In a matchup between two quality sides, a questionable call can sometimes prove to be the difference. That was the case on Wednesday at the boys' state soccer tournament, where third-ranked Waukee Northwest scored the go-ahead goal on a penalty kick to beat No. 1 Ankeny, 2-1, in the Class 3A quarterfinals. "I may be biased on that, but I don't think … [Read more...] about ‘We fell short of our goals’: No. 1 Hawks ousted by Waukee NW on penalty kick
News
Jaguars sweep Roosevelt, will play doubleheader Thursday at Ankeny
Overcoming a 3-0 deficit, the Ankeny Centennial baseball team rallied for a 6-3 victory in the second game of a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday at Des Moines Roosevelt to complete a sweep of the twinbill. The Jaguars scored two runs in the fourth inning and four more in the fifth to raise their record to 5-4 on the season. Roosevelt dropped to … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep Roosevelt, will play doubleheader Thursday at Ankeny
Dowling Catholic hurlers shut down Hawks while posting 9-1 and 8-0 wins
With a showdown against crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial on tap for Thursday, the Ankeny baseball players can quickly put Wednesday's doubleheader against visiting Dowling Catholic behind them. The second-ranked Maroons dominated the non-conference twinbill, rolling to 9-1 and 8-0 victories. They improved to 8-2 on the season, while Ankeny's record … [Read more...] about Dowling Catholic hurlers shut down Hawks while posting 9-1 and 8-0 wins
Seniors Solis, Klunder power Centennial girls past Valley in home opener
A six-run first inning sparked the second-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team to an 11-1 victory over No. 7 Valley in five innings on Wednesday at Centennial. The non-conference game was the home opener for the Jaguars, who improved to 4-3 on the season. Valley's record dropped to 5-2. Seniors Lauren Solis and Lizzy Klunder combined to drive in … [Read more...] about Seniors Solis, Klunder power Centennial girls past Valley in home opener
Jaguars rally from 2-0 deficit to beat Urbandale, advance to 3A semifinals
A former assistant coach for the Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team devised a strategy that befuddled the Jaguars during the first half of a Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday at Cownie Park. Fortunately, Centennial coach Brian Duax and his staff came up with an alternate plan that worked. The fifth-ranked Jaguars rallied for three goals in the second … [Read more...] about Jaguars rally from 2-0 deficit to beat Urbandale, advance to 3A semifinals
Jaguars blow big lead, then use 11-run 6th inning to salvage split of twinbill
The Fort Dodge baseball team had a huge outburst in the sixth inning of Tuesday's doubleheader against visiting Ankeny Centennial. Then the Jaguars responded with one of their own. After the Dodgers rallied for eight runs in the sixth to post a 14-12 victory in the opener, Centennial used an 11-run sixth to win the nightcap, 13-2, in six innings and … [Read more...] about Jaguars blow big lead, then use 11-run 6th inning to salvage split of twinbill
‘Slap Squad’ ignites Hawkettes to doubleheader sweep over Mason City
The first three batters in the Ankeny softball team's lineup are all slap hitters. Ankeny coach Dave Bingham calls them "The Slap Squad". That trio of Larissa Miller, Eva Fulk and Mariah Parton ignited the Hawkettes to a doubleheader sweep over visiting Mason City on Tuesday. They combined for seven hits, six runs scored and six RBIs in the first … [Read more...] about ‘Slap Squad’ ignites Hawkettes to doubleheader sweep over Mason City
Hawks pound out 21 hits en route to pair of run-rule victories over Mason City
The Ankeny baseball team pounded out 21 hits and swept a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader against visiting Mason City on Tuesday. The Hawks posted an 11-1 victory in six innings in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 15-5 triumph in five innings. They improved to 3-1 in the conference and 4-3 overall, while Mason City's records dropped to 1-3 and … [Read more...] about Hawks pound out 21 hits en route to pair of run-rule victories over Mason City
No. 1 Fort Dodge sweeps No. 2 Jaguars in rematch of last year’s 5A title game
There isn't much of a gap between the state's top two softball teams in Class 5A. However, top-ranked Fort Dodge still has the edge over No. 2 Ankeny Centennial. In a rematch of last year's Class 5A championship game, the host Dodgers swept a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader on Tuesday. They walked off with a 3-2 win in the first game, then hit a … [Read more...] about No. 1 Fort Dodge sweeps No. 2 Jaguars in rematch of last year’s 5A title game
Matthews scores winning goal, then gets sweaty hugs as Hawkettes advance
Most people don't like sweaty hugs. Ankeny senior Avery Matthews doesn't seem to mind them, though. Matthews scored the game's only goal in the 76th minute and the third-ranked Hawkettes defeated No. 7 Pleasant Valley, 1-0, in the quarterfinals of the girls' Class 3A state soccer tournament on Tuesday at Cownie Park. "It was incredible," Matthews … [Read more...] about Matthews scores winning goal, then gets sweaty hugs as Hawkettes advance
