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‘We prepared for it all week’: Ankeny boys defeat Jaguars for 5th consecutive time

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team took a huge step forward on Friday night. It still wasn't enough, though, to end the Jaguars' recent losing streak to crosstown rival Ankeny. The Hawks opened the second half with an 11-0 run to take the lead for good and went on to post a 58-46 win at Centennial. It was their fifth straight triumph in the … [Read more...] about ‘We prepared for it all week’: Ankeny boys defeat Jaguars for 5th consecutive time

‘I’m just happy for our girls’: Hawkettes end four-game skid against Centennial

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) For just the third time since Ankeny split into two high schools, the Ankeny Hawkettes defeated their crosstown rival in girls' basketball. Sixth-ranked Ankeny stayed a few steps ahead of a young, scrappy Ankeny Centennial team for a 55-39 road victory on Friday night. It snapped a four-game losing streak in the series and … [Read more...] about ‘I’m just happy for our girls’: Hawkettes end four-game skid against Centennial

‘It’s been quite the experience’: St. Louis, Heckenlaible reach NCAA Tourney Elite 8

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During his high school soccer career at Ankeny Centennial, Andrew Heckenlaible never got a chance to play in a state championship game. Now a sophomore forward at St. Louis University, Heckenlaible is just two wins away from advancing to the title game of the NCAA Tournament. The Billikens have advanced through the tournament in thrilling fashion, … [Read more...] about ‘It’s been quite the experience’: St. Louis, Heckenlaible reach NCAA Tourney Elite 8

‘I am back and ready to bring the heat’: Harris shines in dual against Urbandale

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The Ankeny bowling teams were swept by visiting Urbandale in a CIML Conference dual meet on Thursday at B-Roll Bowling. The J-Hawks won the boys' meet by a score of 2,310 to 2,093. They won the girls' meet by a score of 1,953 to 1,776. The Ankeny girls' team dropped to 0-2 in the conference. Olivia Harris led the squad with a 342 series, while Kylie … [Read more...] about ‘I am back and ready to bring the heat’: Harris shines in dual against Urbandale

Ex-Jags Winkel, Bechen earn postseason honors after Dubuque’s 26-5 campaign

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Former Ankeny Centennial volleyball standouts Delainey Winkel and Taylor Bechen are still enjoying a lot of success at the collegiate level. Now teammates at the University of Dubuque, the two juniors both received some postseason honors after helping the Spartans to a 26-5 record and the American Rivers Conference regular season title. Winkel, an … [Read more...] about Ex-Jags Winkel, Bechen earn postseason honors after Dubuque’s 26-5 campaign

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

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(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

‘I thought we competed hard’: Ankeny swimmers suffer 104-66 loss to Waukee

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The Ankeny boys' swimming team faced visiting Waukee for the second time in 10 days. After placing fifth behind the runner-up Warriors in the Ankeny Sprint Invitational on Nov. 25, the Hawks collided with Waukee again in the CIML Conference opener for both teams on Thursday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The Warriors won 10 of the 11 events and posted … [Read more...] about ‘I thought we competed hard’: Ankeny swimmers suffer 104-66 loss to Waukee

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

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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

‘Our kids showed a lot of heart’: Hawks drop 37-31 decision to Valley in opener

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The Ankeny wrestling team closed out Thursday's season-opening dual meet against visiting CIML Conference rival Valley with four consecutive wins, but it wasn't enough to overcome a 24-point deficit and the Tigers held on for a 37-31 victory. Valley avenged a 53-19 loss in last year's opener. The Hawks wrestled without two of their five returning state … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids showed a lot of heart’: Hawks drop 37-31 decision to Valley in opener

Wayne State standout Miller named AVCA Central Region Freshman of the Year

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Wayne State College outside hitter Delaney Miller has been named the Central Region Freshman of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The former Ankeny Centennial star also earned first-team all-region honors after helping the Wildcats to a 27-5 record and a No. 4 ranking in the final regular season AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Top 25 Coaches … [Read more...] about Wayne State standout Miller named AVCA Central Region Freshman of the Year

UT Martin QB Bauer named to OVC-Big South all-conference second team

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Former Ankeny quarterback Jase Bauer has been named to the OVC-Big South all-conference second team after helping the University of Tennessee at Martin football team to a 6-6 record this season. The Skyhawks went 6-2 in league play to record the program's 10th top-two finish in the conference standings during coach Jason Simpson's tenure. Joining the team … [Read more...] about UT Martin QB Bauer named to OVC-Big South all-conference second team

‘Something just clicked’: Ankeny lineman Liechti flips commitment to Grizzlies

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Ankeny offensive lineman Owen Liechti has signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Montana, one of the top programs in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. Liechti flipped to the Grizzlies after originally committing to Columbia University of the Ivy League. "(Columbia) was a great opportunity, and I’m grateful for the … [Read more...] about ‘Something just clicked’: Ankeny lineman Liechti flips commitment to Grizzlies

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

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(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

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(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

Newcomers Allison, Ford, Clark help Ankeny boys to 58-52 victory over Valley

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The new pieces on the Ankeny boys' basketball team made their presence felt during Tuesday's season opener against visiting Valley. Max Allison, a 7-foot-1 center, had six points, eight rebounds and four blocks in his first varsity start as the Hawks posted a 58-52 victory. Keyon Ford, a sophomore forward, added four points and four steals off the … [Read more...] about Newcomers Allison, Ford, Clark help Ankeny boys to 58-52 victory over Valley

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

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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

‘Our girls just executed so well’: Williams, Hawkettes pull away from No. 11 Valley

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At 5-foot-9, Ankeny senior Jayla Williams doesn't look like a typical post player on the basketball court. But with her outstanding athleticism, the Creighton recruit can occasionally take advantage of a smaller defender in the paint. That's exactly what Williams did on Tuesday night, when she scored 16 of her 21 points in the second half to lead the … [Read more...] about ‘Our girls just executed so well’: Williams, Hawkettes pull away from No. 11 Valley

‘I had never seen a place like that before’: Carlson to join Iowa men’s track program

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Standout hurdler Hayden Carlson of Ankeny has signed a letter of intent to join the Iowa men's track and field program next year. Carlson will be coached by Iowa's Joey Woody, who is a four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year. Woody has also run competitively on the international track circuit, earning a silver medal in the 400 hurdles at the World … [Read more...] about ‘I had never seen a place like that before’: Carlson to join Iowa men’s track program