Ankeny Fanatic

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Ballenger named tournament MVP, BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week

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Former Ankeny volleyball standout Megan Ballenger has been named the BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week after leading 14th-ranked Creighton to a 3-0 weekend in Dallas at the SMU DoubleTree Classic. Ballenger, a junior, was selected MVP of the tournament after helping the Bluejays to three sweeps. She averaged 3.89 points, 3.44 kills and 0.78 … [Read more...] about Ballenger named tournament MVP, BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Erin Doruska, Ankeny girls’ swimming

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Senior Erin Doruska helped the Ankeny girls' swimming team to a 113-73 victory at Waukee in its season opener on Tuesday. She won the 100 freestyle, placed second in the 200 individual medley and also swam on two winning relays. Doruska helped lead the Hawkettes to a fourth-place finish in last year's state meet. She swam on the state champion 200 … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Erin Doruska, Ankeny girls’ swimming

Jones, Wallestad step up, help Jaguars to Little Hawk Invite crown

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team was already playing without standout middle hitter Devyn Robinson. Then, senior middle hitter Megan Lively went down with an injury. No worries. The second-ranked Jaguars cruised to the championship of the Little Hawk Invitational on Saturday at Iowa City High, despite missing two of their top players. "I … [Read more...] about Jones, Wallestad step up, help Jaguars to Little Hawk Invite crown

Hawkettes finish 3-2 against ranked teams at Valley tournament

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Ankeny volleyball coach Joe Morton was hoping for a consistent effort from his team on Saturday at the Marj White Invitational. And that's what he got. The seventh-ranked Hawkettes posted a 3-2 record in Valley's round-robin tournament. All five of their matches came against Class 5A ranked opponents. "We were able to play at a consistent level and … [Read more...] about Hawkettes finish 3-2 against ranked teams at Valley tournament

Jaguars romp to 41-0 victory for their second consecutive shutout

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Jerry Pezzetti has won 414 games in his legendary high school football coaching career. Pezzetti and his son, Ryan, get a lot of the credit for building the Ankeny Centennial program from scratch into one of the state's top Class 4A teams. Perhaps now it's time to give some of the credit to Jeff Helgeson, the Jaguars' defensive … [Read more...] about Jaguars romp to 41-0 victory for their second consecutive shutout

Hawks make QB change, then drop 14-9 decision at No. 2 Johnston

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The Ankeny football team made a change at quarterback prior to Friday's game at second-ranked Johnston. It produced some mixed results. Sophomore Jase Bauer connected with classmate Weston Fulk for the Hawks' first touchdown of the year, but he was also intercepted three times. One of those interceptions came on Ankeny's final drive, allowing the … [Read more...] about Hawks make QB change, then drop 14-9 decision at No. 2 Johnston

Centennial’s Gabe Vicker uses late charge to win Ames Invitational title

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Ankeny Centennial's Gabe Vicker waited for the right time to make his move during the Ames Invitational on Thursday at the Iowa State cross country course. When the sophomore took the lead late in the boys' race, nobody else could stay with him. Vicker went on to win the 5k race in a time of 16 minutes 33 seconds. He defeated runner-up Moe Smith of … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Gabe Vicker uses late charge to win Ames Invitational title

Pack running pays off for Centennial, Ankeny girls

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The Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team won't have to rely on just one runner this season. Neither will crosstown rival Ankeny. Both teams are going to rely on their entire squad. Centennial used a pack mentality to earn a second-place finish in the Ames Invitational on Thursday at the Iowa State cross country course. The 14th-ranked Jaguars … [Read more...] about Pack running pays off for Centennial, Ankeny girls

Johnston golfers edge Jaguars based on better fifth score

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One bad shot here or there didn't make a difference on Monday when the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team defeated Urbandale by 26 strokes. On Wednesday, however, every stroke mattered. The Jaguars traveled to Jester Park for a dual meet against Johnston, and both teams finished the nine-hole round with a score of 157. It took a tiebreaker to determine … [Read more...] about Johnston golfers edge Jaguars based on better fifth score

Ankeny swimmers dominate season opener at Waukee

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It didn't take long for the Ankeny girls' swimming team to establish itself as one of the state's top squads. The Hawkettes opened their season on Tuesday with a 113-73 victory at Waukee in a non-conference meet. They racked up 3,637 power points, which ranks third behind Ames and Dowling Catholic among the teams in Iowa that have reported results to the … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers dominate season opener at Waukee

