Ankeny Fanatic

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‘Our kids showed a lot of heart’: Hawks drop 37-31 decision to Valley in opener

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The Ankeny wrestling team closed out Thursday's season-opening dual meet against visiting CIML Conference rival Valley with four consecutive wins, but it wasn't enough to overcome a 24-point deficit and the Tigers held on for a 37-31 victory. Valley avenged a 53-19 loss in last year's opener. The Hawks wrestled without two of their five returning state … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids showed a lot of heart’: Hawks drop 37-31 decision to Valley in opener

Wayne State standout Miller named AVCA Central Region Freshman of the Year

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Wayne State College outside hitter Delaney Miller has been named the Central Region Freshman of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The former Ankeny Centennial star also earned first-team all-region honors after helping the Wildcats to a 27-5 record and a No. 4 ranking in the final regular season AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Top 25 Coaches … [Read more...] about Wayne State standout Miller named AVCA Central Region Freshman of the Year

UT Martin QB Bauer named to OVC-Big South all-conference second team

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Former Ankeny quarterback Jase Bauer has been named to the OVC-Big South all-conference second team after helping the University of Tennessee at Martin football team to a 6-6 record this season. The Skyhawks went 6-2 in league play to record the program's 10th top-two finish in the conference standings during coach Jason Simpson's tenure. Joining the team … [Read more...] about UT Martin QB Bauer named to OVC-Big South all-conference second team

‘Something just clicked’: Ankeny lineman Liechti flips commitment to Grizzlies

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Ankeny offensive lineman Owen Liechti has signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Montana, one of the top programs in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. Liechti flipped to the Grizzlies after originally committing to Columbia University of the Ivy League. "(Columbia) was a great opportunity, and I’m grateful for the … [Read more...] about ‘Something just clicked’: Ankeny lineman Liechti flips commitment to Grizzlies

‘All props to Northwest’: No. 2 Wolves spoil Harken’s coaching debut at Centennial

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It wasn’t exactly the start to the Chris Harken era that the Jaguars wanted, but the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team knows there’s only going up from game one. Harken and the Jaguars ran into a well-oiled machine Tuesday in the second-ranked Waukee Northwest Wolves and started off the season with a 65-31 road … [Read more...] about ‘All props to Northwest’: No. 2 Wolves spoil Harken’s coaching debut at Centennial

‘Our mentality is to keep getting better’: Jaguars open their season with 64-21 loss

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team knows that each night is going to be a battle in a loaded CIML Conference. And the Jaguars opened their season with potentially one of their hardest fights of the entire year. New head coach Matt Delger and the Jaguars went on the road Tuesday to face Class 4A title-contending … [Read more...] about ‘Our mentality is to keep getting better’: Jaguars open their season with 64-21 loss

Newcomers Allison, Ford, Clark help Ankeny boys to 58-52 victory over Valley

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The new pieces on the Ankeny boys' basketball team made their presence felt during Tuesday's season opener against visiting Valley. Max Allison, a 7-foot-1 center, had six points, eight rebounds and four blocks in his first varsity start as the Hawks posted a 58-52 victory. Keyon Ford, a sophomore forward, added four points and four steals off the … [Read more...] about Newcomers Allison, Ford, Clark help Ankeny boys to 58-52 victory over Valley

Ankeny girls defeat North Metro, but drop 54-26 decision to Cedar Falls for first loss

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Tuesday's girls' wrestling triangular meet at Ankeny Centennial turned into a pinning exhibition. In the three round-robin dual meets between Ankeny, Cedar Falls and North Metro, all but three of the 32 matches that were contested resulted in falls. In the end, Ankeny came away with a split on the night. Coach Dustin Roland's team posted a 54-30 … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls defeat North Metro, but drop 54-26 decision to Cedar Falls for first loss

‘Our girls just executed so well’: Williams, Hawkettes pull away from No. 11 Valley

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At 5-foot-9, Ankeny senior Jayla Williams doesn't look like a typical post player on the basketball court. But with her outstanding athleticism, the Creighton recruit can occasionally take advantage of a smaller defender in the paint. That's exactly what Williams did on Tuesday night, when she scored 16 of her 21 points in the second half to lead the … [Read more...] about ‘Our girls just executed so well’: Williams, Hawkettes pull away from No. 11 Valley

‘I had never seen a place like that before’: Carlson to join Iowa men’s track program

