Jaron Crews and the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team showed a glimpse of their potential on Tuesday night. Crews poured in a career-high 25 points, including a go-ahead 3-point goal with 2 minutes 7 seconds left, as the Jaguars remained unbeaten with a 59-51 victory at Valley. "It's a good win, but we're just taking it one game at a time," said … [Read more...] about Crews pours in career-high 25 points, leads Jaguars to victory at Valley
Winter
Early lead quickly disappears as Jaguars fall to defending state champs
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team had the defending Class 5A state champion on the ropes Tuesday night. But the Jaguars were unable to deliver the knockout blow. Eighth-ranked Centennial jumped out to an early 11-1 lead at No. 12 Valley before the Tigers used runs of 14-2 and 19-5 to rally for a 52-44 victory. "We started off really well, … [Read more...] about Early lead quickly disappears as Jaguars fall to defending state champs
Jaguars rout Ottumwa, close in on 100th victory in school history
The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team didn't waste any time in putting away visiting Ottumwa on Tuesday. The fifth-ranked Jaguars recorded nine pins, seven of them in the first period, and rolled to a 76-6 victory. They evened their dual-meet record at 1-1. "We wrestled well," said Centennial coach Jay Groth. "We got after it and had a good … [Read more...] about Jaguars rout Ottumwa, close in on 100th victory in school history
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Karter Kester, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball
Senior post player Karter Kester is a member of the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. He has helped the Jaguars to a 3-0 record. Kester is averaging 2.0 points and 0.5 rebounds per game. “Karter has brought energy and enthusiasm to our team. He brings it every day in practice and in games," said Centennial coach Bob Fontana. "He is a great … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Karter Kester, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball
Jaguars dominate Dallas Center-Grimes tournament for 3rd straight year
The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers crowned five individual champions and rolled to the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational title on Saturday for the third straight year. The fifth-ranked Jaguars racked up 256 points, 58 more than runner-up Dallas Center-Grimes. Creston/Orient Macksburg took third in the 14-team field with 158 points. "We had a couple of … [Read more...] about Jaguars dominate Dallas Center-Grimes tournament for 3rd straight year
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Logan Neils, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
Senior Logan Neils pinned his way to the 170-pound title at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational on Saturday, helping the Jaguars to the overall team crown. He is now 4-0 on the season. Neils compiled a 38-3 record as a junior, when he placed second at 170 in the Class 3A state tournament. He is a two-time state placewinner. Here is some inside info … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Logan Neils, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
Balanced Jaguars roll to 72-46 victory over rebuilding Hoover squad
Friday's matchup between the Ankeny Centennial and Des Moines Hoover boys' basketball teams was only the third meeting between the two schools in the last six seasons. This one went much better for the Jaguars than the previous two. Centennial got double-figure scoring from four different players and rolled to a 72-46 victory over the visiting Huskies. … [Read more...] about Balanced Jaguars roll to 72-46 victory over rebuilding Hoover squad
Centennial girls rebound from loss with thumping of Huskies
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team pitched a shutout during the first quarter of Friday's game against visiting Des Moines Hoover. The eighth-ranked Jaguars raced out to a 23-0 lead at the end of the opening period. They built a 41-6 advantage at halftime and then cruised to a 76-15 victory over the Huskies. Centennial coach Scott DeJong … [Read more...] about Centennial girls rebound from loss with thumping of Huskies
‘It was a good barometer for us’: Jaguars lose opener at No. 3 Fort Dodge
A strong start helped the third-ranked Fort Dodge wrestling team to a 43-28 victory over No. 5 Ankeny Centennial on Thursday at the Dodgers' gym. The season-opening dual meet began at 120 pounds, where defending state champion and top-ranked Drake Ayala recorded a technical fall over No. 5 Jackson Bresson. The Dodgers went on to win the first five … [Read more...] about ‘It was a good barometer for us’: Jaguars lose opener at No. 3 Fort Dodge
No. 5 Centennial wrestlers enter season with some huge expectations
The bar has been set high for the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team. Now, the next step for the Jaguars is to win state championships--either as an individual, or as a team at the state duals or the traditional state tournament. Last year's Centennial squad won just about everything but a state title. The Jaguars posted a 21-1 dual-meet record and won … [Read more...] about No. 5 Centennial wrestlers enter season with some huge expectations
