Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Spring

Centennial’s Sease: ‘Choosing Wartburg was an easy decision for me’

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Ankeny Centennial's Lauren Sease didn't need another season of golf to figure out where she wanted to play in college. She had already made up her mind. Sease, who verbally committed to Wartburg College last fall, is still convinced that she made the right choice. "Choosing Wartburg was an easy decision for me," Sease said. "I only visited one … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Sease: ‘Choosing Wartburg was an easy decision for me’

First-year coaches Varnum, Espinosa deal with devastation of lost season

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Perhaps nobody was more excited to coach his team this spring than Ankeny boys' soccer coach Marcus Varnum. Unless it was Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis coach Armando Espinosa. Both Espinosa and Varnum were first-year head coaches who had their debut seasons wiped out by the coronavirus. Espinosa, the head tennis professional at Ames Fitness Center, … [Read more...] about First-year coaches Varnum, Espinosa deal with devastation of lost season

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Avery Gates, Ankeny Centennial senior

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Senior Avery Gates was expected to be one of the top sprinters for the Ankeny Centennial boys' track team. He helped the Jaguars to a 16th-place finish in last year's Class 4A state meet. Gates placed 13th in the 200 with a time of 22.60 seconds. He also ran on the third-place 4x400, fourth-place sprint medley and sixth-place 4x200 relays. Here is some … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Avery Gates, Ankeny Centennial senior

‘Some things we can’t control’: Athletes, coaches react to cancellation of sports

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Katie Petersen got together with some of her Ankeny Centennial teammates on Thursday night to continue preparing for what she thought would be her final high school track season. "I was just at the track with a few friends, and we were talking about our new meet schedules and who was going to be on our shuttle (hurdle relay)," said Petersen, one of the … [Read more...] about ‘Some things we can’t control’: Athletes, coaches react to cancellation of sports

CANCELLED: COVID-19 wipes out spring high school activities

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The Ankeny girls' soccer team won't have a chance to defend its Class 3A state title. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced on Friday that all schools will remain closed through the end of the school year due to the ongoing threat of the coronavirus. All spring high school activities have now been cancelled. "I'm just setting up meetings now with the kids … [Read more...] about CANCELLED: COVID-19 wipes out spring high school activities

Ex-Jaguars Havens, Suedmeier adjusting after COVID-19 ends their track season

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Tyler Havens had some goals that he wanted to accomplish at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. One of his former Ankeny Centennial teammates, Cory Suedmeier, was also looking forward to next month's meet at the University of Dubuque. Neither of them, however, will get a chance to realize their dreams. Not in 2020 … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguars Havens, Suedmeier adjusting after COVID-19 ends their track season

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carlie Jensen, Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer

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Senior midfielder Carlie Jensen is one of the top returning players for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team. She helped the Jaguars to a 16-4 record last year and was named to the all-tournament team after the Jaguars reached the Class 3A semifinals. Jensen led the team with 10 goals and eight assists. She was selected to the Class 3A all-state … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Carlie Jensen, Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer

Updated schedule provides glimmer of hope for spring sport athletes, coaches

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A glimmer of hope arrived earlier this week for Will Blevins, Jaci Webb and the rest of the spring sport athletes throughout the state of Iowa. On Monday, an updated schedule for spring sports was released in a joint statement from the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association. All spring activities had … [Read more...] about Updated schedule provides glimmer of hope for spring sport athletes, coaches

Centennial soccer player Hall decides to join women’s rowing team at Iowa

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Jaecee Hall wasn't ready to give up her athletic career. An opportunity to join the University of Iowa women's rowing team was just what she needed. The Ankeny Centennial soccer player committed on Monday to become a member of the Hawkeyes' program in the fall. "I'm a super competitive person, and I didn't want to stop playing sports," said Hall. "I … [Read more...] about Centennial soccer player Hall decides to join women’s rowing team at Iowa

Centennial’s Vincent to play soccer, study architecture at Drury University

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Ankeny Centennial senior Cole Vincent didn't think he'd be able to play soccer at the collegiate level. He was wrong. Vincent has committed to play for Drury University, an NCAA Division II school located in Springfield, Mo. "Growing up I've always wanted to pursue a career as an architect," said Vincent. "This made playing college soccer difficult … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Vincent to play soccer, study architecture at Drury University

