Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Sauer named all-tournament team captain for 2nd time in 3 years

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When Kenna Sauer was a sophomore in 2016, she enjoyed a dream season for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team, earning all-tournament team captain honors after leading the Jaguars to the Class 5A state title. Sauer may have topped herself on Friday. The senior outside hitter smashed a kill from the left side to give second-ranked Centennial its fourth … [Read more...] about Sauer named all-tournament team captain for 2nd time in 3 years

The numbers behind Centennial’s stunning sweep over No. 1 Cedar Falls

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How did the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team pull off a stunning sweep in the Class 5A championship match against top-ranked Cedar Falls, which had dropped only two sets all year and entered the final with a 75-match winning streak? The numbers tell part of the story: * The Jaguars outhit Cedar Falls by a .266 to .168 margin. Both teams racked up 42 … [Read more...] about The numbers behind Centennial’s stunning sweep over No. 1 Cedar Falls

Jaguars outlast Valley in epic five-set semifinal thriller

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The jubilant voices of Ankeny Centennial volleyball players Devyn Robinson and Kenna Sauer could be heard in the bowels of the U.S. Cellular Center long before the duo entered the media interview room on Thursday at the state tournament in Cedar Rapids. When Robinson and Sauer finally made their entrance along with Centennial coach Jessica Rinehart, all … [Read more...] about Jaguars outlast Valley in epic five-set semifinal thriller

Jaguars hold off Dowling Catholic, earn rematch against No. 3 Valley

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There was no panic in the huddle after the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team lost to Dowling Catholic in Set 3 of a Class 5A quarterfinal at the state tournament on Tuesday. The Jaguars knew what they had to do. "I think what we have that the other teams don't is that we all trust each other," said Centennial middle hitter Megan Lively. "We all knew … [Read more...] about Jaguars hold off Dowling Catholic, earn rematch against No. 3 Valley

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Kenedy Balentine, Ankeny Centennial volleyball

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Senior Kenedy Balentine of the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Balentine has helped second-ranked Centennial to a 39-3 record and a sixth consecutive appearance in the state tournament. She had six digs to help the Jaguars to a victory over No. 7 Dowling Catholic in the Class 5A quarterfinals … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Kenedy Balentine, Ankeny Centennial volleyball

Hawkettes fall to Valley for 4th time, finish season at 31-13

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The Ankeny volleyball team got off to a shaky start Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state tournament. The Hawkettes never recovered. Third-ranked Valley jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the opening set and went on to post a 25-12, 25-17, 25-18 victory over No. 6 Ankeny at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. The Hawkettes finished the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes fall to Valley for 4th time, finish season at 31-13

Ankeny assistant Delaney named Centennial softball coach

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Brett Delaney took advantage of a second opportunity to apply for the head softball coaching position at Ankeny Centennial. This time, he got it. The Ankeny assistant has been named the Jaguars' head coach. His hiring was approved by the Ankeny School Board on Monday night. "I'm pretty excited," Delaney said. "It's been a fun process to go through, … [Read more...] about Ankeny assistant Delaney named Centennial softball coach

Pairings announced for Division I, II and III soccer tournaments

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Molly Close wasn't too worried when the Wartburg College women's soccer team lost to Loras, 3-2, in the championship game of the American Rivers Conference Tournament on Saturday. The former Ankeny standout thought the Knights would still receive an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III tournament, and she was right. Wartburg (13-5-1) received its … [Read more...] about Pairings announced for Division I, II and III soccer tournaments

Jaguars, Hawkettes ready for showdowns against WDM rivals

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The second-ranked Ankeny Centennial volleyball team will face a familiar opponent in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state tournament on Tuesday. So will sixth-ranked Ankeny. The Jaguars (38-3) will play No. 7 Dowling Catholic (29-12) at noon on Court Two at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. The match will be followed by a showdown between … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawkettes ready for showdowns against WDM rivals

Ballenger sparks Wayne State to victory over No. 6 Concordia St. Paul

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Ankeny High School's all-time kills leader has become an offensive force at the NCAA Division II volleyball level. Alyssa Ballenger pounded a career-high 18 kills to lead Wayne State College (Neb.) to a victory at sixth-ranked Concordia St. Paul on Saturday at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul. The sophomore outside hitter racked up a .472 hitting … [Read more...] about Ballenger sparks Wayne State to victory over No. 6 Concordia St. Paul

