With only three top-eight seeds among its nine state qualifiers, the Ankeny wrestling team likely wasn't expected to contend for a top-10 finish at this week's Class 3A tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. But the Hawks are doing just that. On Wednesday, Ankeny went 8-4 on the opening day of the tournament and advanced five wrestlers to Thursday's … [Read more...] about Hawks are tied for 9th place in Class 3A, advance 5 wrestlers to quarterfinals
Ankeny’s Dalton commits to play football at Iowa Central Community College
Ankeny defensive back Nolan Dalton has made his college plans. The senior has committed to play football for Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. "It was down to Iowa Central, Ellsworth and Grand View," said Dalton. "It was a hard decision, but I wanted to go to a two-year (school) to see where I could end up after that." Dalton emerged as … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Dalton commits to play football at Iowa Central Community College
Tigges bowls 641 series at state qualifying meet; Hawks finish 7th overall
Ankeny senior Sam Tigges closed out his high school bowling career with another solid effort on Tuesday at Cedar Falls. But he still wasn't satsified. Tigges bowled a three-game series of 641 in a Class 3A state qualifying meet. He bowled games of 212, 204 and 225, but it wasn't good enough to qualify for state. "I feel like I could have done … [Read more...] about Tigges bowls 641 series at state qualifying meet; Hawks finish 7th overall
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 249
In the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, publisher Dan Holm breaks down all of the boys' and girls' basketball postseason brackets with frequent guest Andy Pollock. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 249
Johnson, Hawks outduel Born, Norwalk to close out regular season at 15-6
The Ankeny boys' basketball team finally got a defensive stop Monday when the Hawks needed it the most. Norwalk's Redek Born came up short on a 3-point shot at the buzzer and eighth-ranked Ankeny held on for a 66-64 victory over the visiting Warriors in a non-conference game to close out the regular season. Born, who finished with 39 points on 11-of-19 … [Read more...] about Johnson, Hawks outduel Born, Norwalk to close out regular season at 15-6
‘We played a lot better the 2nd half’: Jags solve zone defense, beat Winterset
It took awhile for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to figure out its opponent's zone defense on Monday night. After trailing by one point at halftime, the 10th-ranked Jaguars pulled away in the second half for a 59-47 non-conference win over visiting Winterset, the No. 7 team in Class 3A. It wasn't pretty, but Centennial improved to 15-6 … [Read more...] about ‘We played a lot better the 2nd half’: Jags solve zone defense, beat Winterset
Ankeny girls’ bowling team ends season, places 8th at 3A state qualifying meet
The Ankeny girls' bowling team ended its season on Monday with an eighth-place finish in a Class 3A state qualifying meet at Cedar Falls. The Hawkettes got off to a good start with a 149 in the first of their 15 baker games, putting them in third place. But they then fell behind with a 95 in their second game and never recovered. Ankeny finished with a … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ bowling team ends season, places 8th at 3A state qualifying meet
Rubber match?: Ankeny, Centennial boys are top 2 seeds in Class 4A Substate 8
The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball teams finally learned their postseason assignments on Monday. The crosstown rivals may have to play each other for a trip to the state tournament. After moving into the No. 8 spot in the final Class 4A rankings, Ankeny (14-6) was awarded the No. 1 seed in Substate 8 by the Iowa High School Athletic … [Read more...] about Rubber match?: Ankeny, Centennial boys are top 2 seeds in Class 4A Substate 8
No. 4 Jaguars capture district crown, qualify 11 wrestlers for state tournament
The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers turned in a dominating performance on Saturday. The fourth-ranked Jaguars easily won a Class 3A district tournament at Cedar Rapids Prairie, racking up 210 points and qualifying 11 wrestlers for this week's state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Iowa City West was a distant second with 148 points. "For the most part we … [Read more...] about No. 4 Jaguars capture district crown, qualify 11 wrestlers for state tournament
‘I feel like we qualified a good number of kids’: Hawks advance 9 wrestlers to state
The Ankeny wrestling team placed second in a Class 3A district tournament on Saturday at Norwalk and qualified nine wrestlers for this week's state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Ninth-ranked Johnston captured the district crown with 239.5 points. The Hawks finished with 182.5 points. Ankeny crowned two champions among its six finalists and had three … [Read more...] about ‘I feel like we qualified a good number of kids’: Hawks advance 9 wrestlers to state