Hawkettes never let up, roll to victory over East

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It would have been easy for the Ankeny volleyball team to let up against an overmatched opponent on Tuesday. But the Hawkettes never did. Sixth-ranked Ankeny got off to a fast start, kept going strong, and rolled to a 25-5, 25-8, 25-8 victory over visiting Des Moines East in a non-conference match. "Overall, I think we did a great job of maintaining … [Read more...] about Hawkettes never let up, roll to victory over East

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Brian Kolpek, Ankeny Centennial boys’ golf

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Brian Kolpek of the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Kolpek has helped the Jaguars to a 2-0 record in the CIML Central Conference. The senior shot a 76 in a victory over Ames on Aug. 17 at Briarwood Golf Club. The Jaguars will play a dual meet against Johnston on Wednesday at Jester Park. … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Brian Kolpek, Ankeny Centennial boys’ golf

Jaguars sweep Omaha Skutt Catholic, the No. 13 team in nation

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When Ankeny Centennial volleyball coach Jessica Rinehart scheduled a match against one of the nation's top teams, she was simply looking for a way to challenge the Jaguars. Coming away with a victory was a bonus. Centennial, the No. 1 team in Class 5A, posted a 25-22, 25-23, 25-15 win over visiting Skutt Catholic of Omaha on Tuesday. Skutt Catholic, … [Read more...] about Jaguars sweep Omaha Skutt Catholic, the No. 13 team in nation

Ellgren shoots 37, leads Centennial golfers to win over Urbandale

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During the first two meets of the season, Drake Ellgren didn't look like the top returning player for the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team. On Monday, he did. The junior carded a 1-over-par 37 to earn medalist honors in a dual meet at the Urbandale Golf and Country Club, where he led the Jaguars to a 155-181 victory over Urbandale. The win improved … [Read more...] about Ellgren shoots 37, leads Centennial golfers to win over Urbandale

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Tyler Rodgers, Centennial football

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Senior defensive back Tyler Rodgers played a key role as the Ankeny Centennial football team opened its season on Friday with a 20-0 victory over Ankeny. He helped the seventh-ranked Jaguars post their second consecutive shutout against their crosstown rival. Rodgers also saw some action at running back. He ran four times for 25 yards, including a 14-yard … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Tyler Rodgers, Centennial football

Clinton wins rematch against Hawkettes at Centennial Invite

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The Ankeny volleyball team will take a 3-4 record into the second week of the season after placing second in the consolation bracket at the Ankeny Centennial Early Bird Invitational on Saturday. The sixth-ranked Hawkettes dropped a 25-19, 12-25, 16-14 decision to Clinton in the championship match of the consolation bracket. The River Queens avenged a … [Read more...] about Clinton wins rematch against Hawkettes at Centennial Invite

Without Robinson, Jaguars fall to Cedar Falls at Centennial Invite

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The Ankeny Centennial volleyball team proved on Saturday that it can play pretty well without one of its best players. The top-ranked Jaguars advanced to the championship match of the Centennial Early Bird Invitational before dropping a 25-19, 25-20 decision to No. 5 Cedar Falls, the defending Class 5A state champion. The Tigers trailed in the second set, … [Read more...] about Without Robinson, Jaguars fall to Cedar Falls at Centennial Invite

Oh brother: Jaguars unveil another speedy Gates in win over Ankeny

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Avery Gates finally got his chance to take center stage in Ankeny's crosstown rivalry. He didn't let it go to waste. The junior running back rushed for 130 yards on 16 carries and scored all three of the game's touchdowns as the seventh-ranked Ankeny Centennial football team opened its season on Friday with a 20-0 victory over Ankeny before an overflow … [Read more...] about Oh brother: Jaguars unveil another speedy Gates in win over Ankeny

Ankeny’s Griffin returns to game after suffering dislocated shoulder

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There was no way Ankeny's Max Griffin was going to sit out his final Jag-Hawk game with an injury. The senior defensive back/receiver suffered a dislocated shoulder during the first quarter of Friday's season opener against Ankeny Centennial, then went to the sidelines and appeared to be done for the night after taking off his jersey and shoulder … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Griffin returns to game after suffering dislocated shoulder