Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Ankeny’s Gage to play alongside Jags’ duo of Crawford, Pratt in Senior All-Star Game

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Ankeny's Savannah Gage has been selected to play in the Larry Niemeyer Senior All-Star Game along with fellow girls' basketball standouts Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt of Ankeny Centennial. The event will be held on Saturday at Cedar Falls. It will consist of a series of six all-star games, beginning at 9:15 a.m. Crawford, Gage and Pratt will all play … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Gage to play alongside Jags’ duo of Crawford, Pratt in Senior All-Star Game

A CHANGE OF PLANS: Ankeny’s Lindaman to join women’s rowing program at Kansas

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When Ankeny swimmer Gracie Lindaman committed to join the women's rowing program at Iowa, she thought she'd be spending the next four years of her life in Iowa City. "I loved their staff, had some great connections with some of the other freshmen recruits, and I was familiar with campus," Lindaman said. Everything changed, though, just 24 hours before … [Read more...] about A CHANGE OF PLANS: Ankeny’s Lindaman to join women’s rowing program at Kansas

Crawford, Pratt, Williams earn all-CIML Conference first-team honors for 2nd time

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Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball stars Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt have been named to the CIML Conference first team along with Ankeny standout Jayla Williams. Crawford was a unanimous pick for the second straight year, while Williams was again a repeat selection. Pratt also earned first-team honors for the second time; she was previously honored as … [Read more...] about Crawford, Pratt, Williams earn all-CIML Conference first-team honors for 2nd time

Ankeny’s Bernholtz to join teammate Hill in Iowa Central’s football recruiting class

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Karsten Bernholtz didn't join the Ankeny football team until his senior year. The defensive end made enough of an impact, though, to earn an opportunity to take his skills to the next level. Bernholtz has committed to play next year for Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. He becomes the second Hawk in the Tritons' recruiting class, following … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Bernholtz to join teammate Hill in Iowa Central’s football recruiting class

Johnson leads MSU Moorhead to NSIC Tournament crown, earns MVP honors

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When the college basketball season tipped off, former Ankeny star Carson Johnson wasn't even expected to play for the MSU Moorhead squad. "The plan for me at the start of the year was to redshirt," said Johnson, a freshman guard. "Then our two great older guards got injured, and that’s when they asked if I wanted to pull my redshirt." Johnson was … [Read more...] about Johnson leads MSU Moorhead to NSIC Tournament crown, earns MVP honors

‘Tremendous’ four-year run for Centennial seniors ends with loss to potent Dragons

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Scott DeJong stood in the media interview room in the bowels of Wells Fargo Arena and beamed with pride even though the season had just ended for his Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team. "It's just been a tremendous run with these guys," DeJong said of his nine seniors. "They're my type of team. They play hard, they compete, and they work together. … [Read more...] about ‘Tremendous’ four-year run for Centennial seniors ends with loss to potent Dragons

‘There’s no margin for error’: Jaguars fall to No. 1 Johnston in Class 5A semifinals

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The fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team ended its season on Thursday with a 61-42 loss to No. 1 Johnston in the semifinals of the Class 5A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mya Crawford and Ava Martin each had 13 points for the Jaguars, who finished the season at 17-8. Jaeden Pratt added six points and seven rebounds. "I was … [Read more...] about ‘There’s no margin for error’: Jaguars fall to No. 1 Johnston in Class 5A semifinals

Wehde helps Dutch to ARC tourney title, 12th trip to NCAA Div. III Championship

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For the 12th time in program history, the Central College men's basketball team is heading to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. The Dutch qualified after winning the American Rivers Conference tournament championship over Nebraska Wesleyan University, 68-57, on Saturday. The squad was picked to go to St. Louis and take on No. 13-ranked … [Read more...] about Wehde helps Dutch to ARC tourney title, 12th trip to NCAA Div. III Championship

The CIML Invitational: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

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The girls' Class 5A state basketball tournament--also known as the CIML Conference Invitational--resumes on Thursday morning with a semifinal doubleheader at Wells Fargo Arena. All four of the highest seeds from the CIML Conference posted victories in Monday's quarterfinals by an average of 16 points. That means that Friday's championship game will be an … [Read more...] about The CIML Invitational: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for the Class 5A semifinals

‘They all showed they cared’: Iowa Central coaches convince Hill to become a Triton