‘We were really motivated’: Centennial’s revenge tour begins with win over NW
The Class 3A state tournament could become a revenge tour for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team. The fifth-ranked Jaguars avenged one of their three losses with a 2-1 victory over No. 4 Waukee Northwest in a Class 3A quarterfinal on Tuesday at Cownie Park. The Wolves had posted a 1-0 win over Centennial on May 13. "We were really motivated, and … [Read more...] about ‘We were really motivated’: Centennial’s revenge tour begins with win over NW
Kumm to Iowa City: Ex-Ankeny receiver commits to play for Hawkeyes
Another former Ankeny wide receiver will be joining the Iowa football program. Jordan Kumm, who helped Iowa Central Community College to a 9-2 record last year, has committed to the Hawkeyes. He announced his commitment via Twitter on Tuesday. "After my first visit, I felt like there wasn't really anywhere else that I would rather be," said Kumm, who … [Read more...] about Kumm to Iowa City: Ex-Ankeny receiver commits to play for Hawkeyes
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 185
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm previews the boys' state soccer tournament with seniors Kyle Pederson and Conor Wahlberg of Ankeny and Evan Larson of Ankeny Centennial and the girls' state tournament with coaches Chris Allen of Centennial and Simon Brown of Ankeny. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 185
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kellen Jones, Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis
Senior Kellen Jones was the No. 2 player for the Ankeny Centennial boys' tennis team this season. He helped the Jaguars advance to a Class 2A substate final earlier this month. Jones and freshman Brayden Wellendorf qualified for the Class 2A state tournament in doubles. They finished with a 5-4 record after losing their first two matches on Tuesday at the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kellen Jones, Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis
Patton homers, Dunwoody racks up 8 strikeouts in Hawks’ 4-2 loss at Johnston
A three-run first inning lifted the top-ranked Johnston baseball team to a 4-2 victory over visiting Ankeny on Friday, allowing the Dragons to improve to 9-0 on the season. The non-conference game was a rematch of last year's Class 4A semifinal, which was won by Johnston, 5-0. The Hawks (2-3) were held to five hits by a trio of Johnston pitchers. … [Read more...] about Patton homers, Dunwoody racks up 8 strikeouts in Hawks’ 4-2 loss at Johnston
Klunder’s walk-off hit caps rally, gives Jaguars 5-4 victory over No. 6 Bettendorf
Bouncing back from a loss earlier in the day, the second-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat No. 6 Bettendorf, 5-4, on Friday at the Johnston Invitational. Lizzy Klunder capped the rally with a walk-off hit that drove in pinch-runner Addie Pollock from third with the winning run. "She … [Read more...] about Klunder’s walk-off hit caps rally, gives Jaguars 5-4 victory over No. 6 Bettendorf
Smith places 4th in Class 2A, equaling highest finish ever by player from Ankeny
Ankeny's Kira Smith will likely have three more chances to win a girls' state tennis title. And next time, Dowling Catholic's Allison Szalay won't be in her way. Smith's bid for the Class 2A singles crown came to an end on Saturday morning, when the fourth-seeded freshman dropped a 6-1, 6-1 decision to the top-seeded and defending champion Szalay in … [Read more...] about Smith places 4th in Class 2A, equaling highest finish ever by player from Ankeny
‘We made a nice jump’: Hawkettes score 4 runs in 7th to seal 7-2 win at Carlisle
The Ankeny softball team used a four-run seventh inning to seal a 7-2 victory at Carlisle in a non-conference game on Friday. The Hawkettes improved their record to 1-2 after losing both ends of a doubleheader at fifth-ranked Waukee Northwest on Monday. It was the season opener for Carlisle, the No. 9 team in Class 4A. "Carlisle and Northwest are very … [Read more...] about ‘We made a nice jump’: Hawkettes score 4 runs in 7th to seal 7-2 win at Carlisle
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Kaitlyn Ault, Ankeny Centennial senior
Ault closes out her high school golf career by shooting rounds of 94 and 97 in the Class 4A state meet at Otter Creek. … [Read more...] about Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Kaitlyn Ault, Ankeny Centennial senior
NO ORDINARY SMITH: Ankeny freshman advances to Class 2A singles semifinals
A dramatic rally allowed Ankeny freshman Kira Smith to advance to the semifinals of the Class 2A singles bracket in the girls' state tennis tournament on Friday at Waukee Northwest. The fourth-seeded Smith won the final four games in the third set to post a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 victory over Sasha Hyacinth of Waterloo West in the quarterfinals. She raised her … [Read more...] about NO ORDINARY SMITH: Ankeny freshman advances to Class 2A singles semifinals