Ankeny Fanatic

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Football group assignments for Class 5A announced by IHSAA

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The district and group assignments for the 2023 and 2024 football seasons have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Districts and Class 5A groups are effective for a two-year cycle. The 2023 season will be the first with a socioeconomic factor added for classifications. Approved this winter by the State Board of Education, the … [Read more...] about Football group assignments for Class 5A announced by IHSAA

‘CCU has just what I was looking for’: White to join Phipps at Division II school

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Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball standout Kennedy White is following in the footsteps of another ex-Jaguar. White has committed to play for Colorado Christian University, an NCAA Division II school in Lakewood, Colo. One of her new teammates will be Maggie Phipps, who was an all-state guard at Centennial two years ago. "I talked to Maggie about CCU … [Read more...] about ‘CCU has just what I was looking for’: White to join Phipps at Division II school

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kambria Leazer, Centennial girls’ track

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Junior Kambria Leazer is one of 15 returning state qualifiers for the Ankeny Centennial girls' track team. She helped the Jaguars to a 20th-place finish in Class 4A a year ago. Leazer tied for sixth in the high jump (5 feet) and placed 16th in the long jump (15-9.5). She earlier set a school record in the long jump at the CIML Iowa Conference meet, where … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kambria Leazer, Centennial girls’ track

After strong season, NIACC soph Pippett named to NJCAA Region XI second team

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Former Ankeny Centennial standout Jackie Pippett has been named to the NJCAA Region XI second team after helping the North Iowa Area Community College women's basketball team to a 19-12 record. Pippett, a 6-foot sophomore post player, averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and a team-high 1.1 blocks per game. She started all 31 games for the … [Read more...] about After strong season, NIACC soph Pippett named to NJCAA Region XI second team

Winkel named to Class 4A first team, while Johnson earns 2nd-team honors

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Ankeny Centennial's Luke Winkel enjoyed a breakout season on the basketball court. His counterpart at Ankeny, Carson Johnson, spent much of the campaign trying to regain his form after undergoing knee surgery in the offseason. Both junior point guards have been rewarded for their efforts by earning all-state honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers … [Read more...] about Winkel named to Class 4A first team, while Johnson earns 2nd-team honors

Headed to H-Town: Sauer will play her final volleyball season for Cougars

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Kenna Sauer is moving from one part of Texas to another. The Texas Tech volleyball star has decided to transfer to the University of Houston for her final collegiate season. The former Ankeny Centennial standout, who played the last two years in Lubbock after transferring from Missouri, is the third transfer to join the Cougars in recent weeks. Sauer, … [Read more...] about Headed to H-Town: Sauer will play her final volleyball season for Cougars

Ex-Jaguar Wycoff closes out her MACU career by earning all-region honors

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Although her college basketball career is now over, the impact that former Ankeny Centennial standout Sydney Wycoff had on the Mid-America Christian University women's squad will last a long time. Wycoff, a graduate student, has been named to the all-Central Region second team by the National Christian College Athletic Association. She helped the Evangels … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguar Wycoff closes out her MACU career by earning all-region honors

Ankeny’s Johnson, Centennial’s Winkel named to CIML Conference first team

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Standout junior guards Carson Johnson of Ankeny and Luke Winkel of Ankeny Centennial have been named to the CIML Conference first team by a vote of the league's boys' basketball coaches. Winkel, who led the Jaguars to a 16-8 record and a trip to the Class 4A state tournament, was a unanimous pick. He averaged a team-high 16.8 points, 4.9 assists and 1.5 … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Johnson, Centennial’s Winkel named to CIML Conference first team

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Nick Vaske, Ankeny Centennial boys’ hoops

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Junior guard Nick Vaske helped the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to a 16-8 record this season. He made 3-of-4 attempts from 3-point range and scored 10 points in the Jaguars' 55-37 loss to Waukee Northwest in the Class 4A quarterfinals on Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena. Vaske started all 24 games, averaging 9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds. He shot … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Nick Vaske, Ankeny Centennial boys’ hoops

