Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Spring

With 115 girls out and 12 state qualifiers returning, Jaguars have a lot of options

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' track team has grown by more than 40 percent. "We have 115 kids out right now, up from 80 last year," said Centennial coach Andrew Kruzich. "We've had a massive jump, which is exciting and challenging." The Jaguars, who are slated to compete in the UNI Indoor Meet on Monday at Cedar Falls, placed 14th in last year's Class … [Read more...] about With 115 girls out and 12 state qualifiers returning, Jaguars have a lot of options

A TWO-WAY STREET: Centennial senior to play basketball, soccer at Simpson

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Ankeny Centennial senior Elle Street wanted to play basketball in college. She also wanted to play soccer. Luckily for her, she didn't have to make a choice. Street has verbally committed to play both sports for Simpson College next year. She announced her decision via Twitter on Monday. "I mainly kept my options open so I was looking at just … [Read more...] about A TWO-WAY STREET: Centennial senior to play basketball, soccer at Simpson

Ex-Jaguars Gray, Overberg help Gophers to 1-0 victory over Ubben, Drake

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Back in 2018, Megan Gray and Tori Ubben played key roles as the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team captured the Class 3A state title. On Thursday at Drake Stadium, the former teammates found themselves on opposite sides of the pitch. Gray and another former Centennial star--Elizabeth Overberg--helped visiting Minnesota to a 1-0 victory over Ubben's … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguars Gray, Overberg help Gophers to 1-0 victory over Ubben, Drake

Overberg named to United Soccer Coaches All-North Region team

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Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer standout Elizabeth Overberg has earned all-region honors from United Soccer Coaches. Overberg was named to the 2021 USC Spring Girls High School All-North Region team. She was one of only two Iowans to make the squad. Overberg, a senior midfielder, scored 22 goals and had six assists while leading Centennial to an 18-3 … [Read more...] about Overberg named to United Soccer Coaches All-North Region team

Centennial’s Smith named 4A At-Large Coach of the Year by IATC

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Ankeny Centennial boys' track coach Nate Smith has been named a Class 4A At-Large Coach of the Year by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches. Smith guided Centennial to a third-place finish in last month's Class 4A state meet, the school's highest finish ever. The Jaguars racked up 61 points, finishing behind only Cedar Falls (87) and Dowling Catholic … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Smith named 4A At-Large Coach of the Year by IATC

‘I felt that UNI would really push me’: Centennial’s Hill to run for Panthers

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Throughout most of her high school career, Ankeny Centennial senior Millie Hill thought she was going to play volleyball at the collegiate level. It wasn't until a few months ago that Hill discovered she had a greater passion for track. The two-sport athlete has now decided to join the Northern Iowa women's track and field program. She will be a … [Read more...] about ‘I felt that UNI would really push me’: Centennial’s Hill to run for Panthers

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Grace Meador, Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer

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Senior forward Grace Meador helped the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team to an 18-3 record this season. The Jaguars reached the Class 3A semifinals before dropping a 2-1 decision to eventual champion Valley on June 9 at Cownie Soccer Park. Meador finished the season with four goals and six assists. "Grace was amazing for this team on so many … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Grace Meador, Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer

Christmann, Gibson, Overberg, Kovacs, Macke earn IGCA all-state honors

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Five girls' soccer standouts from Ankeny have received all-state honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Senior forward Rachael Christmann and junior defender Eden Gibson of Ankeny were both named to the Class 3A all-state first team along with senior midfielder Elizabeth Overberg and junior defender Courtney Kovacs of Ankeny Centennial. Junior … [Read more...] about Christmann, Gibson, Overberg, Kovacs, Macke earn IGCA all-state honors

‘It was just a huge barrage’: Valley’s relentless attacks end Jaguars’ season

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A deep and talented roster usually gives the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team an advantage over most of its opponents. But the Jaguars' foe on Wednesday in the Class 3A semifinals at the state tournament was not your average team. Top-ranked Valley relied on a wave of substitutions to wear down No. 5 Centennial on a hot and humid afternoon at … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a huge barrage’: Valley’s relentless attacks end Jaguars’ season