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Katie Petersen, Centennial girls’ track

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Ankeny Centennial senior Katie Petersen is one of the state's top returning hurdlers. She placed fourth in the 100 hurdles at last year's Class 4A state meet in a time of 14.77 seconds. Petersen also ran on the fourth-place shuttle hurdle relay, the fifth-place sprint medley relay that set a school record and the sixth-place distance medley relay. The … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Katie Petersen, Centennial girls’ track

‘The great ones adapt’: Spring sports athletes, coaches dealing with COVID-19

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Ashley Harrington found out during her spring break trip to the Dominican Republic that her final soccer season at Ankeny High School could be in jeopardy. "I didn't truly realize this pandemic could affect the season until I got an email from (coach) Simon (Brown) regarding the IGHSAU restrictions," Harrington said. "I'm not currently in the U.S. so I … [Read more...] about ‘The great ones adapt’: Spring sports athletes, coaches dealing with COVID-19

‘It just felt like where I was meant to be’: Petersen commits to Hawkeyes

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The recruiting battle for Ankeny Centennial hurdler Katie Petersen started with an official visit to the University of Iowa. Iowa City is also where the fight for Petersen's services came to an end. Earlier this week, Petersen announced her verbal commitment to Iowa via Twitter. "(I) couldn't be more blessed and excited to announce I will be … [Read more...] about ‘It just felt like where I was meant to be’: Petersen commits to Hawkeyes

Petersen overcomes theft of her track shoes, shines brightly on national stage

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Katie Petersen tried to look on the bright side after her run at the USATF Hershey's National Junior Olympics Track & Field Championships came to an end on Saturday in Sacramento. Petersen posted a time of 14.88 seconds in the semifinals of the 100 hurdles and placed 18th overall in the Women's 17-18 Division. Only the top eight finishers advanced to … [Read more...] about Petersen overcomes theft of her track shoes, shines brightly on national stage

Raineri named to all-state first team; Pritchard, Overberg also honored

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Ankeny boys' soccer standout Kolby Raineri has been named to the Class 3A all-state first team by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association. Raineri, a senior midfielder, led the Hawks to a 12-7 record, including a third trip to the Class 3A state tournament in the last four years. He scored 14 goals and had 17 assists this season. Three other … [Read more...] about Raineri named to all-state first team; Pritchard, Overberg also honored

Ankeny, Centennial soccer stars earn all-state honors from IGCA

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The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer teams each placed four players on the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association's all-state teams. Senior Chloee Kooker and junior Ashley Harrington of Ankeny were both named to the Class 3A first team along with Centennial seniors Olivia Wee and Allie Wyckoff. Senior Olivia Sharar and junior Brenny Frederick of Ankeny … [Read more...] about Ankeny, Centennial soccer stars earn all-state honors from IGCA

Revive Clinic and Spa Preps of the Week: Olivia Sharar and Allie Wyckoff, soccer

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Senior Olivia Sharar was named to the all-tournament team after helping the Ankeny girls' soccer team to the Class 3A state title on Saturday. She scored six goals and had seven assists as the Hawkettes posted an 18-4 record this season. Senior Allie Wyckoff helped Ankeny Centennial to a 16-4 mark, including a trip to the Class 3A semifinals. The defender … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Preps of the Week: Olivia Sharar and Allie Wyckoff, soccer

Centennial’s Allen receives Golden Plaque of Distinction award from IGHSAU

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Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer coach Chris Allen is the 2019 recipient of the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union’s Soccer Golden Plaque of Distinction award. He was honored prior to the start of the Class 3A state championship game on Saturday. The IGHSAU Golden Plaque of Distinction is awarded to the Iowa coach who has demonstrated a successful … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Allen receives Golden Plaque of Distinction award from IGHSAU

Jaguars’ bid for back-to-back titles ends with shootout loss to No. 1 Waukee

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There wasn't much separation this season between the top girls' soccer teams in the Central Iowa Metropolitan League. Four of them advanced to Friday's semifinals at the Class 3A state tournament, and two of them needed a shootout to determine which team which would advance to Saturday's championship game at Cownie Soccer Complex. When the dust finally … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ bid for back-to-back titles ends with shootout loss to No. 1 Waukee