The Ankeny Centennial football team got off to a great start in Friday's game at second-ranked Valley. The Jaguars took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, when Brekken Miller fired a 36-yard touchdown pass to Luke Mitchell on fourth-and-9. "We got the ball first and put together a great drive," said Centennial co-head coach Ryan Pezzetti. "It was over 15 … [Read more...] about ‘They’re just really good’: No. 2 Tigers overcome early deficit to beat Centennial
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‘It was a total team loss’: Hawks’ late lead slips away against No. 5 Johnston
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny football team just couldn’t find a way to get its offense and defense to sync up in a top-five showdown. As fourth-ranked Ankeny’s offense started to get going in the second half, so did No. 5 Johnston and the Dragons were able to pull out a 30-21 victory on Friday at Ankeny Stadium. “Obviously, we’re … [Read more...] about ‘It was a total team loss’: Hawks’ late lead slips away against No. 5 Johnston
Cyclones’ Smith begins collegiate tennis career with pair of wins at ISU tourney
Former Ankeny tennis star Kira Smith made a successful collegiate debut on Friday. Iowa State opened its first-ever home fall tournament by going undefeated in singles on day one of the event. Smith, a freshman who won the Class 2A state singles title last spring, posted a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Addison Renfro of Kansas State. Smith also teamed up with … [Read more...] about Cyclones’ Smith begins collegiate tennis career with pair of wins at ISU tourney
‘We’ve got a great culture here’: Ex-Hawks Harrington, Pelham thriving for SDSU
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It wasn’t that long ago when Max Pelham and Ryan Harrington found themselves booting the ball underneath the Friday Night Lights inside Ankeny Stadium. But now that pair of former all-state specialists for the Ankeny Hawks has linked up on one of the premier FCS Division I football programs in the country with the South … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got a great culture here’: Ex-Hawks Harrington, Pelham thriving for SDSU
Shorthanded Hawkettes race to 9th-place finish on difficult course at S.E. Polk Invite
A shorthanded Ankeny girls' cross country team competed in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Thursday. And if that wasn't enough of a challenge, the course itself proved to be very difficult. "The course was modified this year because of some construction on the football stadium, which resulted in the runners running two more hills than last year," … [Read more...] about Shorthanded Hawkettes race to 9th-place finish on difficult course at S.E. Polk Invite
QUICK ADJUSTMENT: Ex-ACA volleyball star makes easy transition to Div. I level
Going from Class 1A volleyball in Iowa to the NCAA Division I level is a substantial jump. Former Ankeny Christian Academy star Katie Quick is making it look easy. The freshman setter has played in 13 of Drake's first 14 matches with three starts. She had 13 assists and nine digs on Tuesday as the Bulldogs lost to Northern Iowa, 3-1, in their home … [Read more...] about QUICK ADJUSTMENT: Ex-ACA volleyball star makes easy transition to Div. I level
Centennial golfers place 7th, Hawks finish 8th at loaded CIML Conference meet
Throughout the regular season, the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' golf teams have had to compete against many of the state's best squads on a regular basis. On Wednesday, the Hawks and Jaguars got to play against all of the CIML Conference's best teams at the same meet. The conference meet was held at Beaver Creek Golf Course in Grimes, where the … [Read more...] about Centennial golfers place 7th, Hawks finish 8th at loaded CIML Conference meet
‘Then we caught fire and looked like us’: Jags rally past No. 2 Waukee for huge win
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) After a tough loss against crosstown rival Ankeny, getting a home win over second-ranked Waukee was crucial for the No. 3 Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. The Jaguars responded by flipping the script from the Jag-Hawk match, dropping the first set on Tuesday before rallying for a 20-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-12 victory at … [Read more...] about ‘Then we caught fire and looked like us’: Jags rally past No. 2 Waukee for huge win
Ankeny swimmers win 6 of first 8 events, but Johnston rallies for 102-84 victory
The Ankeny and Johnston girls' swimming teams took turns earning first-place finishes during a CIML Conference dual meet on Tuesday at Summit Middle School. Each squad won six of the 12 events, but in the end the seventh-ranked Dragons relied on their depth to post a 102-84 victory. They improved to 3-1 in the conference and 15-2 overall, while No. 5 … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers win 6 of first 8 events, but Johnston rallies for 102-84 victory
‘We just had no answers’: Hawkettes’ momentum stalls in loss at No. 6 Dowling
The Ankeny volleyball team was poised to possibly move up in this week's Class 5A rankings following Thursday's impressive victory in the Jag-Hawk showdown. Now, the No. 4 Hawkettes might be fortunate to hold onto their current ranking. Ankeny traveled to Dowling Catholic on Tuesday for its fourth consecutive CIML Conference match on the road and … [Read more...] about ‘We just had no answers’: Hawkettes’ momentum stalls in loss at No. 6 Dowling
