Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

No. 1 S.E. Polk starts fast, hands Jaguars their first loss

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A slow start proved costly for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team on Tuesday. Or, maybe, it was just a fast start by Southeast Polk. The top-ranked Rams jumped out to a 23-10 lead in the first quarter and led all the way en route to a 51-44 victory at No. 10 Centennial. The Jaguars dropped to 2-1 on the season. "They came out on fire--they … [Read more...] about No. 1 S.E. Polk starts fast, hands Jaguars their first loss

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Bella Robben, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball

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Bella Robben of the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Robben, a sophomore guard, has helped the 10th-ranked Jaguars to a 2-1 record. She is averaging 3.3 points per game. Robben scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting in Centennial's season-opening 73-21 victory over visiting Fort Dodge … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Bella Robben, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball

Jaguars roll to season-opening win with ‘total team effort’

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After losing its last two season openers, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team was determined to get off on the right foot. Thanks to a crucial 6-minute stretch, the Jaguars accomplished their goal. Centennial overcame an early deficit and then pulled away to defeat visiting Southeast Polk, 62-45, in its season opener on Tuesday. The Jaguars led … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll to season-opening win with ‘total team effort’

Experienced Hawk wrestlers have ‘tough kids up and down the lineup’

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It has taken awhile for coach Jack Wignall to rebuild the Ankeny wrestling program following the split into two high schools. This could be the year that there's a huge payoff for the Hawks. Ankeny returns several varsity regulars from a team that posted an 11-9 record last year and placed 21st in the Class 3A state tournament with 26.5 points. "We … [Read more...] about Experienced Hawk wrestlers have ‘tough kids up and down the lineup’

Hawkettes look to rebound from Monday’s loss at Mason City

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The Ankeny girls' basketball team won't have time to dwell on its first loss of the season. The Hawkettes, who dropped a 72-58 decision at Mason City on Monday, will be back on the court less than 24 hours later. They will host Des Moines North on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. Mason City, the No. 3 team in Class 4A, built a 40-27 halftime lead in Monday's game. … [Read more...] about Hawkettes look to rebound from Monday’s loss at Mason City

Centennial boys boast tall front line, inexperienced backcourt

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The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team appears to be loaded with frontline players. The Jaguars could be a little thin in the backcourt, though, following the graduation of all-state guard Hunter Strait, who is now playing a key role as a freshman at Truman State. "Our returning players that played the most are all frontline players, so I would … [Read more...] about Centennial boys boast tall front line, inexperienced backcourt

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Kayla Pitz, Ankeny girls’ basketball

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Junior guard Kayla Pitz scored five points and had six assists to help the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 45-38 victory over 13th-ranked Des Moines East in its season opener on Tuesday at Ankeny. The Hawkettes will play at Mason City, the No. 3 team in Class 4A, on Monday. Pitz started every game for Ankeny as a sophomore, when she averaged 5.7 points … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Kayla Pitz, Ankeny girls’ basketball

Bluejays continue Big East dominance, will host USD in NCAA opener

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Jaali Winters was a dominant volleyball player in high school at Ankeny Centennial. She's been just as dominant for Creighton as a collegiate player in the Big East Conference. Winters was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after leading the ninth-ranked Bluejays to their fifth consecutive Big East championship title on Saturday in Omaha. … [Read more...] about Bluejays continue Big East dominance, will host USD in NCAA opener

Jaguars dominate rebounding battle en route to 75-20 victory at Lincoln

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If the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team misses a shot, there's a good chance that the Jaguars will grab an offensive rebound. That proved to be the case on Saturday afternoon at Des Moines Lincoln, where 10th-ranked Centennial won the battle of the boards, 43-12, and rolled to a 75-20 victory over the Railsplitters. "We were really strong on … [Read more...] about Jaguars dominate rebounding battle en route to 75-20 victory at Lincoln

Coach: Jaguars capable of bringing trophy home from state tournament

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestling program has been making strides every year under coach Jay Groth, gradually increasing its win total from 10 in its inaugural season in 2013-14 to a school-record 22 victories last season. Now, the Jaguars may just have their best team yet. "We have very high expectations for this group," said Groth. "We have three … [Read more...] about Coach: Jaguars capable of bringing trophy home from state tournament

Talented Hawks look to become ‘most unselfish team in state’

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There's a lot of excitement around this year's Ankeny boys' basketball team. The Hawks are coming off an 8-15 season a year ago, but that record is deceiving. The team got off to a 1-10 start that included six losses by five points or less, three of them in overtime. Ankeny went 6-4 to close out the regular season, then posted a 48-46 victory at Ames in a … [Read more...] about Talented Hawks look to become ‘most unselfish team in state’

Harp sets William Jewell single-game scoring record with 36 points

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Byron Harp etched his name in the William Jewell College record book on Tuesday night. The former Ankeny Centennial standout scored a career-high 36 points, the most by a Cardinal in a single game in the NCAA era, to lead William Jewell to a 91-81 victory over Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Mo. "I would definitely say it was one of my better games," … [Read more...] about Harp sets William Jewell single-game scoring record with 36 points

Hawkettes hold off No. 13 D.M. East in season opener, 45-38

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Dru McAnelly wiped the sweat off his brow after watching his Ankeny girls' basketball team open the season with a hard-fought victory. The Hawkettes took the lead for good with a 14-2 run in the second half and then held off 13th-ranked Des Moines East, 45-38, in a CIML non-conference game on Tuesday at Ankeny. "East is an extremely long, athletic, … [Read more...] about Hawkettes hold off No. 13 D.M. East in season opener, 45-38

Hawk swimmers capture team title at Sprint Classic

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Trent Frandson and the Ankeny boys' swimming team are already in midseason form. Frandson won two individual events, anchored two winning relays and led Ankeny to the team title in the season-opening Sprint Classic on Tuesday at Trail Point Aquatics Center. The Hawks racked up 454 points to win the five-team meet. "It was a great start to the season," … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers capture team title at Sprint Classic

Ankeny bowling teams ‘off to great start’ despite loss at Valley

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Although the Ankeny bowling teams opened their season on Tuesday with a loss to Valley at Val Lanes, head coach Hannah Munson was hardly disappointed by the results. "Overall, the team is off to a great start," said Munson, who took over the program this summer after graduating from Grand View University. The Ankeny boys' team lost by a score of 2,836 … [Read more...] about Ankeny bowling teams ‘off to great start’ despite loss at Valley

Burns finds her shooting stroke in Jaguars’ season-opening victory

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It took only 15 seconds for Ankeny Centennial's Meg Burns to make her first 3-point goal of the season. The junior guard swished a shot from the top of the key on the game's opening possession and went on to score 12 points, all of them in the first half, to lead the 10th-ranked Jaguars to a 73-21 victory over visiting Fort Dodge in their season opener on … [Read more...] about Burns finds her shooting stroke in Jaguars’ season-opening victory

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Noah Bethards, Ankeny Centennial football

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Noah Bethards of the Ankeny Centennial football team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Bethards, a senior defensive end, helped Centennial to a 9-1 record. The Jaguars went undefeated during the regular season for the first time in school history. Bethards made 10 tackles, including three solo stops and two … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Noah Bethards, Ankeny Centennial football

Centennial DB Rodgers named to Class 4A all-state first team

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When the Ankeny Centennial football coaches moved Tyler Rodgers to safety during his sophomore year, it turned out to be a good decision. Rodgers became a stalwart for the Jaguars' defense over the next three seasons, helping the team to a 28-6 record during that stretch. He racked up 153.5 tackles in his career, including 58 while leading one of the … [Read more...] about Centennial DB Rodgers named to Class 4A all-state first team