Saturday's Ankeny Centennial Early Bird Invitational featured many of the state's top volleyball teams, including nine of the top 10 squads in the Class 5A preseason rankings. Both Centennial and Ankeny came away from the tournament feeling good about their performance. The fourth-ranked Jaguars advanced to the championship match with a 22-25, 27-25, … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawkettes demonstrate lofty potential at Centennial’s Early Bird Invite
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Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Miya Steinkamp, Ankeny volleyball
Senior setter Miya Steinkamp has helped the ninth-ranked Ankeny volleyball team to a 6-2 record. The Hawkettes opened their season on Tuesday by defeating all three of their opponents at the Ankeny Quadrangular, then reached the semifinals of the Ankeny Centennial Early Bird Invitational on Saturday before losing a three-set match to the No. 4 … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Miya Steinkamp, Ankeny volleyball
‘We know we’ve got a good team’: Hawks fall short in opener against Waukee NW
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) For just a brief moment, the Ankeny football players thought they’d put the dagger in what would have been a season-opening victory over Waukee Northwest. An untimely holding penalty wiped away an Ankeny touchdown and opened up the opportunity for the fourth-ranked Wolves to snatch a 25-24 win from the jaws of defeat during … [Read more...] about ‘We know we’ve got a good team’: Hawks fall short in opener against Waukee NW
Ankeny swimmers welcome back 5 state qualifiers, seek return to top-10 finish
The Ankeny girls' swimming team is hoping that last year was just an aberration. After earning 10 consecutive top-10 finishes at the state meet, the Hawkettes slipped to a 29th-place finish in 2024. They scored just nine points after being disqualified in the 200 medley relay. Ankeny was seeded seventh in that event and posted a time of 1:51.01, which … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers welcome back 5 state qualifiers, seek return to top-10 finish
‘The little mistakes hurt us’: Kickoffs prove costly in Jaguars’ 30-14 loss at S.E. Polk
Just when the Ankeny Centennial football team appeared to have all the momentum, Southeast Polk grabbed it right back in the next couple of plays. The four-time defending state champion Rams scored two touchdowns in a 2-minute span of the third quarter and went on to beat visiting Centennial, 30-14, in the season opener for both squads on Friday. "The … [Read more...] about ‘The little mistakes hurt us’: Kickoffs prove costly in Jaguars’ 30-14 loss at S.E. Polk
Centennial boys win Jaguar Invitational for their first team crown since 2020 season
The Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country runners may have surprised some of the other teams on Tuesday. The 17th-ranked Jaguars opened their season by winning the Jaguar Invitational at DMACC. They scored a total of 49 points when the results of the two boys' races were combined. It was Centennial's first team title since the 2020 season, when the … [Read more...] about Centennial boys win Jaguar Invitational for their first team crown since 2020 season
‘What a great night to be a Hawk!’: Ankeny girls beat S.E. Polk for their first CIML win
A strong performance in doubles allowed the Ankeny girls' tennis team to post a 7-4 victory over visiting Southeast Polk on Thursday at the Prairie Ridge courts. After the two teams split the six singles matches, the Hawkettes won four of the five doubles matches to earn their first win in CIML Conference play. They are now 1-4 in the league and 2-6 … [Read more...] about ‘What a great night to be a Hawk!’: Ankeny girls beat S.E. Polk for their first CIML win
‘It was a great win!’: Jaguars end losing skid with 10-1 victory over North Polk
A non-conference meet proved to be just what the Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis team needed to get back on the winning track. The Jaguars ended a four-meet losing streak--all of them against CIML Conference opponents--with a 10-1 victory over visiting North Polk on Thursday. They raised their overall record to 4-6, while the Comets dropped to 2-5 on the … [Read more...] about ‘It was a great win!’: Jaguars end losing skid with 10-1 victory over North Polk
‘I feel more calm’: Miller wins playoff to earn medalist honors at NW Invitational
Thursday's Waukee Northwest Invitational at The Legacy Golf Club in Norwalk provided another opportunity for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' golf teams to compete against some of the state's top squads. It was also another chance for Centennial junior McCoy Miller to build on his rapidly growing resume. Miller carded a 3-under-par 69 to tie for … [Read more...] about ‘I feel more calm’: Miller wins playoff to earn medalist honors at NW Invitational
Flick, Blevins lead Centennial girls to runner-up finish at Jaguar Invitational
The Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team opened its season on Tuesday by placing second in the Jaguar Invitational at DMACC. The 12th-ranked Jaguars scored 55 points when the results of the two girls' races were combined. No. 3 Waukee Northwest won the meet with 36 points. "Our coaching staff is very proud of our girls as they fought off … [Read more...] about Flick, Blevins lead Centennial girls to runner-up finish at Jaguar Invitational
