Ankeny Fanatic

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Wrestling

‘It seemed like a good time to hang it up’: Groth retires after 34 years as head coach

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The only head coach in the history of the Ankeny Centennial wrestling program has departed from his position in style. After guiding junior Max Dhabolt to a second consecutive Class 3A individual state title last weekend, Jay Groth announced his retirement on Thursday after 34 seasons as a head coach. Groth spent two years at Des Moines Hoover and 19 … [Read more...] about ‘It seemed like a good time to hang it up’: Groth retires after 34 years as head coach

‘It feels a lot better getting my revenge’: Dhabolt tops Miller, claims 2nd state title

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A year ago, Max Dhabolt made some history by becoming the first Ankeny Centennial boys' wrestler to capture an individual state title. It turns out that winning a second championship was even sweeter. The second-seeded Dhabolt avenged his only loss of the season by defeating No. 1 Jaxon Miller of Carlisle, 7-4, in the Class 3A 175-pound title match on … [Read more...] about ‘It feels a lot better getting my revenge’: Dhabolt tops Miller, claims 2nd state title

Vandermark, Walsh close out high school wrestling careers with 4th-place finishes

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Seniors Cale Vandermark of Ankeny Centennial at 126 pounds and Ben Walsh of Ankeny at 120 closed out their high school wrestling careers with fourth-place finishes in the Class 3A state tournament on Saturday at the Casey's Center. Centennial also got a sixth-place finish from senior Brandon Bogseth at 215. Junior Ethan Sodergren took seventh for the … [Read more...] about Vandermark, Walsh close out high school wrestling careers with 4th-place finishes

Ankeny’s Rathjen, Centennial’s Dhabolt to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night

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Ankeny Centennial junior Max Dhabolt is one win away from capturing a second consecutive state wrestling title. Sophomore Calvin Rathjen of Ankeny has a chance to claim his first crown. Both standouts advanced to Saturday's championship matches with dominant performances on Friday night in the Class 3A semifinals at the Casey's Center. The … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Rathjen, Centennial’s Dhabolt to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night

Jaguar wrestlers boast trio of semifinalists in Vandermark, Dhabolt and Bogseth

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Despite sitting in 17th place overall after the first two days of the Class 3A state tournament, the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team made a statement on Thursday at the Casey's Center. The Jaguars advanced three wrestlers into Friday night's semifinals, putting them in some elite company. Only four teams have more semifinalists than Centennial, which has … [Read more...] about Jaguar wrestlers boast trio of semifinalists in Vandermark, Dhabolt and Bogseth

Hawks sit in 10th place in Class 3A; Jags advance 4 wrestlers into quarterfinals

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The Ankeny wrestling team sits in 10th place with 34.5 points heading into the second day of the Class 3A state tournament at the Casey's Center. Crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial, meanwhile, bounced back from a winless opening round on Wednesday to advance four wrestlers into Thursday's quarterfinals. The Jaguars are tied for 22nd place with 23 … [Read more...] about Hawks sit in 10th place in Class 3A; Jags advance 4 wrestlers into quarterfinals

THE MADNESS BEGINS: State wrestling tourney brackets announced by IHSAA

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The Class 3A state wrestling tournament brackets have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Four of Ankeny Centennial's 10 qualifiers earned a top-eight seed and will receive a first-round bye. Two of Ankeny's nine qualifiers earned a No. 3 seed and will also receive a first-round bye. The Class 3A tournament begins on Wednesday … [Read more...] about THE MADNESS BEGINS: State wrestling tourney brackets announced by IHSAA

‘We had a great final round’: Jaguars place 2nd at district, qualify 10 for state tourney

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers picked a good time to have one of their best days of the season. The Jaguars placed second among eight teams in a Class 3A district tournament on Saturday at Iowa City High. More importantly, they qualified 10 wrestlers for the state tournament. "It's been a long season," said Centennial coach Jay Groth. "We've … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great final round’: Jaguars place 2nd at district, qualify 10 for state tourney

Xtream Arena to host inaugural IGHSAU state dual meet tournament in 2027

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The Iowa Girls State Dual Team Wrestling Tournament will compete in familiar surroundings when the event debuts in 2027. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) announced today that Xtream Arena in Coralville will serve as the host venue for the inaugural Iowa Girls State Dual Team Wrestling Tournament, scheduled for January 2027. “There is … [Read more...] about Xtream Arena to host inaugural IGHSAU state dual meet tournament in 2027

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jammie Krah, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

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Ankeny sophomore Jammie Krah captured a state championship at 145 pounds in the girls' Class 2A state wrestling tournament on Friday night at Xtream Arena in Coralville. She helped her team to a fourth-place finish overall. Krah finished the season with a 45-5 record. She is now 79-16 in her career after placing seventh at 145 as a freshman. Here is … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Jammie Krah, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

