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Jaguars again shoot season-best score, finish 10th in Class 4A state meet

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There was nothing to lose for the Ankeny Centennial girls' golf team on Friday. Sitting in 10th place heading into the final round of the Class 4A state meet at Otter Creek, the Jaguars simply went out to have fun on a beautiful day for golf. "I think it helped a lot," Centennial sophomore Payton Drefke said of the sunny skies and temperatures in the … [Read more...] about Jaguars again shoot season-best score, finish 10th in Class 4A state meet

‘The girls were fantastic’: Hawkettes top Cedar Falls, earn 5th straight trip to state

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Kennedy Macke grabbed the state qualifier banner from Ankeny Activities Director Andy Umthun and held it high above her head as her Ankeny girls' soccer teammates screamed with joy. The ultimate prize that Macke wants, though, is the Class 3A championship trophy. "With being on the wrong side of the final last year, there's no lack of motivation in … [Read more...] about ‘The girls were fantastic’: Hawkettes top Cedar Falls, earn 5th straight trip to state

Saves by Bergan, Becker allow Jaguars to outlast Johnston, return to state tourney

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The Johnston girls' soccer team entered Thursday's Class 3A regional final at Ankeny Centennial with a pedestrian 9-7 mark. Centennial coach Chris Allen and his players knew, however, that the 14th-ranked Dragons were better than what their record showed. "We went to overtime with them earlier this season so we were expecting a really competitive … [Read more...] about Saves by Bergan, Becker allow Jaguars to outlast Johnston, return to state tourney

‘I’m not disappointed at all!’: Jaguars sit in 10th place after shooting a 364

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' golf squad sits at the bottom of the team standings heading into Friday's final round in the Class 4A state meet at Otter Creek. Centennial coach John Petersen isn't concerned, however, with where the Jaguars finish in the 10-team field. "I'm not disappointed at all!" Petersen said. "We shot our best score of the year. I am … [Read more...] about ‘I’m not disappointed at all!’: Jaguars sit in 10th place after shooting a 364

‘We still have lots of work to do’: Hawks earn trip to state, will face Waukee NW

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Lucas Newhard joined the Ankeny boys' soccer team this season with the hope of qualifying for the state tournament. Newhard accomplished his goal on Wednesday night. The senior forward scored two goals to lead the top-ranked Hawks to a 3-0 victory over visiting Sioux City East in a Class 3A substate final. "It’s an amazing feeling to go to state," … [Read more...] about ‘We still have lots of work to do’: Hawks earn trip to state, will face Waukee NW

‘It feels so good!’: Jaguars advance to state, will play Urbandale next

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Even with a sore back, Ankeny Centennial's Rashidi Ishibwami could not contain his excitement following Wednesday's Class 3A substate final against the visiting Des Moines Hoover boys' soccer team. Ishibwami scored a goal in the first half and the fifth-ranked Jaguars overcame the rainy conditions to post a 2-1 victory that allowed them to qualify for the … [Read more...] about ‘It feels so good!’: Jaguars advance to state, will play Urbandale next

Peterson places 5th in Class 2A, sets his sights on state championship next year

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There's little doubt that Ankeny Centennial boys' tennis standout Caleb Peterson will be one of the favorites to win the Class 2A state singles title next year. "That's definitely my goal--to win state," Peterson said. The junior earned a fifth-place finish in Class 2A on Wednesday with a dominant performance at the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation … [Read more...] about Peterson places 5th in Class 2A, sets his sights on state championship next year

‘It was just a scrappy game’: Harrington scores twice, leads Ankeny to 5-0 win

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The Waterloo Schools girls' soccer team was determined not to give up any goals on Tuesday night. A torrential rain made it even more difficult for third-ranked Ankeny to find the net in a Class 3A regional semifinal at Ankeny. Eventually, though, the Hawkettes solved Waterloo's strategy and posted a 5-0 victory. "The weather was a nightmare for … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a scrappy game’: Harrington scores twice, leads Ankeny to 5-0 win

‘A win is a win’: Jaguars overcome rainy conditions to advance to regional final

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The rainy weather conditions proved to be a huge obstacle for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team on Tuesday. "The biggest thing we faced was connecting passes in those conditions," said Centennial coach Chris Allen. "We had a lot of balls that would just skip past a player. It kind of made it difficult to play the style we wanted to … [Read more...] about ‘A win is a win’: Jaguars overcome rainy conditions to advance to regional final

‘Our guys were gritty’: Hawks outlast Waukee NW in 9 innings, salvage split

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The Ankeny baseball team used a late rally to post a 13-8 victory in nine innings on Monday at sixth-ranked Waukee Northwest, allowing the Hawks to salvage a split of the CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader. Ankeny scored three runs in the seventh to tie the game at 6-6 and force extra innings. After both teams scored twice in the eighth, the Hawks erupted … [Read more...] about ‘Our guys were gritty’: Hawks outlast Waukee NW in 9 innings, salvage split