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Owen Evans, Ankeny boys’ swimming
Senior Owen Evans helped the Ankeny boys' swimming team to a ninth-place finish in the state meet on Saturday at Iowa City. He earned a spot on the awards podium in two of his four events. Evans scored a total of 26.5 points for the Hawks, accounting for more than 23 percent of the team's total (113 points). Here is some inside info on … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Owen Evans, Ankeny boys’ swimming
Ankeny swimmers earn spots on podium in 4 events, place 9th overall at state
After placing fourth a year ago, the Ankeny boys' swimming team was hoping to contend for another top-five finish in the state meet on Saturday at Iowa City. In the end, the Hawks settled for a ninth-place finish. They scored 113 points. "Overall, this meet was pretty crazy," said Ankeny senior Owen Schwebach, who earned a pair of top-eight finishes in … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers earn spots on podium in 4 events, place 9th overall at state
CIML Conference basketball standings
The Ankeny boys' basketball team played the role of a spoiler in the CIML Conference race. The Hawks rallied for a 76-72 victory at third-ranked Valley on Friday, knocking the Tigers out of a tie for first place in the league. Then, on Saturday, No. 7 Waukee clinched the outright conference title by rolling to a 91-53 win over Southeast Polk. On the … [Read more...] about CIML Conference basketball standings
Jaguars fall short against Dowling, will await 4A substate pairings on Monday
After playing one of its best games of the season on Friday, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team looked like a different squad less than 24 hours later. The eighth-ranked Jaguars dropped a 52-48 decision to visiting Dowling Catholic in a CIML Conference game on Saturday afternoon. The Maroons, who swept the season series, were coming off a 65-60 … [Read more...] about Jaguars fall short against Dowling, will await 4A substate pairings on Monday
‘It was a hard-fought game’: Jags edge Waukee NW, end regular season at 12-8
(Story by Gabe Ploeger) In a game that never lacked competitive spirit, the fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team closed out the regular season on Friday with a 48-44 victory over visiting Waukee Northwest, the No. 12 squad in Class 5A. The Jaguars outscored Northwest in the fourth quarter, 13-9, to break away from a 35-35 tie. “It … [Read more...] about ‘It was a hard-fought game’: Jags edge Waukee NW, end regular season at 12-8
‘I knew we could get this one’: Hawks stun No. 3 Valley with late 10-0 run
The Valley boys' basketball team had a chance to clinch at least a tie for the CIML Conference title on Friday. But visiting Ankeny had a lot to play for, too. The Hawks scored the final 10 points of the game over the last 3 minutes 53 seconds to post a 76-72 victory over third-ranked Valley, knocking off the defending Class 4A state champions and … [Read more...] about ‘I knew we could get this one’: Hawks stun No. 3 Valley with late 10-0 run
Hawkettes rally past Valley in 4th period, lock up No. 1 seed in Class 5A Region 8
The eighth-ranked Ankeny girls' basketball team traveled to Valley on Friday for its regular-season finale and handed the No. 9 Tigers a damaging loss. An injury to standout post player Elise Jaeger could spell even more trouble for Valley with postseason play starting next week. Jaeger, a Northern Iowa recruit, scored 10 points before leaving the game … [Read more...] about Hawkettes rally past Valley in 4th period, lock up No. 1 seed in Class 5A Region 8
‘We defended the jungle’: Centennial boys shut down Wolves for 49-35 victory
(Story by Gabe Ploeger) The Waukee Northwest boys' basketball team had won six straight games and nine of their last 10, and the 10th-ranked Wolves intended to keep that hot streak going. But No. 8 Ankeny Centennial had their own plans. The Jaguars relied on a stingy defense to beat visiting Northwest, 49-35, in a CIML Conference game on … [Read more...] about ‘We defended the jungle’: Centennial boys shut down Wolves for 49-35 victory
Five Ankeny swimmers advance to Saturday’s finals at boys’ state meet
Five of Ankeny's nine individual state qualifiers advanced to Saturday's finals in the boys' state swim meet at Iowa City. Senior Owen Schwebach qualified for the "A" final in both of his events during Friday's preliminaries. Senior Owen Evans qualified for one "A" and one "B" final, while junior Brock Peterson qualified for the "B" final in both of his … [Read more...] about Five Ankeny swimmers advance to Saturday’s finals at boys’ state meet
‘I liked the coaches a lot’: Centennial’s Snyder to play for Minn. State-Mankato
Ankeny Centennial receiver Max Snyder has signed a letter of intent with Minnesota State-Mankato. Snyder said it wasn't an easy decision. "I looked at a lot of schools and also visited multiple," said Snyder. "It was tough to try to narrow down what I wanted in a school for sure. But I liked the coaches a lot at Minnesota State, and the fact that they … [Read more...] about ‘I liked the coaches a lot’: Centennial’s Snyder to play for Minn. State-Mankato