Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Winter

Ankeny, Centennial wrestlers hoping to get healthy for Jag vs. Hawk showdown

by

With the Jag-Hawk wrestling dual meet coming up on Thursday at Ankeny Centennial, both teams are still trying to get to full strength. It's been a rough start to the season for the Jaguars, who placed 14th among 15 teams in the Keith Young Invitational on Saturday at Cedar Falls. Defending state champion Max Dhabolt has yet to wrestle, and neither have … [Read more...] about Ankeny, Centennial wrestlers hoping to get healthy for Jag vs. Hawk showdown

Watson, Krah lead Ankeny girls’ team to 5th-place finish at Dan Gable Donnybrook

by

The Ankeny girls' wrestling team earned a fifth-place finish among 47 squads in the Dan Gable Donnybrook at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The two-day meet concluded on Friday with Ankeny scoring a total of 270 points. Coach Dustin Roland's squad had seven top-eight finishers. "Overall, we were pleased with our effort this weekend," said Roland. "All of … [Read more...] about Watson, Krah lead Ankeny girls’ team to 5th-place finish at Dan Gable Donnybrook

‘I liked the way we fought’: Depleted Jags open season with 53-21 loss at Northwest

by

(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers saw their team's season come to an end a year ago at the hands of Waukee Northwest after winning the previous matchup. Now, the Jaguars hope to flip the script in the 2025-26 season. Centennial traveled to Northwest on Thursday and won just four of the 14 matches with three falls in a 53-21 … [Read more...] about ‘I liked the way we fought’: Depleted Jags open season with 53-21 loss at Northwest

Ankeny girls’ team sits in 5th place going into final day of Dan Gable Donnybrook

by

The Ankeny girls' wrestling team sits in fifth place with 236 points heading into the final day of the Dan Gable Donnybrook on Friday at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Defending champion Raccoon River-Northwest leads the 47-team field with 338 points. Cedar Rapids Prairie is second with 270. Ankeny's Lauren Watson at 110 pounds and Jammie Krah at 140 both … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ team sits in 5th place going into final day of Dan Gable Donnybrook

‘All props to Northwest’: No. 2 Wolves spoil Harken’s coaching debut at Centennial

by

(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It wasn’t exactly the start to the Chris Harken era that the Jaguars wanted, but the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team knows there’s only going up from game one. Harken and the Jaguars ran into a well-oiled machine Tuesday in the second-ranked Waukee Northwest Wolves and started off the season with a 65-31 road … [Read more...] about ‘All props to Northwest’: No. 2 Wolves spoil Harken’s coaching debut at Centennial

‘Our mentality is to keep getting better’: Jaguars open their season with 64-21 loss

by

(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team knows that each night is going to be a battle in a loaded CIML Conference. And the Jaguars opened their season with potentially one of their hardest fights of the entire year. New head coach Matt Delger and the Jaguars went on the road Tuesday to face Class 4A title-contending … [Read more...] about ‘Our mentality is to keep getting better’: Jaguars open their season with 64-21 loss

Ankeny girls defeat North Metro, but drop 54-26 decision to Cedar Falls for first loss

by

Tuesday's girls' wrestling triangular meet at Ankeny Centennial turned into a pinning exhibition. In the three round-robin dual meets between Ankeny, Cedar Falls and North Metro, all but three of the 32 matches that were contested resulted in falls. In the end, Ankeny came away with a split on the night. Coach Dustin Roland's team posted a 54-30 … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls defeat North Metro, but drop 54-26 decision to Cedar Falls for first loss

Jags return state champ Dhabolt, runner-up Vandermark, placewinner Sodergren

by

During his tenure as the head coach of the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers, Jay Groth has built a program that embodies hard work and toughness. That culture has led to a lot of success in the 12-year history of the program, but even Groth admits that it's not easy to be a Jaguar wrestler. "We have lost a few kids this season because wrestling is a hard … [Read more...] about Jags return state champ Dhabolt, runner-up Vandermark, placewinner Sodergren

‘We know every night will be a battle’: Delger, Jags ready for grueling schedule

by

Matt Delger spent the last decade preparing for an opportunity that has now arrived. The longtime assistant coach under Bob Fontana has taken over the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball program. He was Fontana's top assistant the last three years after coaching the sophomore team for the previous eight. "The transition has been easy," said Delger. "I … [Read more...] about ‘We know every night will be a battle’: Delger, Jags ready for grueling schedule

