It's already been an historic winter for the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers. On Wednesday, the Jaguars will try to add another chapter to their storybook season. Third-seeded Centennial will make its first appearance in the state duals tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. The Jaguars (19-0) will face sixth-seeded Bettendorf in the Class 3A quarterfinals at 9 … [Read more...] about Jaguars will face Bettendorf in Class 3A quarterfinals of state duals tournament
Winter
Jaguars capture district title, advance 9 wrestlers to state tournament
Coach Jay Groth doesn't want his Ankeny Centennial wrestlers to get caught looking ahead. He prefers to have the Jaguars focus on their immediate task. "The emphasis is just to score the next point and everything else will take care of itself," Groth said. On Saturday, that strategy resulted in a Class 3A district title for Groth's team, marking a … [Read more...] about Jaguars capture district title, advance 9 wrestlers to state tournament
Centennial boys hold off J-Hawks for their 2nd straight victory
After losing its starting point guard for the season, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team still found a way to win Friday's game against visiting Urbandale. The Jaguars pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 56-45 victory, their second in a row following a seven-game losing skid. They finished 3-7 in the CIML Central Conference and improved to … [Read more...] about Centennial boys hold off J-Hawks for their 2nd straight victory
Jaguars stumble against Urbandale, will look to bounce back on Monday
It's a good thing that the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team will play a make-up game at Des Moines East on Monday. The Jaguars would like to regain some momentum before the start of postseason play later next week. "We need to get out and play again," said Centennial coach Scott DeJong. The ninth-ranked Jaguars were coming off back-to-back … [Read more...] about Jaguars stumble against Urbandale, will look to bounce back on Monday
Hawks, Jaguars to host rematches in substate openers on Feb. 18
Both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams will start postseason play at home. Coaches' seed meetings were held on Wednesday throughout the state to determine the substate pairings. Ankeny received a No. 3 seed in Class 4A Substate 7, while Centennial earned a No. 4 seed in Substate 8. Ankeny (11-6) will host Des Moines Roosevelt … [Read more...] about Hawks, Jaguars to host rematches in substate openers on Feb. 18
Jaguars pummel Johnston, punch their ticket to state duals tournament
The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers aren't satisfied with just qualifying for the state duals tournament. The Jaguars are looking to capture the Class 3A crown. Third-ranked Centennial advanced to the tournament for the first time in school history with a 54-19 victory over No. 14 Johnston in a regional final on Wednesday at Centennial. The Jaguars … [Read more...] about Jaguars pummel Johnston, punch their ticket to state duals tournament
Jaguars rely on balanced scoring, rugged defense to beat Mason City
One of the hallmarks of the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball program under coach Scott DeJong has been a rugged defense. The Jaguars typically try to wear down their opponents over the course of a 32-minute game. On Tuesday, Centennial's strategy may have benefited from a quirk in the schedule. Its opponent, Mason City, was coming off a 90-78 loss … [Read more...] about Jaguars rely on balanced scoring, rugged defense to beat Mason City
Centennial boys snap losing skid behind career-highs from Kelling, Brandt
For the first time since Jan. 4, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team walked off the court Tuesday with a victory. The Jaguars snapped a seven-game losing skid with an 83-56 win over visiting Mason City. They improved to 5-12 on the season, while the Mohawks' record dropped to 6-12. "It was a big shot in the arm for us," said Centennial coach … [Read more...] about Centennial boys snap losing skid behind career-highs from Kelling, Brandt
Centennial girls avenge loss to Ames behind Sauer’s double-double
Kenna Sauer had a sour taste in her mouth following Friday's game at Johnston. Less than 24 hours later, she had a chance to do something about it. The senior forward tied a season-high with 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the ninth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 47-39 victory at No. 14 Ames on Saturday. "(Friday) … [Read more...] about Centennial girls avenge loss to Ames behind Sauer’s double-double
Ames boys knock off Jaguars to keep conference title hopes alive
The shooting woes continued on Saturday for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. The Jaguars shot just 38.6 percent from the field (17-of-44) and dropped a 62-42 decision at Ames for their seventh consecutive loss. Their records fell to 2-7 in the CIML Central Conference and 4-12 overall. During its losing streak, Centennial has made just 40.6 … [Read more...] about Ames boys knock off Jaguars to keep conference title hopes alive
