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‘I can’t wait to wear the Black and Gold!”: Ankeny’s Rathjen chooses Hawkeyes

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Ankeny's Caleb Rathjen wrestles with an aggressive mentality that fits perfectly with the Iowa wrestling style. In a couple of years, Rathjen will get his chance to wrestle for the Hawkeyes. Rathjen announced on Thursday via Twitter that he has verbally committed to join Iowa's program in 2021. "I'm very proud and excited to announce my commitment … [Read more...] about ‘I can’t wait to wear the Black and Gold!”: Ankeny’s Rathjen chooses Hawkeyes

Wycoff hits go-ahead 3-pointer, lifts Evangels to historic win over Div. I team

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Sydney Wycoff and the Mid-America Christian women's basketball team made some history by winning the NCCAA national title last March--the Evangels' second consecutive crown. On Thursday afternoon, Wycoff helped Mid-America Christian to another historic victory. The former Ankeny Centennial star scored 10 points, including a go-ahead 3-point goal with … [Read more...] about Wycoff hits go-ahead 3-pointer, lifts Evangels to historic win over Div. I team

CIML Central Conference expected to dominate girls’ state swimming meet

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After placing fourth at the state meet in each of the last two years, the Ankeny girls' swimming team is looking to earn a top-three finish at this year's meet, which begins on Friday and concludes on Saturday at the Marshalltown YMCA. The Hawkettes are fifth in the latest team power rankings with 4,019 points. Dowling Catholic is ranked No. 1 with 4,525 … [Read more...] about CIML Central Conference expected to dominate girls’ state swimming meet

Centennial star Robinson named Under Armour first team all-American

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Ankeny Centennial volleyball standout Devyn Robinson has been named an Under Armour first team all-American. Robinson led the Jaguars to an 18-15 record this season. The Wisconsin recruit racked up a team-high 248 kills and a .325 hitting percentage, despite missing the first half of the season. Robinson, who also had a team-high 65 blocks, helped the … [Read more...] about Centennial star Robinson named Under Armour first team all-American

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Mallory Luther, Ankeny volleyball

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Senior defensive specialist Mallory Luther is a member of the Ankeny volleyball team. Luther has helped the fourth-ranked Hawkettes to a 36-5 record and a berth in next week's Class 5A state tournament. She has racked up 147 digs and 19 aces. "Mallory has come in this year and earned the position of defensive specialist," said Ankeny coach Dave … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Mallory Luther, Ankeny volleyball

Former Iowa State walk-on Olson nominated for Burlsworth Trophy

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Iowa State senior offensive lineman Collin Olson, a former Ankeny Centennial star, has been named a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, announced Tuesday by the Burlsworth Foundation. The Burlsworth Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth and is given annually to the nation's most outstanding football player who began his career as a walk-on and has … [Read more...] about Former Iowa State walk-on Olson nominated for Burlsworth Trophy

Jaguars run into C.B. Lincoln buzzsaw, finish season with 18-15 record

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Calea Jones and her teammates on the Ankeny Centennial volleyball squad thought they were ready for the challenge of facing one of the state's hottest teams. It turns out that fifth-ranked Council Bluffs Lincoln was even better than advertised. The Lynx swept past No. 9 Centennial, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16, in a Class 5A regional final on Monday at the … [Read more...] about Jaguars run into C.B. Lincoln buzzsaw, finish season with 18-15 record

Ankeny, Whims going back to state after sweeping C.R. Kennedy

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The Ankeny volleyball team is headed back to the state tournament for the second straight year, but for coach Dave Whims, it'll be his first appearance in the tournament since 2014. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes swept No. 12 Cedar Rapids Kennedy in a Class 5A regional final on Monday, 25-10, 25-20, 25-22, to improve their record to 36-5 on the season. It … [Read more...] about Ankeny, Whims going back to state after sweeping C.R. Kennedy

Johnson commits to Missouri school; McCullough will play for Wayne State

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Ankeny Centennial basketball standouts Micah Johnson and Cody McCullough both revealed their college choices within minutes of each other on Sunday night. Johnson has verbally committed to play for Missouri S & T, while McCullough is headed to Wayne State College. Both players announced their decisions via Twitter. "It was a hard decision," said … [Read more...] about Johnson commits to Missouri school; McCullough will play for Wayne State