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Ankeny linebacker Tristan Hill has committed to play football at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. Hill helped the Hawks to a 6-5 record and a trip to the Class 5A quarterfinals last season. "I looked at quite a few schools all the way from JUCO and NAIA up to D2 so I got to experience the different levels a little bit throughout my … [Read more...] about ‘They all showed they cared’: Iowa Central coaches convince Hill to become a Triton

Group assignments for 2025 and 2026 football seasons announced by IHSAA

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Following Wednesday morning’s Zoom meeting of the IHSAA Board of Control, district and group assignments for the 2025 and 2026 football seasons are now available. Districts and Class 5A groups are effective for a two-year cycle. This will be the second cycle with a socioeconomic factor added for football classifications. Approved in 2023 by the State … [Read more...] about Group assignments for 2025 and 2026 football seasons announced by IHSAA

‘Ava was awesome!’: Hot-shooting Martin leads Centennial girls past No. 5 Spartans

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Ava Martin has been a prolific scorer on the pitch for the Ankeny Centennial girls' soccer team. The Missouri Western soccer recruit showed on Monday that she can find the net on the basketball court, too. The senior guard made her first six shots from 3-point range and tied her career-high with 20 points to lead fourth-ranked Centennial to a 51-47 … [Read more...] about ‘Ava was awesome!’: Hot-shooting Martin leads Centennial girls past No. 5 Spartans

Jaguars hold off Pleasant Valley, will play No. 1 Johnston in Thursday’s semifinals

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Ava Martin tied her career-high with 20 points and the fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team posted a 51-47 victory over No. 5 Pleasant Valley in a Class 5A quarterfinal on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena. Mya Crawford and Jaeden Pratt each scored 10 points and dished out five assists for the Jaguars (17-7), who built a 20-point lead late in … [Read more...] about Jaguars hold off Pleasant Valley, will play No. 1 Johnston in Thursday’s semifinals

Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Mya Crawford, Centennial girls’ basketball

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Senior guard Mya Crawford had 13 points, 11 rebounds, six steals and three blocks to help the fourth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 42-37 victory over No. 13 Southeast Polk in a Class 5A regional final on Tuesday at Centennial. The Jaguars advanced to the state tournament for the fifth consecutive year and will play No. 5 Pleasant … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Mya Crawford, Centennial girls’ basketball

State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for Class 5A quarterfinals

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The girls' state basketball tournament tips off on Monday morning at Wells Fargo Arena, and top-ranked Johnston is the favorite to capture its fourth Class 5A championship in six seasons. The Dragons are an incredible 141-6 since the start of the 2019-20 campaign, when their dynasty began. They weren't exactly bad in the previous four seasons either, … [Read more...] about State tourney preview: Ankeny Fanatic’s predictions for Class 5A quarterfinals

‘I really like the culture that Central has’: Ankeny’s Dorfler to play football for Dutch

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Ankeny offensive lineman Jack Dorfler has committed to play football next year at Central College. Dorfler announced his future plans on social media Friday. "It's a relief that I made my decision," he said. Dorfler helped Ankeny to a 6-5 record last season. The Hawks reached the Class 5A quarterfinals. Dorfler, who was named to the District 6 … [Read more...] about ‘I really like the culture that Central has’: Ankeny’s Dorfler to play football for Dutch

‘It was a lot of fun’: Eagles reach substate final before falling to unbeaten Madrid

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The Ankeny Christian Academy boys' basketball players had no reasons to hang their heads following Saturday's 66-46 loss to second-ranked Madrid in a Class 1A substate final at the Knapp Center. The Eagles came within one victory of advancing to the state tournament and finished with a 17-8 record in what appeared to be a rebuilding year for the … [Read more...] about ‘It was a lot of fun’: Eagles reach substate final before falling to unbeaten Madrid

‘What we tried didn’t work’: Cason scores school-record 46, leads DC-G past Hawks

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The Ankeny boys' basketball team was hoping to get another shot at CIML Conference rival Valley, the two-time defending Class 4A state champion. But Dallas Center-Grimes senior guard Kyle Cason had plenty of motivation to play the Tigers, too. The Valley transfer scored a school-record 46 points on 13-of-19 shooting to lead the Mustangs to a 76-69 … [Read more...] about ‘What we tried didn’t work’: Cason scores school-record 46, leads DC-G past Hawks