Like a lot of teams, the Ankeny girls' basketball squad showed a lot of improvement between its first and second games. The Hawkettes dominated from the start and rolled to a 52-32 victory at Des Moines North on Tuesday, evening their record at 1-1. The Polar Bears dropped to 0-3. "We had great energy from the opening tip tonight," said Ankeny coach … [Read more...] about Pitz scores career-high 19 points in Hawkettes’ victory over North
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Blimpie Sub of the Week: Calyssa Wright, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Junior forward Calyssa Wright is a member of the Ankeny girls' basketball team. She played in seven games last year as a sophomore, but is expected to play a major role this season for the Hawkettes. Wright scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds in Ankeny's season-opening 83-61 loss to visiting Mason City on Nov. 22. She then had seven points on … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Calyssa Wright, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Centennial’s Gray to receive prestigious Burlsworth Award
Ankeny Centennial senior defensive back Keaton Gray has been named a recipient of the Burlsworth Award, a national award honoring character and sportsmanship in high school football. Gray made 33.5 tackles and had one interception while helping the Jaguars to an 8-2 record this season, but it was his performance off the field that led to the Burlsworth … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Gray to receive prestigious Burlsworth Award
Jaguars looking for right pieces, will try to rebound from 9-13 season
Building a basketball team is somewhat like putting a puzzle together. Ankeny Centennial boys' coach Bob Fontana is still trying to find the right pieces for his squad as the Jaguars prepare to open the season on Tuesday at Southeast Polk. "Our practices have been good and competitive," said Fontana, whose team posted a 78-62 victory over Ballard in … [Read more...] about Jaguars looking for right pieces, will try to rebound from 9-13 season
Ankeny boys’ up-tempo attack to be fueled by trio of senior guards
Perhaps no boys' basketball team in the state returns as much experience in the backcourt as Ankeny does with the trio of senior guards in Braxton Bayless, Jordan Kumm and Jaxon Smith. Those three players combined for more than 36 points per game a year ago while leading an up-tempo attack that helped the Hawks to a 13-8 record. Ankeny coach Brandt … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys’ up-tempo attack to be fueled by trio of senior guards
Jaguars roll past Lincoln for most lopsided victory in school history
Don't expect the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to win every game by 70 points. For one day, though, that's exactly what the seventh-ranked Jaguars did. Centennial built a 57-7 halftime lead and then coasted to an 84-14 victory over visiting Des Moines Lincoln in its season opener on Saturday afternoon. It was the Jaguars' most lopsided win … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past Lincoln for most lopsided victory in school history
Family history, right fit leads Gates to Grand View, Gibson to Iowa State
Two of Ankeny Centennial's football standouts have decided to follow in the footsteps of a family member. Running back Avery Gates has committed to play for Grand View, where his brother, Jensen, is already on the Vikings' roster. "In the big picture, I was going to choose a place that fit me and believed in me," said Gates. "Having Jensen be in the … [Read more...] about Family history, right fit leads Gates to Grand View, Gibson to Iowa State
Hawk swimmers win 8 events, edge Dowling to capture Sprint Classic crown
The Ankeny boys' swimming team edged Dowling Catholic to win the season-opening Sprint Classic on Tuesday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The Hawks won eight events and finished with 457 points. Dowling took second in the five-team field with 445.5. "It was a solid performance all the way around," said Ankeny coach Justin Crouch. "Considering we had … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers win 8 events, edge Dowling to capture Sprint Classic crown
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Ashley Harrington, Ankeny basketball
Senior guard Ashley Harrington is one of the top returning players for the Ankeny girls' basketball team. A year ago, she averaged 7.6 points per game and made 20 3-point goals while helping the Hawkettes to a 9-12 record. Harrington scored 15 points, 13 of them in the first half, as Ankeny opened the season on Nov. 22 with an 83-61 loss to visiting Mason … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Ashley Harrington, Ankeny basketball
Ballenger headed to NCAA Tournament along with former Centennial trio
Former Ankeny volleyball star Megan Ballenger will be joined in this year's NCAA Tournament field by a trio of former Ankeny Centennial standouts. Freshmen Megan Lively of Central Florida, Kenna Sauer of Missouri and Ari Winters of Denver will all be making their first trip to the NCAA Tournament. Those three players helped the Jaguars to the Class 5A … [Read more...] about Ballenger headed to NCAA Tournament along with former Centennial trio