Ankeny’s Stout to receive Golden Plaque of Distinction Award

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Ankeny girls' swimming coach Michelle Stout is the 2019 recipient of the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union's Golden Plaque of Distinction Award. She will be honored before the start of the Iowa Girls' State Swimming Finals on Saturday at noon. Stout has been coaching at Ankeny High School since 2000. She became the head coach in 2007. Stout's … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Stout to receive Golden Plaque of Distinction Award

No. 4 Hawkettes, No. 9 Jaguars play for state tournament berths Monday

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Just one more win. That's all that the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams need to earn another trip to the Class 5A state tournament in Cedar Rapids. Fourth-ranked Ankeny (35-5) will host a regional final against No. 12 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (20-18) on Monday, while No. 9 Centennial (18-14) will play for a state berth at No. 5 Council Bluffs … [Read more...] about No. 4 Hawkettes, No. 9 Jaguars play for state tournament berths Monday

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Jasmine Rumley, Ankeny girls’ swimming

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Senior Jasmine Rumley led the Ankeny girls' swimming team to a regional crown on Saturday at Southeast Polk. She was named the regional athlete of the year for the fourth consecutive season. Rumley won the 50 freestyle in 23.36 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 52.03. She also anchored the winning 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays. Rumley is a … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Jasmine Rumley, Ankeny girls’ swimming

Ankeny swimmers claim regional crown; Rumley again named athlete of year

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The Ankeny girls' swimming team entered Saturday's regional meet at Southeast Polk with a commanding lead after sweeping the top three places in Thursday's diving competition. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes just continued to build on their lead. Ankeny won nine of the 11 swimming events and easily captured the regional crown with 554 points. No. 11 Valley … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers claim regional crown; Rumley again named athlete of year

While Vicker overcomes illness, Hentzel drops out of 4A race due to injury

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A few weeks ago, Ankeny Centennial's Gabriel Vicker made a friendly wager with Ankeny's Tyler Hentzel on which of the two runners would finish higher at the boys' Class 4A state cross country meet. The winner of the bet would receive some ice cream courtesy of his crosstown rival. Unfortunately, neither of them were at their best during Saturday's race in … [Read more...] about While Vicker overcomes illness, Hentzel drops out of 4A race due to injury

Growth continues for Jaguars: Vortherms places 32nd; Jensen takes 74th

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Ankeny Centennial runners Kathryn Vortherms and Katie Jensen have come a long way in the last two years. On Saturday, that growth culminated in a pair of strong performances in the girls' Class 4A state cross country meet at Fort Dodge. Vortherms, a junior, raced to a 32nd-place finish in a field of 126 runners. The junior posted a time of 19 minutes … [Read more...] about Growth continues for Jaguars: Vortherms places 32nd; Jensen takes 74th

Hawks hold off S.E. Polk in slugfest, will play Dowling Catholic in quarterfinals

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A year ago, the Ankeny football team nearly pulled off a road upset in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs, dropping a 24-21 decision to then-unbeaten Valley. The Hawks weren't going to let a similar opportunity slip away on Friday. Ninth-seeded Ankeny drove 82 yards in 13 plays for the clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Hawks … [Read more...] about Hawks hold off S.E. Polk in slugfest, will play Dowling Catholic in quarterfinals

Urbandale pulls off stunning 29-28 win over Jaguars with late 2-point conversion

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Any time there is a single-elimination playoff format in sports, the potential for chaos is always around the corner. On Friday night in Ankeny, the chaos showed itself in more ways than one. The 12th-seeded Urbandale football team scraped by No. 4 Ankeny Centennial--a team that beat the J-Hawks by 20 points in Week 2--after making a two-point … [Read more...] about Urbandale pulls off stunning 29-28 win over Jaguars with late 2-point conversion

Ankeny’s Jorgensen, Peters, Toth sweep top 3 places at regional diving meet

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The Ankeny girls' swimming team is expected to dominate Saturday's regional meet at Southeast Polk. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes are already off to a great start. Ankeny, the lone top-10 team in the Southeast Polk field, swept the top three places in Thursday's regional diving competition. "All three girls had season-high and personal-best scores," … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Jorgensen, Peters, Toth sweep top 3 places at regional diving meet