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Isabelle Vacek, Ankeny volleyball

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Junior outside hitter Isabelle Vacek has helped the sixth-ranked Ankeny volleyball team to a 31-12 record and a berth in this week's Class 5A state tournament at Cedar Rapids. She was named to the CIML Central Conference first team. Vacek leads the Hawkettes with 348 kills. She has also contributed 82 blocks, 134 digs and 34 aces. Here is some inside … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Isabelle Vacek, Ankeny volleyball

Gray, Gophers earn automatic bid to NCAA Tournament

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Megan Gray and the Minnesota women's soccer team are headed to the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers were on the NCAA bubble before knocking off 15th-ranked Penn State in penalty kicks, 5-4, to win the Big Ten Tournament title and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. "It was always something we were working toward … [Read more...] about Gray, Gophers earn automatic bid to NCAA Tournament

Rumley defends 50 free title, leads Ankeny to 4th-place finish

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Before turning their clocks back on Saturday night, the members of the Ankeny girls' swimming team turned back the clock on Saturday afternoon during the state meet at Marshalltown, repeating some of their performances from last year. Jasmine Rumley defended her state title in the 50 freestyle and repeated her second-place finish in the 100 freestyle. She … [Read more...] about Rumley defends 50 free title, leads Ankeny to 4th-place finish

Peters earns 14th-place finish in state diving meet

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Ankeny's Erica Peters was the only freshman placewinner in the state diving meet on Saturday morning at Marshalltown. Peters placed 14th in a field of 32 competitors with 386.35 points. She scored three team points for the Hawkettes, who sit in 10th place heading into the swimming finals, which begin at 4 p.m. Jayna Misra of Ames easily defended her … [Read more...] about Peters earns 14th-place finish in state diving meet

Sindt overcame hip injury to complete his undefeated season

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It turns out Ankeny runner Tim Sindt wasn't fully healthy when he defended his state cross country title on Oct. 27 at Fort Dodge. Sindt, who won the boys' Class 4A race in a time of 15 minutes 36 seconds, battled an injury for the last month of the season. "I was doing a hill workout at the Southeast Polk meet (on Sept. 27) when we sat our varsity, … [Read more...] about Sindt overcame hip injury to complete his undefeated season

Bravo Kelso! UNI’s Yarrow named to all-MVC 1st team

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Former Ankeny soccer star Kelsey Yarrow has been named to the all-Missouri Valley Conference first team after leading the Northern Iowa women's team to a 9-7-3 record this season. Yarrow, a senior midfielder, was the Panthers' second-leading scorer with five goals, including two game-winning goals. She also contributed two assists. Yarrow started every … [Read more...] about Bravo Kelso! UNI’s Yarrow named to all-MVC 1st team

Rumley, Doruska advance to Saturday’s championship finals in 2 events

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Jasmine Rumley accomplished what she set out to do on Friday at the girls' state swimming meet in Marshalltown. So did some of her Ankeny teammates. Competing in the first-ever preliminaries of the state meet, Rumley easily qualified for Saturday's championship final in both the 50 and 100 freestyle events. "I was very happy with my times," Rumley … [Read more...] about Rumley, Doruska advance to Saturday’s championship finals in 2 events

Jaguars, Hawkettes dominate all-conference volleyball team

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During the regular season, the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams dominated their other opponents in the CIML Central Conference, sweeping every match in three sets. That allowed the two squads to battle each other for the conference title on Oct. 2, when the Jaguars swept Ankeny on the Hawkettes' home court. It's not a surprise, then, that … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawkettes dominate all-conference volleyball team

Augustana’s Legg named NSIC Freshman of the Year

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Former Ankeny soccer star Alexis Legg has been named the Freshman of the Year in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. She was also named to the all-NSIC third team. Legg, a midfielder, is having one of the best freshman seasons in Augustana program history. She has scored a team-high 10 goals, which ranks fifth in the NSIC. Legg has already … [Read more...] about Augustana’s Legg named NSIC Freshman of the Year