Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Winter

Engebretson, McGrew reach 100-victory mark as Ankeny wins Pleasantville Duals

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Seniors Elyse Engebretson and Haylee McGrew each recorded their 100th career victories as the Ankeny girls' wrestling team closed out the dual-meet season on Monday by winning the Pleasantville Duals. Second-ranked Ankeny defeated Albia on a criteria decision after the two squads finished in a 39-39 tie. Coach Dustin Roland's team was awarded the victory … [Read more...] about Engebretson, McGrew reach 100-victory mark as Ankeny wins Pleasantville Duals

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Sean Tunks, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball

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Senior Sean Tunks scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double to lead the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to an 80-49 victory over visiting Dallas Center-Grimes on Friday, allowing the Jaguars to snap a seven-game losing skid. He also had three steals and two blocks. Tunks is averaging 10.5 points and … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Sean Tunks, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball

Centennial girls roll past Class 4A No. 2 North Polk, handing Comets their first loss

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) There are some days where everything just seems to be clicking, and the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team picked a perfect time to do so. The Class 5A fourth-ranked Jaguars were locked in on both ends of the court, and it led to a 20-point victory during their top-five showdown with Class 4A No. 2 North Polk as … [Read more...] about Centennial girls roll past Class 4A No. 2 North Polk, handing Comets their first loss

Jaguars make school-record 16 3-point goals, rout DC-Grimes to snap losing skid

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All it took for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to snap a seven-game losing streak was to step out of conference play. Winless in the CIML Conference at 0-11, the Jaguars hosted Dallas Center-Grimes in a non-conference game on Friday and turned in their best performance of the season. Centennial made a school-record 16 3-point … [Read more...] about Jaguars make school-record 16 3-point goals, rout DC-Grimes to snap losing skid

‘Can’t wait to take this next step’: Ankeny’s Engebretson commits to Sioux Falls

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Ankeny girls' wrestling standout Elyse Engebretson has verbally committed to the University of Sioux Falls. Engebretson announced her decision via social media on Thursday. "So excited to announce that i will be continuing my academic and wrestling careers at the University of Sioux Falls!" Engebretson tweeted on X. "I couldn't … [Read more...] about ‘Can’t wait to take this next step’: Ankeny’s Engebretson commits to Sioux Falls

Crawford, Pratt record double-doubles in Jaguars’ 58-41 victory over Valley girls

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Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong didn't expect a repeat of his team's 73-42 victory at Valley last month. The fourth-ranked Jaguars won the rematch, 58-41, on Tuesday at Centennial. "The last time the stars aligned," said DeJong. "We were just hoping we could beat them. Waukee Northwest was a single-digit game (with Valley) in the … [Read more...] about Crawford, Pratt record double-doubles in Jaguars’ 58-41 victory over Valley girls

Without Abbott and Fontana, Centennial boys drop 65-49 decision to No. 2 Valley

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This wasn't the break that the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team needed. After struggling to a 1-10 start this season, the Jaguars got some more bad news prior to Tuesday's game against visiting Valley. Sophomore forward Evan Abbott, the squad's leading scorer with an average of 12.3 points per game, was shut down due to a stress fracture in his … [Read more...] about Without Abbott and Fontana, Centennial boys drop 65-49 decision to No. 2 Valley

Raccoon River-NW edges Ankeny girls, again, to claim title at CIML Invitational

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The Ankeny girls' wrestling team is still trying to figure out how to beat Raccoon River-Northwest. The top two squads in Class 2A collided for the fourth time this season on Tuesday in the CIML Conference Invitational at Northview Middle School. And, once again, No. 1 Raccoon River-Northwest came out on top, claiming the team title with 238.5 … [Read more...] about Raccoon River-NW edges Ankeny girls, again, to claim title at CIML Invitational

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Hayden Bratland, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

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Sophomore Hayden Bratland helped the Ankeny girls' wrestling team to the championship of the Bob Sharp Invitational on Friday at Ankeny High School. She won an individual title at 140 pounds, joining teammates Mady Postma at 135 and Haylee McGrew at 155 atop the awards podium. Bratland scored bonus points in all four of her matches, capped off by a fall … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Hayden Bratland, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

Ankeny girls dominate Sharp Invitational, crown 3 champs among their 9 finalists

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The Ankeny girls' wrestlers wrapped up the team title at their own Bob Sharp Invitational on Friday well before the final match was contested. Ankeny advanced nine girls to the finals, crowned three individual champions and racked up 252 points in the 14-team tournament at Ankeny High School. Linn-Mar was a distant second with 183.5 points. "We had a … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls dominate Sharp Invitational, crown 3 champs among their 9 finalists