Peterson rebounds from 1st-round loss, earns top-8 finish in Class 2A singles

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Ankeny Centennial junior Caleb Peterson is guaranteed a second consecutive top-eight finish in the boys' Class 2A state tennis tournament. After placing sixth in doubles a year ago, Peterson was hoping to contend for the singles title this season. But he lost to second-seeded Kaden Taylor of Waukee Northwest, 6-2, 0-6, 6-4, in the opening round of the … [Read more...] about Peterson rebounds from 1st-round loss, earns top-8 finish in Class 2A singles

Lacey tosses perfect game, Severson follows with 4 triples in Jaguars’ sweep

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Ankeny Centennial pitcher Lincoln Lacey accomplished a rare feat during the first game of Monday's CIML Iowa Conference baseball doubleheader at Marshalltown. Teammate Nick Severson then may have topped Lacey with his performance in the second game. After Lacey threw a three-inning perfect game in the opener, Severson went 4-for-4 in the nightcap and … [Read more...] about Lacey tosses perfect game, Severson follows with 4 triples in Jaguars’ sweep

Hawkettes waste 2-hitter by Billings, drop both games of twinbill at Waukee NW

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After losing both games of a season-opening doubleheader at fifth-ranked Waukee Northwest on Monday, the Ankeny softball team will have a few days to regroup. The Hawkettes--who won't play again until Friday at Carlisle--dropped a 2-0 decision in the opener. Waukee Northwest then completed a sweep of the CIML Iowa Conference twinbill with a 5-3 … [Read more...] about Hawkettes waste 2-hitter by Billings, drop both games of twinbill at Waukee NW

‘We’ve got a lot of talent’: No. 2 Jaguars rout Marshalltown twice to open season

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It didn't take long for the Ankeny Centennial softball team to show off its potential. The second-ranked Jaguars opened their season on Monday by sweeping a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader at Marshalltown in impressive fashion. They rolled to a 16-0 victory in three innings in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 14-0 triumph. "Our girls … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got a lot of talent’: No. 2 Jaguars rout Marshalltown twice to open season

Jaguars roll past S.E. Polk in substate semifinal behind Ishibwami’s hat trick

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Brian Duax hasn't forgotten what happened in 2019. His Ankeny Centennial boys' soccer team made sure that history didn't repeat itself. The fifth-ranked Jaguars got a hat trick from Rashidi Ishibwami and rolled to a 6-0 victory over visiting Southeast Polk in a Class 3A substate semifinal on Monday. The result was similar to last month's meeting at … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past S.E. Polk in substate semifinal behind Ishibwami’s hat trick

Newhard, Hawks top Sioux City North, will host Sioux City East in substate final

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When your team is ranked No. 1 in the state, you don't have to worry as much about your opponents. "We want to make sure that we're dictating play," said Marcus Varnum, the coach of the top-ranked Ankeny boys' soccer team. "We want to play our style and make sure that we're controlling the game. We feel like we can go into any game and play our style. We … [Read more...] about Newhard, Hawks top Sioux City North, will host Sioux City East in substate final

THE LOSS OF A LEGEND: Coaching giant Rasmussen passes away at 85

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The community of Ankeny has lost one of its most prominent citizens. Dick Rasmussen, the legendary softball and girls' basketball coach at Ankeny High School, passed away early Friday morning at the age of 85. "I will miss him," said current Ankeny softball coach Dave Bingham. "I love him and (his wife) Sue." Rasmussen coached at South Hamilton … [Read more...] about THE LOSS OF A LEGEND: Coaching giant Rasmussen passes away at 85

Jaguars return 7 starters from last year’s Class 5A state runner-up squad

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In the last two seasons, the Ankeny Centennial softball team has gotten progressively closer to a Class 5A state championship. Maybe this will be the year that the Jaguars reach their ultimate goal. "The goal every season is to get to Fort Dodge in July, and this season is no different," said Centennial coach Brett Delaney. "Our goal right now is to … [Read more...] about Jaguars return 7 starters from last year’s Class 5A state runner-up squad

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kendra Winfrey, Ankeny girls’ track/softball

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Ankeny junior Kendra Winfrey placed second in the shot put on Friday in the girls' Class 4A state track meet at Drake Stadium. She uncorked a throw of 39 feet 11 inches on her final attempt, allowing her to move up from fourth place. Winfrey helped Ankeny to a seventh-place finish overall. She contributed eight of the Hawkettes' 44.5 points. Winfrey is … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Kendra Winfrey, Ankeny girls’ track/softball