Ex-Jaguar Runchey, ex-Comet Murphy help Wartburg reach NCAA’s Sweet 16

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Taylor Runchey, Jaedon Murphy and the 24th-ranked Wartburg College women's basketball team reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament before dropping a 60-51 decision to No. 1 Christopher Newport on Friday at Medford, Mass. Runchey, a junior guard and former Ankeny Centennial standout, had four rebounds and three assists in the loss. Murphy, a … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguar Runchey, ex-Comet Murphy help Wartburg reach NCAA’s Sweet 16

Burns helps Nebraska Kearney to 28-win season, NCAA Tournament appearance

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The season ended on Friday for former Ankeny Centennial star Meg Burns and the Nebraska Kearney women's basketball team. The Lopers suffered a 74-54 loss to Pittsburg State in an NCAA Tournament first-round game in Duluth, Minn. The contest was part of the Central Regional. Burns had two points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal for Nebraska … [Read more...] about Burns helps Nebraska Kearney to 28-win season, NCAA Tournament appearance

Centennial boys return high-scoring trio of Duax, Heckenlaible and Ishibwami

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Perhaps no boys' soccer team in the state returns a trio as talented as Ankeny Centennial's threesome of Ty Duax, Andrew Heckenlaible and Rashidi Ishibwami. Last year, that triumvirate racked up 154 points while leading Centennial to a 16-4 record. The Jaguars advanced to the Class 3A semifinals before dropping a 2-1 decision to Waukee Northwest. "The … [Read more...] about Centennial boys return high-scoring trio of Duax, Heckenlaible and Ishibwami

New head coach Mullen inherits deep, talented Ankeny boys’ track squad

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The new head coach of the Ankeny boys' track team brings a lot of experience to the program. Jordan Mullen was a standout hurdler at Iowa who won two Big Ten titles and was a two-time all-American. He previously coached at Atlantic, where he guided the Trojans to three consecutive Hawkeye Ten crowns and led the team to a pair of top-three finishes in the … [Read more...] about New head coach Mullen inherits deep, talented Ankeny boys’ track squad

Cold shooting, foul trouble prove costly for Jaguars in loss to No. 3 Waukee NW

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Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana tried to look on the bright side Wednesday following his team's season-ending loss at Wells Fargo Arena. "We can be sad that we didn't win today, but let's be dang glad that it happened because you'd much rather have your season end here than before you get here," said Fontana. "This is a resilient … [Read more...] about Cold shooting, foul trouble prove costly for Jaguars in loss to No. 3 Waukee NW

CLASS 4A QUARTERFINAL: Waukee Northwest 55, Ankeny Centennial 37

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The third time was not a charm for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team. After losing twice to third-ranked Waukee Northwest during the regular season, the No. 10 Jaguars dropped a 55-37 decision to their CIML Conference rival in a Class 4A quarterfinal on Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena. The Wolves (22-2) had won the first two meetings by scores of … [Read more...] about CLASS 4A QUARTERFINAL: Waukee Northwest 55, Ankeny Centennial 37

Pitz earns repeat all-state honors from IGCA; Gage, Pratt also recognized

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Ankeny basketball standout Jenna Pitz has received all-state honors from the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association for the second straight year. Pitz, a senior guard, was a repeat selection to the Class 5A third team. She was joined on that squad by sophomore forward Jaeden Pratt of Ankeny Centennial. Pitz's teammate, Savannah Gage, was named to the Class 5A … [Read more...] about Pitz earns repeat all-state honors from IGCA; Gage, Pratt also recognized

Boys’ state preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 4A quarterfinals

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Last week, top-ranked Pleasant Valley capped off an undefeated season by winning the girls' Class 5A state basketball title. Now, the No. 1 Cedar Rapids Kennedy boys' team will try to accomplish the same feat. The Class 4A tournament gets under way Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena. Whichever team cuts down the nets on Friday night will have to win three … [Read more...] about Boys’ state preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 4A quarterfinals

‘We have some talented individuals’: Jaguars need to stay healthy, be patient

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Two of the returning state qualifiers for the Ankeny Centennial boys' track team are still busy playing for the boys' basketball squad. Juniors Drake Dittmar and Connor Welsch are both reserve guards for the Jaguars, who will face Waukee Northwest in a Class 4A quarterfinal on Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena. Welsch has played in all 23 … [Read more...] about ‘We have some talented individuals’: Jaguars need to stay healthy, be patient