‘We just have to stay the course’: Struggling Jaguars fall to No. 9 Dowling

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team was looking to pull off an upset Friday against a top-10 opponent. Unfortunately, the Jaguars picked the wrong night to face visiting Dowling Catholic. The ninth-ranked Maroons shot 63.5 percent from the field (33-of-52), including 11-of-19 from 3-point range (57.9 percent), and rolled to an 80-41 … [Read more...] about ‘We just have to stay the course’: Struggling Jaguars fall to No. 9 Dowling

After 6 ties and 5 lead changes, Dowling girls pull away late to beat Jaguars again

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team is still searching for a signature victory to put on its postseason resume. The fourth-ranked Jaguars once again battled No. 2 Dowling Catholic down to the wire on Friday before dropping a 52-45 decision at Centennial. There were six ties and five lead changes before the Maroons closed out the CIML Conference … [Read more...] about After 6 ties and 5 lead changes, Dowling girls pull away late to beat Jaguars again

Centennial boys rally from 22-point deficit to forge tie, but Urbandale holds on to win

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) With about 4 minutes 30 seconds left in the third quarter, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team faced one of its largest deficits in Tuesday's game against visiting Urbandale. Davis Hardersen knocked down a 3-pointer to extend the J-Hawks' lead to 41-19 as they appeared to be ready to cruise to victory on Centennial’s … [Read more...] about Centennial boys rally from 22-point deficit to forge tie, but Urbandale holds on to win

Crawford enjoys historic night as Jaguars roll past Urbandale for 2nd time this year

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Ever since transferring from Cedar Falls to Ankeny Centennial after her freshman girls' basketball season, Mya Crawford has carved out a pretty important role for the Jaguars. She’s started nearly 60 games over two and a half seasons, she’s scored a lot of baskets and she’s helped win a ton of games for Centennial. But … [Read more...] about Crawford enjoys historic night as Jaguars roll past Urbandale for 2nd time this year

Ankeny girls rack up 6 pins, win 5 matches by forfeit in 69-12 victory at Urbandale

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The Ankeny girls' wrestling team rolled to a 69-12 victory at Urbandale in a CIML Conference dual meet on Tuesday. Ankeny recorded six falls, all but one of them in the first period. Coach Dustin Roland's team won five other matches by forfeit and also got a narrow victory in the final match at 110 pounds, where Zoe Sullivan posted an 8-6 decision over … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls rack up 6 pins, win 5 matches by forfeit in 69-12 victory at Urbandale

Ankeny girls crown 4 individual champs, place 2nd behind Osage at Ogden Invite

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The Ankeny girls' wrestling team crowned four individual champions and placed second overall in the Ogden Invitational on Saturday. Osage won the 27-team event with 231.5 points. The Green Devils were led by sisters Ainsley and Gable Hemann, who won titles at 100 and 110 pounds, respectively. Ankeny racked up 209.5 points to easily finish ahead of … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls crown 4 individual champs, place 2nd behind Osage at Ogden Invite

‘They beat us in every phase of the game’: No. 3 Wolves roll past Centennial boys

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The struggles continued on Friday for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. The Jaguars fell behind by 20 points at halftime and eventually dropped a 77-36 decision at third-ranked Waukee Northwest. It was their worst loss of the season. "We were down by nine with 4 minutes left in the second quarter, but then they outscored us by 11 the rest of … [Read more...] about ‘They beat us in every phase of the game’: No. 3 Wolves roll past Centennial boys

‘We’ve got to make better adjustments’: Jags’ lead slips away in loss at Northwest

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For the third time in the last four games, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team let a halftime lead slip away. The fourth-ranked Jaguars were able to recover in those previous games to defeat Cedar Rapids Prairie and Ankeny, but they weren't as fortunate on Friday at No. 3 Waukee Northwest. The Wolves used a 15-1 run in the third quarter to … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got to make better adjustments’: Jags’ lead slips away in loss at Northwest

‘I couldn’t be happier’: Roland ecstatic despite Ankeny’s losses to top 2 teams

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It’s not every day that the third-ranked team in Class 2A girls' wrestling can view itself as an underdog going into a triangular. But Tuesday night was the exception for the Ankeny girls' wrestling squad at Northview Middle School. Under one roof, Ankeny hosted and was defeated in two close duals by the only two teams … [Read more...] about ‘I couldn’t be happier’: Roland ecstatic despite Ankeny’s losses to top 2 teams