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Standout hurdler Hayden Carlson of Ankeny has signed a letter of intent to join the Iowa men's track and field program next year. Carlson will be coached by Iowa's Joey Woody, who is a four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year. Woody has also run competitively on the international track circuit, earning a silver medal in the 400 hurdles at the World … [Read more...] about ‘I had never seen a place like that before’: Carlson to join Iowa men’s track program

‘I want to win a state dual championship’: Wignall sets lofty goal for Hawk wrestlers

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall is setting a huge goal for the Hawks this season. "I told the kids I want to win a state dual championship," said Wignall. "If we can't talk about it and set the bar high, then we will never do it. We talked about that the very first day of practice." Wignall's team posted a 17-6 dual record a year ago, including a … [Read more...] about ‘I want to win a state dual championship’: Wignall sets lofty goal for Hawk wrestlers

Baldwin, Schaapveld ignite Hawkettes’ fast start in win over Des Moines Christian

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A fast start lifted the eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 59-41 victory over visiting Des Moines Christian in a non-conference game on Monday. The Hawkettes (2-0) made five 3-point goals in the first quarter, three of them by Reagan Baldwin in the first 2 minutes 30 seconds, and jumped out to a 22-12 lead. Des Moines Christian (2-1), the … [Read more...] about Baldwin, Schaapveld ignite Hawkettes’ fast start in win over Des Moines Christian

Ankeny boys’ track coach Mullen to be inducted into IATC Hall of Fame Saturday

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Last summer, Ankeny boys' track coach Jordan Mullen got a phone call from Mike Jay, the voice of the Drake Relays and the coed state track meet. The reason for the call was not what Mullen expected. "I just thought it was to say congrats for the state title, but it was to tell me I was inducted into the Hall of Fame!" recalled Mullen. "I was caught off … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys’ track coach Mullen to be inducted into IATC Hall of Fame Saturday

Jags return state champ Dhabolt, runner-up Vandermark, placewinner Sodergren

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During his tenure as the head coach of the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers, Jay Groth has built a program that embodies hard work and toughness. That culture has led to a lot of success in the 12-year history of the program, but even Groth admits that it's not easy to be a Jaguar wrestler. "We have lost a few kids this season because wrestling is a hard … [Read more...] about Jags return state champ Dhabolt, runner-up Vandermark, placewinner Sodergren

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Reagan Baldwin, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Senior forward Reagan Baldwin made a pair of 3-point goals and scored eight points to help the eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 51-32 victory at Ames in its season opener on Nov. 22. Baldwin helped the Hawkettes to a 10-13 record as a junior, when she averaged 6.5 points per game and led the team with 40 3-pointers. She shot 38.5 percent … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Reagan Baldwin, Ankeny girls’ basketball

‘We know every night will be a battle’: Delger, Jags ready for grueling schedule

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Matt Delger spent the last decade preparing for an opportunity that has now arrived. The longtime assistant coach under Bob Fontana has taken over the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball program. He was Fontana's top assistant the last three years after coaching the sophomore team for the previous eight. "The transition has been easy," said Delger. "I … [Read more...] about ‘We know every night will be a battle’: Delger, Jags ready for grueling schedule

‘We can make a run at a trophy’: Talented Hawks return Aguirre, 3 other starters

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Ankeny boys' basketball standout Rio Aguirre proved a year ago that he can carry a team. Now, the senior guard will have to do it all over again--perhaps with even more attention from opposing defenses. Aguirre is one of four returning starters from a team that posted a 10-12 record last season. The others are senior forward Kael Roush, senior guard … [Read more...] about ‘We can make a run at a trophy’: Talented Hawks return Aguirre, 3 other starters

‘There will be some growing pains’: Only 3 players return as Jaguars begin new era

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When legendary Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball coach Scott DeJong announced his retirement at the end of last season, it marked the end of an era in more ways than one. Not only was DeJong stepping down after a 37-year coaching career that saw him win a record seven state titles, but the Jaguars also graduated nine of the 12 players from last year's … [Read more...] about ‘There will be some growing pains’: Only 3 players return as Jaguars begin new era

Pearson wins 50 butterfly, leads Ankeny boys to 5th-place finish at Sprint Invite

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The Ankeny boys' swimming team was only three points away from reaching its goal. Coach Dustin Rhoads' squad opened the season on Tuesday by placing fifth among eight teams in the Ankeny Sprint Invitational at Trail Point Aquatics Center. Ankeny scored 293.5 points and finished just behind fourth-place Dowling Catholic, which ended up with 296. "This … [Read more...] about Pearson wins 50 butterfly, leads Ankeny boys to 5th-place finish at Sprint Invite