Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Winter

Coach: Jaguars capable of bringing trophy home from state tournament

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestling program has been making strides every year under coach Jay Groth, gradually increasing its win total from 10 in its inaugural season in 2013-14 to a school-record 22 victories last season. Now, the Jaguars may just have their best team yet. "We have very high expectations for this group," said Groth. "We have three … [Read more...] about Coach: Jaguars capable of bringing trophy home from state tournament

Burns finds her shooting stroke in Jaguars’ season-opening victory

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It took only 15 seconds for Ankeny Centennial's Meg Burns to make her first 3-point goal of the season. The junior guard swished a shot from the top of the key on the game's opening possession and went on to score 12 points, all of them in the first half, to lead the 10th-ranked Jaguars to a 73-21 victory over visiting Fort Dodge in their season opener on … [Read more...] about Burns finds her shooting stroke in Jaguars’ season-opening victory

Centennial’s Schon commits to play for William Jewell College

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Rachel Schon and Codee Myers were once crosstown rivals. Beginning next year, the duo will become teammates. Schon, an Ankeny Centennial senior, has committed to play basketball at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. She will join a roster that includes Myers, a former Ankeny standout. "I am happy to have made my decision," Schon said. "The … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Schon commits to play for William Jewell College

Jaguars to rely on team effort to compete in loaded CIML

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A year ago, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team overcame a slew of injuries to post a 19-4 record. Centennial coach Scott DeJong is hoping to have better luck this season, but the Jaguars have already been bitten by the injury bug. Junior guard Meg Burns, one of the team's top returning players, has been sidelined since July due to a foot … [Read more...] about Jaguars to rely on team effort to compete in loaded CIML

Inaugural Athletic Boosters Cake Auction slated for Jan. 11

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The inaugural Ankeny Athletic Boosters Cake Auction will be held on Friday, Jan. 11 during the Ankeny vs. Ankeny Centennial girls' and boys' basketball doubleheader. This exciting event will be a fundraiser for the Booster Club to support both athletic programs. Sweet cake sponsorships are being offered for $250. The boosters will arrange to have a cake … [Read more...] about Inaugural Athletic Boosters Cake Auction slated for Jan. 11

Ankeny wrestlers headed to Cadet and Junior National Championships

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  Four wrestlers from Ankeny will be competing in the 2018 Cadet and Junior National Championships in Fargo, N.D., beginning on Saturday. It is the premiere youth tournament in the United States. Trever Anderson, a freshman-to-be at Ankeny High School, has qualified in the Cadet Division along with Caleb Rathjen, an incoming sophomore at … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers headed to Cadet and Junior National Championships

After coach departs, Kasperbauer leaves Truman State for Kirkwood

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When Hunter Strait signed a letter of intent to play for Truman State, the Ankeny Centennial point guard thought he was going to be reunited on the basketball court with former teammate Connor Kasperbauer. Now, the reunion appears to be off. Kasperbauer has decided to transfer to Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. His departure came after … [Read more...] about After coach departs, Kasperbauer leaves Truman State for Kirkwood

Centennial’s Williams to play for Mineral Area College

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Keanna Williams wants to get out of her comfort zone. That's one of the reasons the Ankeny Centennial point guard has verbally committed to play basketball for Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo. She picked the Cardinals over nearby Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. "I have always been around my mom and dad and have never ventured off," … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Williams to play for Mineral Area College

Strait earns third-team all-state honors from IPSWA

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If the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team needed a basket, coach Bob Fontana usually put the ball in Hunter Strait's hands. If Fontana wanted to get one of the other Jaguars going offensively, he would rely on his senior point guard to deliver an assist. Strait's ability to score and to distribute the ball has been recognized by the Iowa Print … [Read more...] about Strait earns third-team all-state honors from IPSWA

McCullough, Olson earn all-state honors from Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association

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Ankeny's Sara McCullough and Ankeny Centennial's Chloe Olson have received all-state basketball honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. McCullough, a junior forward, was named to the Class 5A second team. She averaged 16.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while leading the Hawkettes to an 11-12 record, their best season since the split into two … [Read more...] about McCullough, Olson earn all-state honors from Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association

Strait, Carlson earn all-CIML honors from Ankeny Fanatic

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Last week, Ankeny Fanatic unveiled its all-CIML girls' basketball teams. Now, it's the boys' turn. Once again, the goal was to select the top 10 players in the 18-team conference--five for the first team and five for the second. But it turned out to be an incredibly difficult task. There is just so much talent this year in the CIML. Take a look at the … [Read more...] about Strait, Carlson earn all-CIML honors from Ankeny Fanatic

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Chloe Olson, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball

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Chloe Olson is the Ankeny Fanatic prep of the week sponsored by Revive Clinic and Spa. The senior forward helped the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 19-4 record this season. Olson averaged a team-high 12.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for the Jaguars. She made 51.3 percent of her shots from the field. Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Chloe Olson, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lathan Brandt, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball

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Lathan Brandt of the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. The junior forward was a valuable reserve for the Jaguars, helping the team to a 14-9 record. He averaged 3.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. Brandt scored a career-high 14 points in Centennial's 62-55 victory over Waukee on Jan. … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Lathan Brandt, Ankeny Centennial boys’ basketball

McCullough, Olson named to Ankeny Fanatic’s all-CIML second team

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  Although Monday was a rough day for the CIML at the girls' state basketball tournament, the 18-team conference still boasts some of the best talent in the state. And much of that talent will be coming back next year. Four of the five players named to Ankeny Fanatic's all-CIML first team are underclassmen. Four of the five second-team players … [Read more...] about McCullough, Olson named to Ankeny Fanatic’s all-CIML second team

Another heartbreaking loss to Valley ends Jaguars’ postseason run

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It shouldn't surprise anyone that Friday's Class 4A substate semifinal between the Ankeny Centennial and Valley boys' basketball teams came down to the last possession. Whenever these two CIML Central Conference rivals collide, the game often is decided in the final seconds. On Friday, second-seeded Valley escaped with a 48-46 victory in overtime when … [Read more...] about Another heartbreaking loss to Valley ends Jaguars’ postseason run

Jaguars’ 10-game winning streak ends with loss to Valley in regional final

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This wasn't the same Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team that was riding a 10-game winning streak. It certainly wasn't the same Valley squad that had lost six consecutive games earlier this season. The 12th-ranked Tigers used a 25-point fourth quarter to post a 58-44 victory in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at No. 5 Centennial. The game was … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ 10-game winning streak ends with loss to Valley in regional final

Olson, Wycoff, McCullough earn all-district honors

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Seniors Chloe Olson and Sydney Wycoff of Ankeny Centennial have been named to the Class 5A West all-district girls' basketball team along with junior Sara McCullough of Ankeny. The all-district teams were selected by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Olson, a forward, has led the Jaguars to a 19-3 record and a No. 5 ranking in Class 5A. She leads the … [Read more...] about Olson, Wycoff, McCullough earn all-district honors

Jaguars survive dogfight against Lincoln, advance to substate semifinal

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Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana was hoping that his players learned a valuable lesson on Friday night. Monday's game against the same opponent showed that the Jaguars possibly didn't get the message. Three days after Centennial let up in the second half of a 66-52 victory over Des Moines Lincoln in its regular-season finale, the … [Read more...] about Jaguars survive dogfight against Lincoln, advance to substate semifinal