Jaguars connect on just 11-of-46 shots in loss to No. 3 Johnston
The recent frigid temperatures may have cooled off the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. It took a late 3-point goal by reserve Jenny Hagg to prevent the Jaguars from setting a dubious record on Friday. Hagg connected from behind the arc with 45 seconds left to produce the final points of the game in Centennial's 46-27 loss at third-ranked … [Read more...] about Jaguars connect on just 11-of-46 shots in loss to No. 3 Johnston
Cold-shooting Centennial boys drop their 6th consecutive game
There's still time for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to turn its season around. But the Jaguars will need to find some answers for their shooting woes. Centennial scored just 12 points in the first half and went on to suffer a 53-35 loss at Johnston on Friday, its sixth in a row. The Jaguars dropped to 2-6 in the CIML Central Conference … [Read more...] about Cold-shooting Centennial boys drop their 6th consecutive game
Centennial wrestlers top Valley on historic night for Groth, Blubaugh
Jay Groth has been a high school wrestling coach in the Central Iowa Metropolitan League for the last quarter of a century. He accomplished something on Thursday that he had never done before. Groth guided third-ranked Ankeny Centennial to a 40-24 victory over No. 7 Valley in the regular-season finale for both teams at Centennial. It was Groth's first … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers top Valley on historic night for Groth, Blubaugh
Girls’ pairings announced: Hawkettes, Jaguars to host 5A regional semifinals
The Class 5A regional basketball pairings have been announced by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. Ankeny has been placed in Region 2, while Ankeny Centennial has been placed in Region 8. The Hawkettes (7-10) are seeded second in their bracket. They will host a semifinal game against Des Moines East (9-7) or Des Moines North (2-14) on Feb. 16 at … [Read more...] about Girls’ pairings announced: Hawkettes, Jaguars to host 5A regional semifinals
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 33
Check out the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by the Ankeny office of Iowa Realty. Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm breaks down the home stretch of the basketball season with Ankeny Centennial girls' standout Meg Burns and Ankeny boys' coach Brandt Carlson. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 33
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Scott Talmadge, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
Sophomore Scott Talmadge is a member of the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team. Talmadge has helped the Jaguars to a 17-0 record and a No. 3 ranking in Class 3A according to the Iowa Wrestling Coaches Association dual rankings. "Scott has done a great job filling in at 126 pounds and has wrestled tough and worked hard to overcome an early season … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Scott Talmadge, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
Dinnebier, Warriors snap 7-game losing streak to Centennial girls
The Waukee girls' basketball team finally found a way to beat Ankeny Centennial. The emergence of sophomore guard Katie Dinnebier had a lot to do with it. Dinnebier scored 18 of her 26 points in the second half to lead the eighth-ranked Warriors to a 63-52 victory at No. 11 Centennial on Saturday. The win snapped Waukee's seven-game losing streak … [Read more...] about Dinnebier, Warriors snap 7-game losing streak to Centennial girls
No. 1 Waukee boys are ‘well-oiled machine’ in victory over Jaguars
A season-ending knee injury to one of its best players hasn't slowed down the Waukee boys' basketball team. The top-ranked Warriors improved their record to 13-0 with a 59-36 victory at Ankeny Centennial on Saturday. They are one of only 12 remaining unbeaten teams in the state. It was Waukee's second game without senior guard Noah Hart, who underwent … [Read more...] about No. 1 Waukee boys are ‘well-oiled machine’ in victory over Jaguars
Jaguars overcome Clark’s 40 points, rally past Dowling for huge win
Don't ever count out the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. After scoring just 13 points in the first half of Friday's game at Dowling Catholic, the Jaguars appeared to be on their way to a loss that would have allowed third-ranked Johnston to clinch at least a share of the CIML Central Conference title. But a different Centennial team emerged … [Read more...] about Jaguars overcome Clark’s 40 points, rally past Dowling for huge win
Dowling Catholic boys hand Jaguars their fourth consecutive loss
It's been a tough year for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. On Friday night, things went from bad to worse for the Jaguars, who dropped a 53-50 decision at Dowling Catholic before their bus broke down on the way home. "You coach long enough, and you're going to get a little bit of everything," said Centennial coach Bob Fontana. "That's … [Read more...] about Dowling Catholic boys hand Jaguars their fourth consecutive loss