(EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is dedicated to longtime Des Moines Register wrestling reporter Dan McCool, who died on Monday at the age of 60. Dan was a legend in the wrestling community and will be sorely missed. I was working for the Register as a correspondent in the 80s and one of the first big events that I was asked to cover was to help out Dan with state … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny wrestling team
Ben Monroe
‘We saw the real Ben Monroe’: Centennial star closes career with 3rd-place finish
Ankeny Centennial's Ben Monroe closed out his illustrious high school wrestling career with one of his biggest victories. The fourth-ranked Monroe posted a 7-5 decision over No. 1 Deven Strief of North Scott to earn a third-place finish at 145 pounds in the Class 3A state tournament on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. He finished the season with a 40-3 … [Read more...] about ‘We saw the real Ben Monroe’: Centennial star closes career with 3rd-place finish
Monroe rebounds from quarterfinal loss, becomes 4-time placewinner for Jaguars
The dream of an individual state championship ended on Friday morning for Ankeny Centennial wrestlers Ben Monroe and Logan Neils. Both seniors suffered losses in the Class 3A quarterfinals at Wells Fargo Arena, but the fourth-ranked Monroe could still place as high as third at 145 pounds. He rebounded with a pair of major decisions in the consolation … [Read more...] about Monroe rebounds from quarterfinal loss, becomes 4-time placewinner for Jaguars
Neils pins his way into 3A quarterfinals, while Monroe escapes with win
A .500 record on the opening day of the Class 3A state tournament left Ankeny Centennial with two quarterfinalists and two more wrestlers alive in the consolation bracket. Top-ranked Logan Neils at 170 pounds and No. 4 Ben Monroe at 145 each won their first-round matches on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena. Teammates Jackson Bresson at 120 and Jackson … [Read more...] about Neils pins his way into 3A quarterfinals, while Monroe escapes with win
Jaguars advance 5 wrestlers to state, but suffer some ‘heartbreaking’ losses
Although the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team qualified five wrestlers for next week's state tournament, the Jaguars came up just short of advancing a few more. A trio of Jaguars lost wrestle-back matches for second place in a Class 3A district tournament on Saturday at Des Moines East, preventing them from earning a trip to Wells Fargo Arena. "It was … [Read more...] about Jaguars advance 5 wrestlers to state, but suffer some ‘heartbreaking’ losses
Valley matmen edge Centennial on criteria decision, advance to state duals
The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers were hoping to contend for both the Class 3A traditional and dual tournament titles. Now, the Jaguars can focus exclusively on next week's individual state tournament. Fifth-ranked Centennial ended its dual season on Wednesday with a 29-28 loss to No. 11 Valley in a regional dual at Centennial. The Tigers won the meet on … [Read more...] about Valley matmen edge Centennial on criteria decision, advance to state duals
Centennial wins final 3 matches to top Ankeny in Jag-Hawk showdown
After switching places in the latest Class 3A rankings by The Predicament, eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial and No. 5 Ankeny may have to revert back to their preseason spots. The visiting Jaguars won the final three matches to defeat Ankeny, 38-29, in the CIML Central Conference opener for both teams on Thursday. It was Centennial's seventh win in eight … [Read more...] about Centennial wins final 3 matches to top Ankeny in Jag-Hawk showdown
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Ben Monroe, Ankeny Centennial senior
Centennial’s Monroe chooses Iowa State over Wisconsin, Northern Illinois
There was no reason for Ankeny Centennial wrestler Ben Monroe to put off his college decision any longer. He already knew where he wanted to go. Monroe has verbally committed to Iowa State. The junior will join the Cyclones in the 2020-21 season. "I just decided I would commit now because I knew (Iowa State) would be the place for me, so there was … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Monroe chooses Iowa State over Wisconsin, Northern Illinois
Jaguars earn 3 silver medals, finish 4th overall in Class 3A
For three days, the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers put themselves in position to capture a team trophy at the Class 3A state tournament in Des Moines. Centennial coach Jay Groth was also confident that the Jaguars would win multiple individual championships, especially after his team advanced three wrestlers into Saturday night's finals at Wells Fargo … [Read more...] about Jaguars earn 3 silver medals, finish 4th overall in Class 3A
‘Great round’ sends Centennial trio into Saturday’s championship matches