Ankeny bowling teams open season with victory over Valley
The season is off to a good start for the Ankeny bowling teams under new head coach Lane Richtsmeier. The boys' team defeated Valley by a score of 2,879 to 2,474 on Tuesday at Great Escape. The girls' squad also won their opener against the Tigers, 2,301 to 2,276. The boys' junior varsity team was victorious as well. "As a first-time coach and my … [Read more...] about Ankeny bowling teams open season with victory over Valley
Bauer, Brecht, Petersen named to IPSWA’s Class 4A all-state first team
Seven Ankeny players and four more from Ankeny Centennial have received all-state football honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. The teams were selected by print sports writers in Iowa during a meeting on Nov. 23. Junior wide receiver Brody Brecht and junior quarterback Jase Bauer of Ankeny were both named to the Class 4A first team along … [Read more...] about Bauer, Brecht, Petersen named to IPSWA’s Class 4A all-state first team
‘It’s been one of my favorite years’: Ballenger makes the most of final season
As she walked across the court at D.J. Sokol Arena, possibly for the last time in front of the Creighton volleyball fans, senior middle hitter Megan Ballenger tried to soak it all in. The former Ankeny star was honored as part of the Bluejays' Senior Day following Sunday's four-set victory over DePaul that clinched Creighton's unprecedented sixth … [Read more...] about ‘It’s been one of my favorite years’: Ballenger makes the most of final season
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Callan Miller, Ankeny Centennial football
Senior punter Callan Miller helped the Ankeny Centennial football team to an 8-2 record this season. Miller averaged 37.0 yards on 28 attempts. His longest punt of the year traveled 76 yards. Miller was named to the Class 4A District 2 second team. He was also the recipient of the team's "Oil Can Award" at the Jaguars' banquet on … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Callan Miller, Ankeny Centennial football
Centennial’s Robinson, Ankeny’s Schrader named to Elite all-state team
Volleball standouts Devyn Robinson of Ankeny Centennial and Phyona Schrader of Ankeny have been named to a pair of all-state teams by the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association. Robinson, a senior middle hitter, was selected to the Elite all-state team and the Class 5A first team for the third consecutive year. She was joined on both squads by Schrader, a junior … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Robinson, Ankeny’s Schrader named to Elite all-state team
Defending state champion Ankeny swimmers ‘won’t back down to anyone’
Justin Crouch knows that the Ankeny boys' swimming team is going to get every opponent's best shot. That's what happens when you're the defending state champion. "I know we have the experience from last year that will be a big help, but for us to repeat we have to continue to work and strive to get better because the other contenders out there won't … [Read more...] about Defending state champion Ankeny swimmers ‘won’t back down to anyone’
Gates, Bauer, Manus earn repeat all-district first-team honors
The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial football teams each had 15 players receive all-district honors from the coaches in their respective districts. The Jaguars, who won the Class 4A District 2 title, had seven first-team selections and seven more on the second team. Ankeny had six first-team picks and six more on the second team in District 1. Centennial … [Read more...] about Gates, Bauer, Manus earn repeat all-district first-team honors
‘Grandpa’ Richtsmeier takes over as head coach of Ankeny bowling teams
The new head coach of the Ankeny bowling teams has at least one thing in common with the program's previous coach. Lane Richtsmeier has been hired to replace Hannah Munson, who moved to Fort Dodge after coaching at Ankeny for one season. The duo previously bowled together at Grand View. "We entered the same year, but I was not your traditional college … [Read more...] about ‘Grandpa’ Richtsmeier takes over as head coach of Ankeny bowling teams
Revive Clinic and Spa Preps of the Week: Sophie Lee and Jeanne Peters
Seniors Sophie Lee and Jeanne Peters were two of the top runners this season on the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team. They helped the Jaguars to a runner-up finish in the CIML Central Conference meet on Oct. 17 at DMACC. Lee and Peters both joined the varsity team as freshmen in 2016, when they helped Centennial to an eighth-place finish in the … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Preps of the Week: Sophie Lee and Jeanne Peters
Winters’ kill clinches Summit League crown, sends Denver to NCAA Tourney
Ari Winters and the University of Denver volleyball team are headed to the NCAA Tournament. Winters, a former Ankeny Centennial star, helped the Pioneers to their fifth Summit League Tournament championship in program history on Sunday at Hamilton Gymnasium in Denver. The freshman outside hitter had four kills, seven block assists and four digs as Denver … [Read more...] about Winters’ kill clinches Summit League crown, sends Denver to NCAA Tourney