Future looks bright for Ankeny girls’ team after 4th-place finish in Class 2A tourney

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The 2025-26 wrestling season had barely just finished on Friday night at Xtream Arena before the Ankeny girls' team started eagerly eyeing the 2026-27 campaign. Ankeny may have fallen short of its goal of capturing the Class 2A team title, but the program added to its history books by claiming two more individual crowns … [Read more...] about Future looks bright for Ankeny girls’ team after 4th-place finish in Class 2A tourney

XTREAM VICTORIES: Watson, Krah claim state wrestling titles in stunning fashion

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It was just a year ago when the Ankeny girls' wrestling team saw Elyse Engebretson and Hayden Bratland enter the history books as the program's first-ever state champions. But with Engebretson graduated and Bratland sidelined with a season-ending injury, Ankeny was going to need someone to step up and answer the … [Read more...] about XTREAM VICTORIES: Watson, Krah claim state wrestling titles in stunning fashion

‘I’m so proud of my team’: Ankeny girls sit in 2nd place after advancing 3 to semis

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As she walked into Xtream Arena on Thursday afternoon, sophomore Jammie Krah was confident that her Ankeny girls' wrestling team was going to have a big day. Third-ranked Ankeny went on to win 14 of 21 matches and sits in second place after the opening day of the Class 2A state tournament at Coralville. "I'm so proud of my team. I love them so much," … [Read more...] about ‘I’m so proud of my team’: Ankeny girls sit in 2nd place after advancing 3 to semis

Depleted Hawks top Centennial before falling to No. 4 Mustangs in regional final

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The Ankeny wrestling team was hoping to take its best shot at qualifying for Saturday's state duals in Coralville. The 12th-ranked Hawks did just that on Tuesday night at Dallas Center-Grimes, but they did so without three of their best wrestlers. After posting a 37-28 victory over No. 21 Ankeny Centennial in a Class 3A regional dual, Ankeny then … [Read more...] about Depleted Hawks top Centennial before falling to No. 4 Mustangs in regional final

Raccoon River-NW, Cedar Falls boast 11 qualifiers; Ankeny among 5 teams with 8

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Top-ranked Raccoon River-Northwest is the clear favorite to defend its title in the girls' Class 2A state wrestling tournament on Thursday and Friday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Raccoon River-Northwest qualified 11 wrestlers for the tournament, including eight top-five seeds. The team is led by senior Katie Biscoglia, a three-time state champion who is … [Read more...] about Raccoon River-NW, Cedar Falls boast 11 qualifiers; Ankeny among 5 teams with 8

‘We are just so proud of our girls’: Ankeny claims regional title, qualifies 8 for state

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Coach Dustin Roland beamed with pride following Friday's Class 2A regional tournament at Glenwood. His third-ranked Ankeny girls' wrestling team captured a third consecutive regional crown in dominating fashion, racking up 249 points. Dallas Center-Grimes was a distant second in the 10-team field with 166. "We may sound like a broken record, but we are … [Read more...] about ‘We are just so proud of our girls’: Ankeny claims regional title, qualifies 8 for state

‘They’re hard to beat’: Centennial wrestlers fall to No. 1 Rams in regular-season finale

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The 21st-ranked Ankeny Centennial wrestling team closed out the regular season on Thursday with a 72-5 loss at No. 1 Southeast Polk. With little at stake and the postseason beginning next week, Centennial coach Jay Groth rested some of his varsity regulars. "There was nothing to gain by having them out there," said Groth. "So we played it pretty close … [Read more...] about ‘They’re hard to beat’: Centennial wrestlers fall to No. 1 Rams in regular-season finale

Watson earns 100th win as Ankeny girls again dominate Pleasantville Duals

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The Ankeny girls' wrestling team closed out the regular season on Monday in record-setting fashion. Coach Dustin Roland's third-ranked squad easily defeated all four of its opponents at the Pleasantville Duals to win the tournament for the third straight year. Ankeny improved to 27-3, breaking the school record for most victories in a season. The … [Read more...] about Watson earns 100th win as Ankeny girls again dominate Pleasantville Duals

Dhabolt drops 4-2 decision to Carlisle’s Miller in matchup of defending champs

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The road to another state title for Ankeny Centennial wrestling star Max Dhabolt won't be an easy one. The top-ranked Dhabolt suffered his first loss of the season on Saturday, dropping a 4-2 decision to No. 2 Jaxon Miller of Carlisle in the 175-pound final at the Ed Winger Invitational in Urbandale. Miller, who won a Class 3A state championship at 165 … [Read more...] about Dhabolt drops 4-2 decision to Carlisle’s Miller in matchup of defending champs