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Swanepoel earns all-American honors in 100 butterfly from NISCA for 3rd time

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Ankeny boys' swimming standout Lance Swanepoel has earned all-American honors from the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association. Swanepoel, a junior, won a state title in the 100 butterfly in 48.22 seconds. His time of 48.20 in the preliminaries broke his own school record in the event by more than a second and ranked 37th … [Read more...] about Swanepoel earns all-American honors in 100 butterfly from NISCA for 3rd time

Jaguars rout Davis County, Pleasantville after being rained out on Friday

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After being rained out on Friday, the Ankeny Centennial softball team won its final two games in the Brent Prange Classic on Saturday at Centennial. The sixth-ranked Jaguars posted a 9-0 victory over Davis County, the No. 9 team in Class 3A. They then defeated Pleasantville, 9-3, for their fourth straight win. "Our girls are starting to swing the bat … [Read more...] about Jaguars rout Davis County, Pleasantville after being rained out on Friday

After winning streak ends, Jaguars rebound with 11-1 victory over rated foe

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The Ankeny Centennial baseball team saw its 12-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday, but the Jaguars then bounced back with an 11-1 victory over Coon Rapids-Bayard in five innings in the Brent Prange Classic at Centennial. Centennial scored four runs in the first inning and two more in the fourth. After Coon Rapids-Bayard scored a run in the top … [Read more...] about After winning streak ends, Jaguars rebound with 11-1 victory over rated foe

Hawkettes finish 4-0 at Prange Classic, surpass win total from last 3 seasons

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With two more wins on Saturday in the Brent Prange Classic, the Ankeny softball team has now surpassed its victory total from each of the previous three seasons. The ninth-ranked Hawkettes, who went 4-0 in the tournament, are now 23-8 overall. They won 21 games last year, 19 in 2020 and 20 in 2019 under coach Dave Bingham. "It's always nice to win … [Read more...] about Hawkettes finish 4-0 at Prange Classic, surpass win total from last 3 seasons

Hawks likely headed for No. 2 seed in Substate 7 after going 1-1 on Saturday

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Every win is critical for the Ankeny baseball team as the eighth-ranked Hawks battle No. 6 Urbandale for the top seed in Class 4A Substate 7. That's why Ankeny's 9-8 loss to North Scott in the Brent Prange Classic on Saturday could be damaging for the Hawks, who jumped out to an early 7-0 lead only to see it slip away. Ankeny is now 17-10 on the … [Read more...] about Hawks likely headed for No. 2 seed in Substate 7 after going 1-1 on Saturday

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Thomas DeBrower, Ankeny baseball

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Senior outfielder Thomas DeBrower has helped the eighth-ranked Ankeny baseball team to a 17-10 record. DeBrower is batting .333 with six doubles, a triple and 15 RBIs. He leads the Hawks with 32 runs scored and 17 stolen bases. Here is some inside info on DeBrower: How is the season going thus far? The season has been great. We have a lot of new … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Thomas DeBrower, Ankeny baseball

A PERFECT DOZEN: Jaguars top No. 3 Dowling Catholic for 12th straight win

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After being ranked fourth in the Class 4A preseason rankings, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team got off to a slow start this season, posting a 7-9 record in its first 16 games. Since then, the Jaguars have been unbeatable. Centennial used a three-run sixth inning to beat visiting Dowling Catholic, 6-3, in a non-conference game on Friday. The Maroons … [Read more...] about A PERFECT DOZEN: Jaguars top No. 3 Dowling Catholic for 12th straight win

Roland named girls’ wrestling coach for new Ankeny, Centennial program

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Former Des Moines Lincoln wrestling coach Dustin Roland has been named the head coach for the new girls' wrestling program at Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial. Here is a press release from the Ankeny School District announcing the hiring of Roland: Dustin Roland has been named as the head girls wrestling coach for the new girls wrestling program at Ankeny … [Read more...] about Roland named girls’ wrestling coach for new Ankeny, Centennial program

Regional softball pairings announced by Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union

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If the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial softball teams meet in the postseason, it will have to be at the Class 5A state tournament. The sixth-ranked Jaguars and No. 9 Hawkettes have been placed in separate regions by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. The postseason pairings were announced on Friday. Centennial (16-11) is the top seed in Region 6. … [Read more...] about Regional softball pairings announced by Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union

