Ankeny Centennial wrestling standout Cale Vandermark captured a fourth consecutive title in the Don Miller Invitational on Saturday at Fort Dodge, where he helped the Jaguars to a sixth-place finish in the 11-team field. Vandermark, who is ranked No. 1 at 126 pounds in Class 3A, posted a 2-1 decision over No. 9 Matthew Tran of Iowa City West in the finals … [Read more...] about Vandermark captures 4th straight title at Miller Invite; Sodergren also wins crown
Wrestling
‘I am so proud of our staff’: Asst. coaches guide Ankeny to DC-G Holiday Duals title
The Ankeny girls' wrestling team defended its title on Saturday by going 5-0 at the Dallas Center-Grimes Holiday Duals. Fourth-ranked Ankeny competed most of the day without coach Dustin Roland, who left after the first dual to watch his son wrestle in another tournament. "I am so proud of our staff and their continued willingness to do whatever I ask … [Read more...] about ‘I am so proud of our staff’: Asst. coaches guide Ankeny to DC-G Holiday Duals title
‘We need to get tougher’: Jaguars tumble to 0-4 with 57-15 loss to No. 2 Dowling
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It’s safe to say that the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers haven’t seen the start to the season that they were hoping for. The Jaguars have been struggling in a battle with injuries and have now dropped their first four CIML Conference duals of the season after Dowling Catholic handed them a 57-15 defeat on Thursday at … [Read more...] about ‘We need to get tougher’: Jaguars tumble to 0-4 with 57-15 loss to No. 2 Dowling
Ankeny girls’ wrestling team rolls to wins over N. Polk, Des Moines Public Schools
The Ankeny girls' wrestling team dropped only one match while defeating a pair of opponents in a double dual meet on Tuesday at Northview Middle School. Fourth-ranked Ankeny rolled to an 84-0 victory over North Polk before following with a 78-6 win over Des Moines Public Schools to raise its overall record to 11-2. DMPS also lost to Ankeny by the same … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ wrestling team rolls to wins over N. Polk, Des Moines Public Schools
‘We’ve got a lot of work to do’: Jags build 34-3 lead before Urbandale rallies to win
The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers still have a lot of work to do. The eighth-ranked Jaguars appeared to be on the verge of their first dual-meet victory on Tuesday, when they built a 34-3 advantage through the first eight matches at Urbandale. But the J-Hawks then mounted a huge rally, sweeping the last six weights to post a 39-34 win. "We got pinned … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got a lot of work to do’: Jags build 34-3 lead before Urbandale rallies to win
‘I was so devastated hearing the news’: Elbow surgery will end Bratland’s season
The Ankeny girls' wrestling team will have to chase the Class 2A state championship without its best wrestler. Top-ranked Hayden Bratland, the defending state champ at 140 pounds, will undergo elbow surgery on Wednesday. The junior will miss the rest of the season. "I was so devastated hearing the news," said Bratland, who was 8-0 on the year and owns … [Read more...] about ‘I was so devastated hearing the news’: Elbow surgery will end Bratland’s season
Hawks place 6th at Baltzley Invite behind champion Walsh, while Jaguars finish 13th
It didn't take long for Ankeny wrestler Ben Walsh to get into midseason form. After making his season debut two nights earlier, the fifth-ranked Walsh cruised to the 126-pound title in the Frank Baltzley Invitational on Saturday at Johnston. He posted a 10-3 decision over Lou Elsten of Lawrence (Kan.) in the title match. "Sometimes when you have a kid … [Read more...] about Hawks place 6th at Baltzley Invite behind champion Walsh, while Jaguars finish 13th
Ankeny girls win 4th straight duals crown, improve record to 18-0 in event’s history
The fourth-ranked Ankeny girls' wrestling team has never lost to an opponent at the Ankeny Centennial Duals. Coach Dustin Roland's squad remained perfect on Saturday at Northview Middle School, where Ankeny went 5-0 on the day to capture the title for the fourth consecutive year. The team is now 18-0 in the history of the event. Ankeny closed out the … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls win 4th straight duals crown, improve record to 18-0 in event’s history
‘Our girls had a great time competing’: Ankeny falls to Raccoon River-NW, 40-35
A dual meet between the top two girls' wrestling teams in Class 2A came down to the final match on Thursday at Waukee Northwest. Top-ranked Raccoon River-Northwest got a fall at 100 pounds from Mya Van Beek to post a 40-35 victory over No. 2 Ankeny. Van Beek pinned Raegan Semrow in 1 minute 51 seconds to seal the verdict, but the loss didn't dampen the … [Read more...] about ‘Our girls had a great time competing’: Ankeny falls to Raccoon River-NW, 40-35
‘We’re heading in right direction’: Hawks top Centennial for 2nd consecutive year
With two of their stalwarts back in the lineup, the Ankeny wrestlers defeated their crosstown rival for the second consecutive year. The Hawks traveled across town to Ankeny Centennial on Thursday and posted a 40-28 victory, getting a pair of pins from returning state placewinners Ben Walsh and Calvin Rathjen. "It was nice having both Ben and Calvin … [Read more...] about ‘We’re heading in right direction’: Hawks top Centennial for 2nd consecutive year
Ankeny, Centennial wrestlers hoping to get healthy for Jag vs. Hawk showdown
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
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
(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
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
Ankeny girls defeat North Metro, but drop 54-26 decision to Cedar Falls for first loss
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
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
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Trudy Haag, Ankeny girls’ wrestling
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
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
(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
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