‘There will be some growing pains’: Only 3 players return as Jaguars begin new era

by

When legendary Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong announced his retirement at the end of last season, it marked the end of an era in more ways than one. Not only was DeJong stepping down after a 37-year coaching career that saw him win a record seven state titles, but the Jaguars also graduated nine of the 12 players from last year's … [Read more...] about ‘There will be some growing pains’: Only 3 players return as Jaguars begin new era

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Trudy Haag, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

by

Senior Trudy Haag placed fourth at 130 pounds in the Central Iowa Kickoff on Saturday at Nevada. She helped the Ankeny girls' wrestling squad to a third-place finish in the 33-team field. Haag is a three-time state qualifier who placed fifth in Class 2A at 120 as a junior, when she helped Ankeny to a runner-up finish. She has won 99 matches in her … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Trudy Haag, Ankeny girls’ wrestling

‘What a stud’: Bratland outlasts two-time state champ, wins title at Nevada tourney

by

Ankeny's Hayden Bratland has won a lot of big matches in her wrestling career. Saturday's victory over Colbie Tenborg of Saydel in the Central Iowa Kickoff at Nevada may have been one of her biggest yet. Bratland, the defending Class 2A state champion at 140 pounds, posted a 7-5 decision over Tenborg in the title match at 145. Tenborg is a two-time … [Read more...] about ‘What a stud’: Bratland outlasts two-time state champ, wins title at Nevada tourney

Ankeny girls ‘take care of business’, roll to 66-15 victory over West Des Moines team

by

(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After handling business in its season-opening triangular meet, the Ankeny girls' wrestling team turned around on Thursday and flexed its muscles in the squad's first CIML Conference dual of the season. Ankeny walked into Valley High School and won 11 of 14 matches with seven wins by fall and four forfeits for a 66-15 victory … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls ‘take care of business’, roll to 66-15 victory over West Des Moines team

Ankeny girls get 2 falls from Shade, 3 others in victories over W-SR, Decorah

by

The Ankeny girls' wrestling team came away with a pair of victories on Tuesday in a season-opening triangular meet at Waverly-Shell Rock. Ankeny won 10 of the 14 matches to post a 60-19 triumph over the host Go-Hawks. The team recorded six falls and won four other matches by forfeit. Ankeny also defeated Decorah, 49-30. The squad had five more pins … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls get 2 falls from Shade, 3 others in victories over W-SR, Decorah

‘We would be selling ourselves short’: Ankeny girls look to win title in 4th season

by

The fourth season for the Ankeny girls' wrestling program promises to be another exciting one. Seven state qualifiers are back from a team that earned runner-up honors in last year's Class 2A state tournament, led by defending state champion Hayden Bratland. "We return the second-most state tournament points behind Raccoon River-Northwest," said Ankeny … [Read more...] about ‘We would be selling ourselves short’: Ankeny girls look to win title in 4th season

Centennial wrestling star Vandermark signs letter of intent with Cyclones

by

As a three-time state placewinner with a career record of 120-18, Ankeny Centennial standout Cale Vandermark attracted heavy interest from all three of Iowa's NCAA Division I wrestling programs. In the end, Vandermark decided to stay close to home--signing a letter of intent to compete for Iowa State next year. A strong student as well, he will receive … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestling star Vandermark signs letter of intent with Cyclones

Jaguars’ Maizie Smith to join her sister, Tillie, on NIACC women’s basketball team

by

Ankeny Centennial's Maizie Smith will continue her basketball career at the collegiate level. Smith, a guard, announced her verbal commitment on Friday to play for North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City. The senior-to-be will be reunited with her sister Tillie, who graduated from Centennial in May. Tillie initially committed to play for Grand … [Read more...] about Jaguars’ Maizie Smith to join her sister, Tillie, on NIACC women’s basketball team

‘You want to get the best of the best’: Jags hire Delger, Harken to coach hoops teams

by

Ankeny Centennial Activities Director Nate Lingren didn't have to look very far to find replacements for legendary basketball coaches Scott DeJong and Bob Fontana. Both of the Jaguars' new coaches were already in the building. Matt Delger, Fontana's former assistant, has been hired to take over the boys' program. He was introduced on Wednesday. "I … [Read more...] about ‘You want to get the best of the best’: Jags hire Delger, Harken to coach hoops teams