Ankeny Fanatic

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Wrestling

‘Wartburg had the full package’: Ankeny’s Cleveland to wrestle for Knights

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Dana Cleveland has been a trailblazer for the Ankeny girls' wrestling team. A year ago, she became the first state placewinner in program history as a junior, when she compiled a 40-6 record and placed fourth at 135 pounds. Now, Cleveland has become the first female wrestler from Ankeny to take her talents to the next level. She has signed a letter of … [Read more...] about ‘Wartburg had the full package’: Ankeny’s Cleveland to wrestle for Knights

Ankeny girls roll past Perry, but then tumble to Raccoon River-Northwest

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Two very different opponents awaited the Ankeny girls' wrestling team on Tuesday at Waukee Northwest. Ankeny opened the double dual meet with a 63-5 victory over Perry in a non-conference matchup. Coach Dustin Roland's squad then dropped a 43-33 decision to host Raccoon River-Northwest in a CIML Conference dual. "It was a rough night for us on the … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls roll past Perry, but then tumble to Raccoon River-Northwest

‘Our girls really showed some character’: Ankeny places 4th at Battle of Waterloo

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A loss to the eventual champions was the only blemish for the Ankeny girls' wrestling team on Thursday at the Battle of Waterloo. Ankeny defeated its first two opponents in Bracket C competition before dropping a 51-29 decision to Cedar Falls. The Tigers went on to beat Bettendorf and Waverly-Shell Rock to win the tournament. Coach Dustin Roland's team … [Read more...] about ‘Our girls really showed some character’: Ankeny places 4th at Battle of Waterloo

‘Team-first attitude’ pays off as Ankeny girls post 54-24 victory over S.E. Polk

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Ankeny girls' wrestling coach Dustin Roland made some changes to his lineup for Tuesday's dual meet against visiting Southeast Polk. The revamped lineup produced a 54-24 victory over the Rams in the CIML Conference matchup. "Our girls really showed a team-first attitude when we told seven girls they were wrestling up a weight or not going to be in the … [Read more...] about ‘Team-first attitude’ pays off as Ankeny girls post 54-24 victory over S.E. Polk

Ankeny girls place 6th at Saydel Invite, will host CIML dual vs. S.E. Polk Tuesday

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The Ankeny girls' wrestling squad placed sixth among 25 teams in the Saydel Invitational on Monday, finishing with 102 points. Ankeny coach Dustin Roland didn't enter a full lineup with his team slated to host Southeast Polk in a CIML Conference dual meet on Tuesday. None of the team's four ranked wrestlers competed. Ankeny was led by Aliayah Shade, … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls place 6th at Saydel Invite, will host CIML dual vs. S.E. Polk Tuesday

‘We had a great day’: Ankeny girls rely on depth to capture Centennial Duals title

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The depth of the Ankeny girls' wrestling team paid off on Saturday at the Ankeny Centennial Duals. Ankeny coach Dustin Roland used a variety of lineups throughout the meet, but his team just kept on winning. Roland's squad went a perfect 5-0 to capture the tournament crown at Northview Middle School. "We had a great day," said Roland. "I was proud of … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great day’: Ankeny girls rely on depth to capture Centennial Duals title

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

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

‘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

Cleveland, McGrew pin their way to titles, lead Ankeny to team crown at Nevada

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After winning the Central Iowa Kickoff on Saturday at Nevada, the Ankeny girls' wrestling team has earned a little bit of a break. Ankeny won't compete again until Nov. 28, when it faces Valley in its CIML Conference opener at Johnston. "We have a number of girls banged up already this season so we are excited to have some recovery time over the … [Read more...] about Cleveland, McGrew pin their way to titles, lead Ankeny to team crown at Nevada

No. 7 Ankeny girls rout DC-G, then post 42-39 win over No. 1 Waverly-Shell Rock

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A year ago, the Ankeny girls' wrestling team opened its inaugural season with a pair of losses to Dallas Center-Grimes and Waverly-Shell Rock. On Tuesday at Dallas Center-Grimes, Ankeny avenged those losses in impressive fashion. After opening the season with a 72-9 victory over Dallas Center-Grimes, seventh-ranked Ankeny then followed with a 42-39 win … [Read more...] about No. 7 Ankeny girls rout DC-G, then post 42-39 win over No. 1 Waverly-Shell Rock

‘It could be a special season’: Ankeny girls’ wrestling team sets higher goals

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The expectations have been raised for the Ankeny girls' wrestling program. Ankeny advanced eight wrestlers to the state tournament in its inaugural season and graduated just one of those qualifiers. The team has also added a pair of talented newcomers in freshman Hayden Bratland and junior Haylee McGrew, who both won matches over the second-ranked girls … [Read more...] about ‘It could be a special season’: Ankeny girls’ wrestling team sets higher goals

CLEVELAND ROCKS: Ankeny junior takes 4th, becomes program’s 1st placewinner

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Ankeny wrestler Dana Cleveland didn't let a disappointing loss in Thursday's quarterfinals prevent her from becoming the first state placewinner in girls' program history. The junior responded by winning three of four matches on Friday to earn a fourth-place finish at 135 pounds in the inaugural girls' tournament at the Xtream Arena in Coralville. "It … [Read more...] about CLEVELAND ROCKS: Ankeny junior takes 4th, becomes program’s 1st placewinner

‘This tournament was hard for us’: Only 1 Ankeny wrestler remains alive at state

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The opening rounds of the inaugural girls' state wrestling tournament drew an overflow crowd on Thursday to the Xtream Arena in Coralville. Ankeny started the day with eight state qualifiers, but four of them were eliminated during the first session after losing their first two matches. Three more of the team's qualifiers were eliminated during the … [Read more...] about ‘This tournament was hard for us’: Only 1 Ankeny wrestler remains alive at state

Pairings announced for girls’ state tourney; Ankeny duo earns top-5 seeds

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The pairings have been announced for the inaugural girls' state wrestling tournament on Thursday and Friday at the Xtream Arena in Coralville. Eight Ankeny wrestlers qualified for the tournament by placing among the top four finishers in a super regional on Friday at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Only three schools had more qualifiers than … [Read more...] about Pairings announced for girls’ state tourney; Ankeny duo earns top-5 seeds

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Elyse Engebretson, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

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Sophomore Elyse Engebretson is one of eight state qualifiers for the Ankeny girls' wrestling team. She helped lead the squad to a runner-up finish in a regional tournament on Friday at the Iowa Events Center. Engebretson pinned all three of her opponents to win the 115-pound title. In the finals, she recorded a fall over Jasmine Oleson of Cedar Falls in 1 … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Elyse Engebretson, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

Ankeny advances 2 champions, 6 other qualifiers to girls’ state wrestling tourney

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Friday was another historic day for the Ankeny girls' wrestling program. Competing in a regional tournament at the Iowa Events Center, Ankeny placed second in the 25-team field and qualified eight of its wrestlers for the first girls' state tournament next week at Xtream Arena in Coralville. "It was a great day!" said Ankeny coach Dustin Roland. "We … [Read more...] about Ankeny advances 2 champions, 6 other qualifiers to girls’ state wrestling tourney

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