Blevins, Guan knock off Dowling’s singles champions to win co-ed state title

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Ankeny Centennial seniors Will Blevins and Claudia Guan teamed up to win the co-ed state tennis championship on Tuesday at Ankeny. They played five matches over the course of 12 hours to capture the title. In the finals, Blevins and Guan posted a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Daniel Lu and Allison Szalay of Dowling Catholic, who were the boys' and girls' singles … [Read more...] about Blevins, Guan knock off Dowling’s singles champions to win co-ed state title

EEEEEEEEEEELATION!: Jaguars avenge loss to Dowling on Overberg’s goals

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When the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team reeled off 12 consecutive victories earlier this season, the Jaguars appeared to be headed toward a No. 1 seed in the Class 3A state tournament. Then came a 2-1 loss at Dowling Catholic in a shootout on May 18 that dropped Centennial from No. 1 to No. 5 in the final Class 3A rankings. "It gave us a lot of … [Read more...] about EEEEEEEEEEELATION!: Jaguars avenge loss to Dowling on Overberg’s goals

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jordyn Gustafson, Centennial girls’ tennis

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Ankeny Centennial senior Jordyn Gustafson closed out her high school tennis career with a second appearance in the girls' Class 2A state tournament last week in Iowa City. She won a first-round consolation match on Wednesday before being eliminated from the tournament. Gustafson helped Centennial to a 9-3 record this season. The Jaguars won the CIML Iowa … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jordyn Gustafson, Centennial girls’ tennis

Centennial’s Cogdill named Assistant Coach of the Year for girls’ track

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Ankeny Centennial assistant girls' track coach Eric Cogdill has been named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches. Cogdill helped the Jaguars to a 14th-place finish in the Class 4A state meet last month. He primarily coaches the team's distance runners. Last fall, Cogdill was named the Class 4A cross country coach of the … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Cogdill named Assistant Coach of the Year for girls’ track

Jaguars earn another trip to state, will get rematch against No. 4 Dowling

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A year ago at this time, Elizabeth Overberg didn't get a chance to play in the girls' state soccer tournament. The Ankeny Centennial senior didn't want to let her final opportunity go to waste. Overberg and fellow senior Macy Epp each had a goal and an assist to lead fifth-ranked Centennial to a 3-0 victory over visiting Cedar Falls in a Class 3A … [Read more...] about Jaguars earn another trip to state, will get rematch against No. 4 Dowling

Peterson places 4th in singles, while Guan sisters finish 6th in doubles

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On one of the first few points of a Class 2A semifinal match between Ankeny Centennial's Abbie Peterson and Dowling Catholic's Allison Szalay, the two players traded groundstrokes back and forth for more than a minute before Peterson finally won the point. But the talented freshman decided that she didn't want to play the entire girls' tennis match in … [Read more...] about Peterson places 4th in singles, while Guan sisters finish 6th in doubles

‘We were just firing on all cylinders’: Jaguars cruise to win in regional opener

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team needs to win five games to capture the Class 3A state title. The next four might not be as easy as Wednesday's 10-0 victory over visiting Marshalltown in a regional semifinal. "Marshalltown put everything they could into the game," Centennial coach Chris Allen said on the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast on … [Read more...] about ‘We were just firing on all cylinders’: Jaguars cruise to win in regional opener

Peterson advances to Class 2A semifinals, while Guans earn top-8 finish

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Ankeny Centennial's Abbie Peterson is just two wins away from winning a state tennis title as a freshman. Peterson advanced to the semifinals of the girls' Class 2A singles tournament with a pair of victories on Wednesday at Iowa City. She will play second-seeded Allison Szalay of Dowling Catholic on Thursday morning. "There was no clear cut No. 1 seed … [Read more...] about Peterson advances to Class 2A semifinals, while Guans earn top-8 finish

‘They battled their brains out’: Jaguars take No. 4 Valley to PKs before falling

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An epic battle between two CIML boys' soccer rivals ended on Tuesday with a shootout in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state tournament at Cownie Soccer Park. In the end, James Beaty delivered the game-winning kick to give fourth-ranked Valley a 1-0 victory over No. 6 Ankeny Centennial before a large crowd on Field 8. "I'm super proud of the boys," … [Read more...] about ‘They battled their brains out’: Jaguars take No. 4 Valley to PKs before falling