Lane Pruisner crouched on the wrestling mat and waited for the referees to make a call. "No doubt, I thought I had a takedown," Pruisner said. The Ankeny Centennial heavyweight was tied with Fort Dodge's Logan Finowski, 2-2, as the final seconds of their match ticked off the clock during Thursday's season-opening dual meet at Centennial. Pruisner then … [Read more...] about Jaguars edge defending state champs on Pruisner’s takedown in final second
Winter
No. 1 S.E. Polk starts fast, hands Jaguars their first loss
A slow start proved costly for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team on Tuesday. Or, maybe, it was just a fast start by Southeast Polk. The top-ranked Rams jumped out to a 23-10 lead in the first quarter and led all the way en route to a 51-44 victory at No. 10 Centennial. The Jaguars dropped to 2-1 on the season. "They came out on fire--they … [Read more...] about No. 1 S.E. Polk starts fast, hands Jaguars their first loss
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Bella Robben, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball
Bella Robben of the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Robben, a sophomore guard, has helped the 10th-ranked Jaguars to a 2-1 record. She is averaging 3.3 points per game. Robben scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting in Centennial's season-opening 73-21 victory over visiting Fort Dodge … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Bella Robben, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball
Jaguars roll to season-opening win with ‘total team effort’
After losing its last two season openers, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team was determined to get off on the right foot. Thanks to a crucial 6-minute stretch, the Jaguars accomplished their goal. Centennial overcame an early deficit and then pulled away to defeat visiting Southeast Polk, 62-45, in its season opener on Tuesday. The Jaguars led … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll to season-opening win with ‘total team effort’
Centennial boys boast tall front line, inexperienced backcourt
The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team appears to be loaded with frontline players. The Jaguars could be a little thin in the backcourt, though, following the graduation of all-state guard Hunter Strait, who is now playing a key role as a freshman at Truman State. "Our returning players that played the most are all frontline players, so I would … [Read more...] about Centennial boys boast tall front line, inexperienced backcourt
Jaguars dominate rebounding battle en route to 75-20 victory at Lincoln
If the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team misses a shot, there's a good chance that the Jaguars will grab an offensive rebound. That proved to be the case on Saturday afternoon at Des Moines Lincoln, where 10th-ranked Centennial won the battle of the boards, 43-12, and rolled to a 75-20 victory over the Railsplitters. "We were really strong on … [Read more...] about Jaguars dominate rebounding battle en route to 75-20 victory at Lincoln
Coach: Jaguars capable of bringing trophy home from state tournament
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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