Hawkettes top 3 foes at Ankeny Quad, while ACA looks to regroup after 0-3 start
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) Whether it's the Hawkettes or the Eagles, there’s plenty of new faces stepping up into larger roles as both volleyball teams look to reload their respective rosters. Ankeny and Ankeny Christian Academy are both trying to fill the gaps left by big senior classes, and Ankeny’s Tuesday quadrangular featuring ACA, Dike-New … [Read more...] about Hawkettes top 3 foes at Ankeny Quad, while ACA looks to regroup after 0-3 start
All-staters Clark, Larmie, Whitinger give Ankeny football team strong nucleus
Despite some heavy losses to graduation, the Ankeny football team isn't starting over from scratch. The Hawks return several key players from a team that posted a 6-5 record and reached the Class 5A quarterfinals, including a trio of all-staters. "This might be the best looking team I've had getting off the bus, but we've got a lot of guys who haven't … [Read more...] about All-staters Clark, Larmie, Whitinger give Ankeny football team strong nucleus
‘We’re excited for this season’: Jaguars to open up against 4-time defending champ
Most football coaches would prefer to play an overmatched opponent in the season opener just to give their younger players an opportunity to gain some experience. Ankeny Centennial co-head coach Ryan Pezzetti won't have that luxury. The Jaguars will kick off the 2025 season on Friday with a game at Southeast Polk, the four-time defending Class 5A state … [Read more...] about ‘We’re excited for this season’: Jaguars to open up against 4-time defending champ
Miller, Logan sweep individual honors at Copper Creek, but Jags fall to NW, Rams
Although the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team swept the top two individual places in a CIML Conference triangular meet on Tuesday at Copper Creek, the Jaguars were unable to pull out a victory against either Waukee Northwest or host Southeast Polk. The Wolves posted a score of 303 to defeat both of their conference rivals. Centennial and Southeast Polk … [Read more...] about Miller, Logan sweep individual honors at Copper Creek, but Jags fall to NW, Rams
Valley girls defeat Centennial to remain perfect in CIML Conference play
The Ankeny Centennial girls' tennis team has played a gauntlet of tough opponents in the CIML Conference this season. On Tuesday, the Jaguars played the best of them all. Centennial traveled to Valley to face the undefeated Tigers and dropped an 11-0 decision. Valley swept all 11 of the matches in straight sets. The Tigers improved to 5-0 in the … [Read more...] about Valley girls defeat Centennial to remain perfect in CIML Conference play
Jaguars stay connected, outlast Indianola girls in 4 sets to win their season opener
A year ago, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team opened its season by rallying for a dramatic five-set victory at Indianola. Monday's season opener against the Indians wasn't as much of a nailbiter, but the fourth-ranked Jaguars still had to survive some tense moments on their home court. Centennial bounced back from a loss in Set 2 to post a 25-17, … [Read more...] about Jaguars stay connected, outlast Indianola girls in 4 sets to win their season opener
‘I think we will surprise a lot of people’: Hawks boast high hopes despite losses
Ankeny boys' cross country coach Jon Lindaman has been in this situation before. Lindaman will have to replace two-time Class 4A state champion Ethan Zuber, who is now competing for Missouri. Zuber led the Hawks to an eighth-place finish a year ago after helping them to back-to-back third-place finishes in 2022-23. It won't be easy, but at least … [Read more...] about ‘I think we will surprise a lot of people’: Hawks boast high hopes despite losses
‘This team will be solid’: Centennial boys’ squad boasts 4 returning varsity regulars
After just missing last year's state meet, the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team will be looking to return to Fort Dodge in 2025. The Jaguars are seeking their fifth trip to the state meet in school history. They previously qualified in 2015, 2020, 2021 and 2023. Centennial placed ninth in Class 4A in 2020, its highest finish ever. That … [Read more...] about ‘This team will be solid’: Centennial boys’ squad boasts 4 returning varsity regulars
Jaguars look to reload with 3 returning state qualifiers, talented freshman class
In the past, Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country coach Eric Cogdill has always been able to reload--rather than rebuild--his squad. The Jaguars have qualified for the state meet 11 times in the 12-year history of the program. The only year that Cogdill's team failed to make it to Fort Dodge was 2019. Now, Cogdill faces the challenge of replacing … [Read more...] about Jaguars look to reload with 3 returning state qualifiers, talented freshman class
‘You go, I go’: Hawkettes hope to continue recent success by stressing teamwork
The Ankeny girls' cross country team has been remarkably consistent over the last few years. The Hawkettes placed seventh in last year's Class 4A state meet with 195 points. It was the team's third straight seventh-place finish after placing sixth in 2021, which was the program's highest finish since taking fifth in 1988. However, Ankeny coach TJ … [Read more...] about ‘You go, I go’: Hawkettes hope to continue recent success by stressing teamwork