Ben Monroe has waited 365 days for another opportunity to win a state wrestling title. Two of his Ankeny Centennial teammates, Eric Owens and Logan Neils, had their own championship aspirations. Now, the trio will get their chance on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. All three of them won semifinal matches on Friday afternoon to advance to the Class … [Read more...] about ‘Great round’ sends Centennial trio into Saturday’s championship matches
THUMBS UP: 3 Jaguars, 2 Hawks to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night
The Class 3A state wrestling finals on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena will feature a quintet of competitors from the community of Ankeny. Fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial will be represented by a trio of finalists--top-ranked Ben Monroe at 132 pounds, No. 5 Eric Owens at 145 and No. 2 Logan Neils at 170. Monroe, a two-time state runner-up, will be … [Read more...] about THUMBS UP: 3 Jaguars, 2 Hawks to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night
Jaguars edge Fort Dodge for 3rd place at state duals tournament
After suffering its first dual-meet loss of the season, the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team didn't have to wait long to get back onto the mat. The Jaguars rebounded from a semifinal loss to Waverly-Shell Rock with a 34-33 victory over defending champion Fort Dodge in the Class 3A third-place match at the state duals tournament on Wednesday night at Wells … [Read more...] about Jaguars edge Fort Dodge for 3rd place at state duals tournament
Jaguars capture district title, advance 9 wrestlers to state tournament
Coach Jay Groth doesn't want his Ankeny Centennial wrestlers to get caught looking ahead. He prefers to have the Jaguars focus on their immediate task. "The emphasis is just to score the next point and everything else will take care of itself," Groth said. On Saturday, that strategy resulted in a Class 3A district title for Groth's team, marking a … [Read more...] about Jaguars capture district title, advance 9 wrestlers to state tournament
Jaguars, Hawks crown 2 individual champs at CIML Invitational
Friday's CIML Invitational at Southeast Polk was like a mini-state wrestling tournament. Both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial enjoyed a lot of success, crowning a pair of individual champions. The Jaguars and Hawks also earned top-five finishes in the 17-team field. "It was probably as much fun coaching as I've had in the six years that I've been (the … [Read more...] about Jaguars, Hawks crown 2 individual champs at CIML Invitational
Jaguars topple Johnston, capture CIML Central Conference championship
The CIML Central Conference wrestling title was at stake on Thursday at Ankeny Centennial. The Jaguars, who are fourth in the Class 3A dual rankings, captured the league crown with a 44-24 victory over No. 13 Johnston. "It was nice to win it," said Centennial coach Jay Groth. "We mentioned it a few times in practice this week, but our guys definitely … [Read more...] about Jaguars topple Johnston, capture CIML Central Conference championship
Jaguars crown 4 champs, top Ankeny for 5th straight Bob Sharp title
Ben Monroe and the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers once again walked out of the Ankeny High School gym with the Bob Sharp Invitational championship trophy. For Monroe and his teammates, however, there are bigger goals on the horizon. "We wanted to win the tournament, but the real goal is to win a state dual team and traditional state title," said Monroe, … [Read more...] about Jaguars crown 4 champs, top Ankeny for 5th straight Bob Sharp title
Monroe reaches 100-win milestone as Jaguars capture Linn-Mar Duals title
Ankeny Centennial's Ben Monroe doesn't show a lot of emotion on the wrestling mat. That didn't change on Saturday when Monroe earned his 100th career victory while helping the Jaguars to the championship of the Linn-Mar Duals. "To me, that milestone is just another number," Monroe said. "My real goal is to improve and work as hard as I can each and … [Read more...] about Monroe reaches 100-win milestone as Jaguars capture Linn-Mar Duals title
Jaguars crown 5 champions, defend their title at DC-Grimes tournament
Ben Monroe is making a habit of winning an individual title at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational. The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers are doing likewise in the team race. Monroe captured his third consecutive crown on Saturday at the Dallas Center-Grimes tournament, four of his teammates also captured titles, and the ninth-ranked Jaguars easily … [Read more...] about Jaguars crown 5 champions, defend their title at DC-Grimes tournament
Ankeny wrestlers headed to Cadet and Junior National Championships
Four wrestlers from Ankeny will be competing in the 2018 Cadet and Junior National Championships in Fargo, N.D., beginning on Saturday. It is the premiere youth tournament in the United States. Trever Anderson, a freshman-to-be at Ankeny High School, has qualified in the Cadet Division along with Caleb Rathjen, an incoming sophomore at … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers headed to Cadet and Junior National Championships