Centennial girls’ late rally falls short in loss to No. 6 S.E. Polk
During last year's state tournament, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit before losing to Southeast Polk in overtime in the Class 5A quarterfinals. The Jaguars tried to pull off a similar comeback against their CIML rival on Tuesday, but this time the deficit was too large. Sixth-ranked Southeast Polk built a … [Read more...] about Centennial girls’ late rally falls short in loss to No. 6 S.E. Polk
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 73
Check out the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by the Ankeny office of Iowa Realty. The Fontana brothers, head boys' basketball coach Bob and assistant football and wrestling coach Mike of Ankeny Centennial, were the guests along with former teacher and Ankeny girls' track coach Dennis Adamson, who discusses his project that … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 73
Jaguars cruise past S.E. Polk as Crews makes successful debut
It didn't take long for Jaron Crews to score his first point in an Ankeny Centennial uniform. The former Ankeny player made 1-of-2 free throws before Tuesday's game at Southeast Polk even started. The Rams were called for a technical foul during warmups. "One of their non-dressers was under the basket, and he reached up and hung on the rim. The ref saw … [Read more...] about Jaguars cruise past S.E. Polk as Crews makes successful debut
Jaguars looking for right pieces, will try to rebound from 9-13 season
Building a basketball team is somewhat like putting a puzzle together. Ankeny Centennial boys' coach Bob Fontana is still trying to find the right pieces for his squad as the Jaguars prepare to open the season on Tuesday at Southeast Polk. "Our practices have been good and competitive," said Fontana, whose team posted a 78-62 victory over Ballard in … [Read more...] about Jaguars looking for right pieces, will try to rebound from 9-13 season
Jaguars roll past Lincoln for most lopsided victory in school history
Don't expect the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to win every game by 70 points. For one day, though, that's exactly what the seventh-ranked Jaguars did. Centennial built a 57-7 halftime lead and then coasted to an 84-14 victory over visiting Des Moines Lincoln in its season opener on Saturday afternoon. It was the Jaguars' most lopsided win … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past Lincoln for most lopsided victory in school history
Young Jaguars will need to get key contributions from several players
For much of the last three seasons, Kenna Sauer and Rachel Schon were the faces of the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball program. The duo led the Jaguars to a 51-18 record during that stretch, but have now taken their talents to the collegiate level. Sauer is playing volleyball at Missouri, while Schon is averaging 7.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game … [Read more...] about Young Jaguars will need to get key contributions from several players
Johnson commits to Missouri school; McCullough will play for Wayne State
Ankeny Centennial basketball standouts Micah Johnson and Cody McCullough both revealed their college choices within minutes of each other on Sunday night. Johnson has verbally committed to play for Missouri S & T, while McCullough is headed to Wayne State College. Both players announced their decisions via Twitter. "It was a hard decision," said … [Read more...] about Johnson commits to Missouri school; McCullough will play for Wayne State
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 53
Check out the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by the Ankeny office of Iowa Realty. Kirkwood Community College guard Connor Kasperbauer stopped by to talk about the Eagles' national championship season with Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm, who also visited with another former Ankeny Centennial guard, Hunter Strait, about his … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 53
Centennial’s Monroe chooses Iowa State over Wisconsin, Northern Illinois
There was no reason for Ankeny Centennial wrestler Ben Monroe to put off his college decision any longer. He already knew where he wanted to go. Monroe has verbally committed to Iowa State. The junior will join the Cyclones in the 2020-21 season. "I just decided I would commit now because I knew (Iowa State) would be the place for me, so there was … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Monroe chooses Iowa State over Wisconsin, Northern Illinois
Schon, McCullough earn all-state honors from IGCA, IPSWA
The Central Iowa Metropolitan League dominated the Class 5A state tournament last week, placing seven of its schools in the eight-team field. Now, the CIML has dominated the Class 5A all-state teams by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. The league boasts six of the eight first-team selections and 15 of the 24 all-staters overall. Seniors Rachel Schon … [Read more...] about Schon, McCullough earn all-state honors from IGCA, IPSWA