Jaguars pound out 29 hits, 7 of them for extra bases, in sweep at Urbandale

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It's been a tough week for the Ankeny Centennial softball team. Thursday's non-conference doubleheader at Urbandale provided the Jaguars with a chance to get back on the winning track. They took advantage of it. Sixth-ranked Centennial pounded out 29 hits, seven of them for extra bases, and swept the J-Hawks by scores of 10-2 and 9-3. The Jaguars, … [Read more...] about Jaguars pound out 29 hits, 7 of them for extra bases, in sweep at Urbandale

‘JIM’ DANDY: Lacey outduels NW’s Watts; Jaguars tie for league lead with sweep

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Catcher Nick Severson and his teammates on the Ankeny Centennial baseball squad were prepared to face one of the state's top pitchers on Wednesday. Severson hit a go-ahead triple in the fifth inning and the Jaguars went on to beat Anthony Watts and ninth-ranked Waukee Northwest, 5-4, in the first game of a doubleheader at Centennial. Watts had tossed a … [Read more...] about ‘JIM’ DANDY: Lacey outduels NW’s Watts; Jaguars tie for league lead with sweep

Hawkettes split at Ames, move ahead of Centennial and into 3rd place

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One of the oldest cliches in sports is that it's difficult to beat the same team three times. It's even more difficult to beat the same opponent five times. The Ankeny softball team discovered that reality on Wednesday, when the 14th-ranked Hawkettes split a doubleheader at No. 12 Ames. Ankeny posted a 7-2 victory in the opener for its fourth … [Read more...] about Hawkettes split at Ames, move ahead of Centennial and into 3rd place

Hawks rout Ames in 5 innings before Little Cyclones win nightcap to earn split

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After watching his team drop the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Ames, Ankeny baseball coach Joe Balvanz tried to look on the bright side. "I wanted two (wins) there tonight, but I will take a split and playing well against a good arm," Balvanz said. "Facing a kid like (Ben) Amador is only going to help us in the postseason." Amador … [Read more...] about Hawks rout Ames in 5 innings before Little Cyclones win nightcap to earn split

‘We just didn’t quite get over the hump’: Jaguars are swept by No. 1 Waukee NW

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team needed just one more big hit to knock off top-ranked Waukee Northwest in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at Centennial. Unfortunately, the No. 5 Jaguars didn't get it. Northwest held on for a 5-4 victory, then completed a sweep of the season series by winning the nightcap, 13-2, in five innings. "Our … [Read more...] about ‘We just didn’t quite get over the hump’: Jaguars are swept by No. 1 Waukee NW

‘When we play with the lead, we are really tough’: Eagles raise record to 22-0

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The Ankeny Christian Academy baseball team took its perfect record to Principal Park on Wednesday morning. The seventh-ranked Eagles scored two runs in the first inning and two more in the third to beat Class 2A Cardinal (Eldon), 4-0, and improve to 22-0 on the season. "This team has done a great job all year of getting on top early," said ACA coach … [Read more...] about ‘When we play with the lead, we are really tough’: Eagles raise record to 22-0

‘We’re really confident in ourselves’: Jaguars’ winning streak reaches 9 games

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The foundation for the Ankeny Centennial baseball team's recent success has been laid in the mornings on the practice field. Kyle Miller homered twice and the Jaguars completed a sweep of Monday's doubleheader against visiting Fort Dodge with a 10-0 victory in five innings. "We're happy with how we're playing," said Miller, who went 2-for-3 and drove … [Read more...] about ‘We’re really confident in ourselves’: Jaguars’ winning streak reaches 9 games

Hawks hold off Mason City to complete sweep, remain atop league standings

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It wasn't easy, but the Ankeny baseball team held off host Mason City to sweep a doubleheader on Monday and maintain sole possession of first place in the CIML Iowa Conference. The eighth-ranked Hawks scored three runs in the seventh inning to post a 6-3 victory in the opener, then built an early 12-0 lead en route to a 14-10 win in the nightcap that … [Read more...] about Hawks hold off Mason City to complete sweep, remain atop league standings