24 win over a visiting Waukee squad that they defeated a year ago by 66 … [Read more...] about ‘We got the job done’: Jags top Waukee, but aren’t satisfied with performance

‘I’m proud of my guys’: Ankeny swimmers win 3 events in loss to powerful Waukee

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The Ankeny boys' swimming team proved on Thursday that it could compete with three-time defending state champion Waukee. Even though the Warriors posted a 105-65 victory in the CIML Conference dual meet, Ankeny won three events and should have won another at Trail Point Aquatics Center. "Obviously, it’s a tough way to start the dual season against the … [Read more...] about ‘I’m proud of my guys’: Ankeny swimmers win 3 events in loss to powerful Waukee

‘It was a good road win’: Centennial boys top Urbandale on Fontana’s birthday

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Bob Fontana celebrated his birthday on Tuesday with a season-opening victory. His Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team jumped out to an early lead and led all the way in a 64-51 win at Urbandale in a CIML Conference game. "It was a good road win and a good way to start the season," said Fontana. "You never know what to expect the first game. You're … [Read more...] about ‘It was a good road win’: Centennial boys top Urbandale on Fontana’s birthday

Ankeny girls rack up 7 falls, roll past Valley in CIML Conference opener

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The Ankeny girls' wrestling team will find out in the next couple of days where it stands among the state's elite squads. Ankeny coach Dustin Roland was hoping that his team would be tested on Tuesday, but that didn't turn out to be the case. Roland's squad recorded seven falls and won five other matches by forfeit to beat Valley, 72-12, in its CIML … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls rack up 7 falls, roll past Valley in CIML Conference opener

Centennial girls dominate boards, force 26 turnovers in victory at Urbandale

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On a night when the shots weren't falling at a high rate for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team, the Jaguars found other ways to dominate their opponent. Fifth-ranked Centennial racked up a 48-19 rebounding advantage and also forced 26 turnovers en route to a 75-33 victory at Urbandale in its CIML Conference opener on Tuesday. The Jaguars … [Read more...] about Centennial girls dominate boards, force 26 turnovers in victory at Urbandale

Centennial wrestlers romp to wins over Albia, West Marshall to open season

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Ankeny Centennial wrestling coach Jay Groth isn't sure what the Jaguars' best lineup will be just yet. But the one that he put on the mat Tuesday night looked pretty good. Centennial opened the season with a pair of lopsided victories in a double dual meet. The host Jaguars posted a 58-16 win over Albia, then rolled to a 72-6 triumph over West … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers romp to wins over Albia, West Marshall to open season

Ankeny bowling teams to begin season under new coach at new home venue

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The Ankeny bowling teams will open their season on Thursday by hosting a CIML Conference dual meet against Johnston at B-Roll Bowling, which is now the home venue for both programs. Ankeny also has a new head coach in Nick Payton, who took over the programs following the departure of Lane Richtsmeier after four seasons. "The bowlers have been excited … [Read more...] about Ankeny bowling teams to begin season under new coach at new home venue

‘This was a huge win’: Late rally allows Jaguars to knock off No. 2 Pleasant Valley

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This wasn't just another November victory for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. The fifth-ranked Jaguars scored the final nine points of the game and rallied to beat No. 2 Pleasant Valley, 44-40, on Saturday in Cedar Rapids. The contest was part of the 19th Rivalry Saturday held on the campus of Kirkwood Community College. "To go to a … [Read more...] about ‘This was a huge win’: Late rally allows Jaguars to knock off No. 2 Pleasant Valley

‘We have talent and depth and numbers’: Jaguars boast 8 returning state qualifiers

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A year ago, Ankeny Centennial advanced 12 wrestlers to the Class 3A state tournament--the most in school history. Now, eight of those 12 wrestlers are back, the most returning qualifiers the Jaguars have ever had under coach Jay Groth. "We are an experienced crew," Groth said. "We are working hard to raise the bar to get to the next level. We have a … [Read more...] about ‘We have talent and depth and numbers’: Jaguars boast 8 returning state qualifiers

Jaguars return 3 starters from state tourney team, led by all-stater Winkel

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On paper, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team returns some of the key players from last year's squad that posted a 16-8 record and qualified for the Class 4A state tournament. Centennial coach Bob Fontana knows, however, that another successful season is not guaranteed. "We do have a nucleus to build around and having experience can be … [Read more...] about Jaguars return 3 starters from state tourney team, led by all-stater Winkel

Hot-shooting Jaguars rout Roosevelt, will face No. 2 Pleasant Valley on Saturday

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team won't have many games like Tuesday's season opener against visiting Des Moines Roosevelt. Perhaps the fifth-ranked Jaguars won't have any like it. Centennial raced out to a 54-6 halftime lead and rolled to a 73-18 victory over the Roughriders in a non-conference game. "We shot the ball well. We were … [Read more...] about Hot-shooting Jaguars rout Roosevelt, will face No. 2 Pleasant Valley on Saturday

‘It was just a perfect fit for me!’: Peterson to play tennis for Northern Iowa

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Ankeny Centennial senior Abbie Peterson will continue her tennis career at Northern Iowa. Peterson, a two-time state placewinner, said for awhile she had not planned on taking her game to the next level. "To be honest, I had not been playing tournaments or looking into playing in college until very recently," she said. "I was planning on getting into … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a perfect fit for me!’: Peterson to play tennis for Northern Iowa