Bloyer returns to lineup, leads Jags to win over Urbandale while falling to Waukee
The addition of Everett Bloyer to the lineup provided a spark for the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team on Monday. Coach Andrew Reedy is hoping that it can carry over to the next couple of meets. "Everett has been playing really good golf the last week, and he kept it up (Monday)," Reedy said after Bloyer shot a 1-over-par 73 in a CIML Conference … [Read more...] about Bloyer returns to lineup, leads Jags to win over Urbandale while falling to Waukee
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Gavin Ross, Ankeny boys’ golf
Senior Gavin Ross shot a 78 to help the Ankeny boys' golf team to a seventh-place finish in the Southeast Polk Invitational on Wednesday at Copper Creek. The Hawks posted a 314 total. Ross has been the Hawks' No. 1 player all season, averaging 38.8 strokes for nine holes. He carded a career-best 68 to earn runner-up honors in a triangular meet on Sept. 10 … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Gavin Ross, Ankeny boys’ golf
‘Not today!’: No. 4 Centennial girls dig deep, place 4th at Rim Rock Farm Classic
Even without one of its top runners, the Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team placed fourth for the second straight year in the prestigious Rim Rock Farm Classic on Saturday at Lawrence, Kan. Competing in the Gold Division against 24 other squads, the fourth-ranked Jaguars scored a total of 201 points. They finished with 210 a year ago. "Our … [Read more...] about ‘Not today!’: No. 4 Centennial girls dig deep, place 4th at Rim Rock Farm Classic
Jaguars drop 5-0 decision at Valley in final of Class 2A regional team tournament
Saturday marked the end of their high school tennis careers for several girls on the Ankeny Centennial squad, including two-time state qualifier Samara Peterson. The Jaguars closed out their season with a 5-0 loss at Valley in the final of a Class 2A regional team tournament. "We'll certainly miss our seniors next year, but their impact will carry … [Read more...] about Jaguars drop 5-0 decision at Valley in final of Class 2A regional team tournament
Hawks build 26-0 lead, then hold off S.C. East’s furious rally for homecoming win
Two of the state's top defensive units were on display Friday night at Ankeny Stadium. In the end, the fourth-ranked Ankeny football team made just enough plays to hold on for a 26-20 victory over previously unbeaten Sioux City East. It was the Class 5A District 3 opener for the Hawks (4-1), who survived an onside kick with 20 seconds left to extend their … [Read more...] about Hawks build 26-0 lead, then hold off S.C. East’s furious rally for homecoming win
Jaguars rely on balanced offense, stingy defense to post 42-0 victory at Urbandale
A balanced offensive attack and a stingy defensive effort proved to be a winning combination for the Ankeny Centennial football team. The Jaguars scored a pair of touchdowns in the first, second and fourth quarters while allowing just 192 total yards and rolled to a 42-0 victory at Urbandale on Friday. It was the Class 5A District 4 opener for both … [Read more...] about Jaguars rely on balanced offense, stingy defense to post 42-0 victory at Urbandale
‘It feels amazing!’: Hawkettes earn first victory over Centennial since 2022 season
(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It’s been 1,087 days since the Ankeny volleyball team managed to defeat crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial, and the Hawkettes knew they were due for a win. Now that streak has finally come to an end. The fourth-ranked Hawkettes dropped the first set on Thursday before rallying to knock off No. 3 Centennial in four sets … [Read more...] about ‘It feels amazing!’: Hawkettes earn first victory over Centennial since 2022 season
‘We felt very out of sync’: Jags fall short in rivalry match despite Heither’s return
The return of junior middle hitter Sophia Heither provided a spark for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team on Thursday. It wasn't enough to lift the third-ranked Jaguars to a sixth consecutive victory over No. 4 Ankeny. The visiting Hawkettes rallied from a one-set deficit to post a 19-25, 25-23, 28-26, 25-20 win over their crosstown rival. They … [Read more...] about ‘We felt very out of sync’: Jags fall short in rivalry match despite Heither’s return
‘We competed hard’: Ankeny swimmers drop 124-62 decision at No. 3 Cedar Falls
The Ankeny girls' swimming team has already faced some of the state's top squads with its daunting schedule in the CIML Conference. On Thursday, the Hawkettes stepped out of the CIML for a non-conference dual meet at Cedar Falls. And it proved to be just as difficult. The third-ranked Tigers raised their overall record to 30-1 with a 124-62 victory … [Read more...] about ‘We competed hard’: Ankeny swimmers drop 124-62 decision at No. 3 Cedar Falls
Centennial freshman Flick races to easy win on hilly course at Indianola Invite
Ankeny Centennial cross country runner Rebecca Flick earned her second victory of the season on Thursday. Flick, who is ranked 15th in Class 4A, easily won the girls' 5K race in the Indianola Invitational at Pickard Park. She posted a time of 19 minutes 1 second to finish 32 seconds ahead of fellow freshman Hannah Schmitz of Norwalk. "Rebecca started … [Read more...] about Centennial freshman Flick races to easy win on hilly course at Indianola Invite