Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Winter

Centennial boys top Rams in seesaw battle for Fontana’s 450th career triumph

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Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana doesn't keep track of his career record. It's a good thing that somebody else does. Fontana earned his 450th career win on Tuesday as the sixth-ranked Jaguars won a seesaw battle at Southeast Polk, 64-61, in a CIML Conference game. "I don't keep track of that, but my wife and daughter do," said … [Read more...] about Centennial boys top Rams in seesaw battle for Fontana’s 450th career triumph

‘I’ve been feeling it lately’: Porter’s late flurry lifts Jaguars to victory at S.E. Polk

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Ankeny Centennial's Averi Porter has made a lot of big shots in her high school basketball career. On Tuesday night, the senior guard connected on a few more. Porter erupted for 10 points in the first 3 minutes of the fourth quarter as the sixth-ranked Jaguars pulled away from a 33-33 tie to post a 52-46 victory at No. 9 Southeast Polk. She finished … [Read more...] about ‘I’ve been feeling it lately’: Porter’s late flurry lifts Jaguars to victory at S.E. Polk

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Evan Bryan, Centennial boys’ basketball

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Senior forward Evan Bryan has helped the eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a 13-5 record, including an 8-5 mark in the CIML Conference. He scored 14 points and grabbed seven boards on Saturday as the Jaguars posted a 73-32 win at Des Moines North for their fourth consecutive victory. Bryan is averaging 9.4 points and 4.0 rebounds … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Evan Bryan, Centennial boys’ basketball

‘I was really happy with our approach’: Centennial boys roll past Polar Bears

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team didn't have much time to enjoy Friday night's thrilling come-from-behind win against Ankeny. The eighth-ranked Jaguars were back on the court less than 24 hours later for a non-conference game on Saturday at Des Moines North. Centennial got off to a fast start, building a 38-9 halftime lead, and rolled to a … [Read more...] about ‘I was really happy with our approach’: Centennial boys roll past Polar Bears

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

Centennial tops Prairie behind Winkel, Bryan; Jaguars will host Ankeny Friday

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Luke Winkel and Evan Bryan combined for 51 points to lead the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a 71-55 victory at Cedar Rapids Prairie in a non-conference game on Monday. Winkel poured in 31 points on 13-of-19 shooting, while Bryan added 20 on 7-of-10 shooting. It was a career-high for both players, who each had a pair of 3-point … [Read more...] about Centennial tops Prairie behind Winkel, Bryan; Jaguars will host Ankeny Friday

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

‘We didn’t quite deserve it’: Jaguars lose late lead, fall at No. 2 Johnston in OT

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A week ago, the Johnston girls' basketball team suffered its first loss in 43 games, proving that the second-ranked Dragons are beatable. On Friday, the defending state champions nearly took another loss--this time on their home court. No. 6 Ankeny Centennial built a 49-42 lead with 2 minutes 51 seconds left, but Johnston used a 10-3 run to force … [Read more...] about ‘We didn’t quite deserve it’: Jaguars lose late lead, fall at No. 2 Johnston in OT

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

After slow start, Centennial boys pull away in 2nd half for 78-48 win at Carlisle

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team pulled away in the second half for a 78-48 victory at Carlisle in a non-conference game on Thursday. The seventh-ranked Jaguars held a 32-23 lead at halftime. They extended the margin to 54-34 after three quarters, then continued to pull away in the final period. "We were pretty inconsistent the first half, … [Read more...] about After slow start, Centennial boys pull away in 2nd half for 78-48 win at Carlisle

‘Things just kind of snowballed’: Waukee builds big lead in 72-58 win over Jaguars

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This time, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team couldn't make a dramatic rally against Waukee. The seventh-ranked Jaguars--who nearly overcame an 18-point deficit in a 55-52 loss at Waukee on Dec. 16--got off to a slow start in Tuesday's rematch at Centennial and fell behind by 30 points in the third quarter. The No. 2 Warriors went on to post a … [Read more...] about ‘Things just kind of snowballed’: Waukee builds big lead in 72-58 win over Jaguars

No. 6 Centennial girls roll past Waukee for their 7th victory in last 8 games

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After a rare Friday night off, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team returned to the court on Tuesday and put together a complete performance. The sixth-ranked Jaguars placed four players in double figures and rolled past No. 14 Waukee, 55-36, in a CIML Conference game at Centennial. It was their second 19-point win over the Warriors, who had … [Read more...] about No. 6 Centennial girls roll past Waukee for their 7th victory in last 8 games

‘We got off to a great start’: Jaguars jump out to 29-4 lead, romp past Burke (Neb.)

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Coming off its worst loss of the season, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team rebounded in a big way. The fifth-ranked Jaguars jumped out to a 29-4 lead in the first quarter and went on to defeat visiting Burke (Neb.), 70-36, in a non-conference game on Friday. "We got off to a great start," said Centennial coach Bob Fontana, whose team had … [Read more...] about ‘We got off to a great start’: Jaguars jump out to 29-4 lead, romp past Burke (Neb.)

Jaguars avenge loss to No. 4 Valley, move into 3rd-place tie with Tigers

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When the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team suffered a loss at Valley last month, the Jaguars were held to a season-low 40 points. On Tuesday night, that same offensive output was enough to produce a 40-34 victory in a rematch between the two teams at Centennial. "Valley's been a top-five team all year long," said Centennial coach Scott DeJong. … [Read more...] about Jaguars avenge loss to No. 4 Valley, move into 3rd-place tie with Tigers

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

‘They’re playing at a very high level’: Tigers race past Centennial in 2nd half

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Tuesday's showdown at Ankeny Centennial was a battle for third place in the CIML Conference boys' basketball standings. Fourth-ranked Valley turned the game into a rout. The Tigers closed out the third quarter with a 21-4 run to build a 65-44 advantage and went on to defeat No. 5 Centennial, 83-55. They shot 64.8 percent from the field (35-of-54) while … [Read more...] about ‘They’re playing at a very high level’: Tigers race past Centennial in 2nd half

Engebretson, Bishop win titles, lead Ankeny to team crown at Sharp Invite

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Ankeny girls' wrestling coach Dustin Roland was happy with his team's first-place finish in the Bob Sharp Invitational on Saturday at Southview Middle School. But he still wants more from his squad. "It wasn't our best outing, but we were able to edge Mason City for the team title," Roland said. "We won most of the matches we should have, but dropped … [Read more...] about Engebretson, Bishop win titles, lead Ankeny to team crown at Sharp Invite