The eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team closed out the regular season on Friday with a 53-46 loss at Johnston. The Dragons pulled away from a tie in the last 4 minutes to earn their third straight win. They avenged an earlier 63-60 loss at Centennial in double overtime. Johnston finished 7-9 in the CIML Conference and improved to … [Read more...] about ‘It was a tough road loss’: Jaguars fall to Johnston in final game of regular season
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‘That was awesome’: Cale Vandermark, Lucas Bruhl punch tickets to semifinals
Ankeny Centennial freshman Cale Vandermark was getting tired during his quarterfinal match at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament on Thursday. His opponent, though, was beginning to fade as well under the bright lights at Wells Fargo Arena. The sixth-seeded Vandermark got a takedown in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime, then got … [Read more...] about ‘That was awesome’: Cale Vandermark, Lucas Bruhl punch tickets to semifinals
MOVING ON: Ankeny’s Hansen, Anderson advance to semifinals for first time
In each of the last two seasons, Ankeny wrestlers Ben Hansen and Jace Anderson couldn't advance past the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state tournament. On Thursday night at Wells Fargo Arena, the duo smashed through that hurdle in impressive fashion. The third-seeded Hansen posted a 6-2 decision over No. 6 Trevor Oberbroeckling of Southeast Polk in a … [Read more...] about MOVING ON: Ankeny’s Hansen, Anderson advance to semifinals for first time
Hinrichs avenges district loss, moves on to quarterfinals along with 3 other Hawks
A huge win by senior Will Hinrichs helped put the Ankeny wrestling team into early contention for a top-five finish in the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The ninth-seeded Hinrichs posted a 7-4 decision over No. 8 Joshua Hemsted of Carlisle in a second-round match at 220 pounds on Wednesday night. He avenged a 5-4 loss in the … [Read more...] about Hinrichs avenges district loss, moves on to quarterfinals along with 3 other Hawks
Jaguars advance 4 wrestlers into Thursday’s quarterfinals, sit in 7th place
The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team sits in seventh place with 36 points after Wednesday's opening session of the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The Jaguars qualified a school-record 12 wrestlers for the tournament and advanced four of them into Thursday night's quarterfinals. They are sixth-seeded Cale Vandermark at 106 … [Read more...] about Jaguars advance 4 wrestlers into Thursday’s quarterfinals, sit in 7th place
‘They really have grown’: Ankeny bowling teams place 7th at state qualifying meet
The Ankeny bowling teams closed out their season this week with seventh-place finishes in a Class 3A state qualifying meet at Wayward Social in Marshalltown. The Hawks competed in a district meet on Tuesday and posted a total of 2,579. That's an average of 172 for the 15 bakers games. Ankeny bowled a 203 in its sixth bakers game. The Hawks had their … [Read more...] about ‘They really have grown’: Ankeny bowling teams place 7th at state qualifying meet
Hawks keep Henderson in check, close out regular season with win over Hoover
Ankeny point guard Carson Johnson was looking forward to Tuesday's matchup against visiting Des Moines Hoover and Montana recruit Chase Henderson. Henderson entered the non-conference game with 42 3-point goals and was averaging nearly 21 points a contest. "He's a good player," Johnson said. "We knew we had to help a lot on him and just try to take … [Read more...] about Hawks keep Henderson in check, close out regular season with win over Hoover
Substate pairings announced: Jaguars earn No. 1 seed; Hawks to host Ottumwa
The Class 4A substate boys' basketball pairings have been announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial (14-6) received a No. 1 seed in Substate 2, while Ankeny (7-14) earned a No. 3 seed in Substate 6. The Jaguars will host a substate semifinal on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. They will play the winner of a quarterfinal … [Read more...] about Substate pairings announced: Jaguars earn No. 1 seed; Hawks to host Ottumwa
Here are 3A state wrestling matchups for Ankeny, Centennial qualifiers
The Class 3A state wrestling tournament gets under way on Wednesday with the preliminary and first-round matches at 6 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena. With 24 qualifiers in each weight class, the top eight seeds will receive a bye into the first round. Ankeny Centennial has four top-eight seeds among its 12 qualifiers, while Ankeny has three top-eight … [Read more...] about Here are 3A state wrestling matchups for Ankeny, Centennial qualifiers
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ari Ehlts, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
Junior Ari Ehlts is one of 12 state qualifiers for the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team. He helped the Jaguars to a second-place finish in a Class 3A district tournament on Saturday at Marshalltown. The ninth-ranked Ehlts pinned his way to the 160-pound title, capped off by a fall over Gerald Norton of Cedar Falls in 3 minutes 38 seconds. He will take a … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Ari Ehlts, Ankeny Centennial wrestling
Hawks advance 9 matmen to state, have ‘nothing to lose and everything to gain’
The Ankeny wrestling team advanced nine qualifiers to this week's Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena, led by district champion Jace Anderson. The fourth-ranked Hawks placed second in a district tournament on Saturday at Carlisle. The host Wildcats won the team title with 189 points, while Ankeny finished with 168.5. The Hawks had five … [Read more...] about Hawks advance 9 matmen to state, have ‘nothing to lose and everything to gain’
Centennial crowns 3 district champs, advances 9 other wrestlers to state
Every year, the goal for Ankeny Centennial coach Jay Groth is to qualify all 14 of his wrestlers for the Class 3A state tournament. On Saturday, the Jaguars came closer than ever to meeting that goal--with help from a new format that allows the top three finishers at each weight to advance to state. Centennial qualified 12 wrestlers while placing … [Read more...] about Centennial crowns 3 district champs, advances 9 other wrestlers to state
Hawks end losing skid with victory over Linn-Mar behind Johnson, Aguirre
The Ankeny boys' basketball team got a much-needed victory on Saturday. The Hawks snapped a five-game losing skid with a 69-65 win over Linn-Mar (Marion) in a non-conference game at Valley. "It was a good win for the guys after a tough loss Friday night (to Valley)," said Ankeny coach Brandt Carlson, whose team improved to 7-14 on the season. Ankeny … [Read more...] about Hawks end losing skid with victory over Linn-Mar behind Johnson, Aguirre
Swanepoel captures 2 state titles, leads Hawk swimmers to 4th-place finish
Saturday was an unforgettable day for Lance Swanepoel, coach Justin Crouch and the Ankeny boys' swimming team. Swanepoel capped off his illustrious high school career by winning a pair of individual titles in the state meet at the University of Iowa's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in Iowa City. He also swam on Ankeny's runner-up 200 and 400 … [Read more...] about Swanepoel captures 2 state titles, leads Hawk swimmers to 4th-place finish
‘We just didn’t have a good shooting night’: Jaguars fall at No. 3 Waukee NW
With a five-game winning streak, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team entered Friday's showdown at Waukee Northwest with a whole lot of confidence. After dropping a 74-48 decision to the third-ranked Wolves, the No. 6 Jaguars will have to regroup. "We just didn't have a good shooting night," said Centennial coach Bob Fontana. "The whole … [Read more...] about ‘We just didn’t have a good shooting night’: Jaguars fall at No. 3 Waukee NW
Centennial girls knock off Wolves, earn 3rd-place finish in CIML Conference
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team used a strong third quarter to pull away for a 54-45 victory at Waukee Northwest in its regular-season finale on Friday. The sixth-ranked Jaguars held a 26-23 lead at halftime. They then outscored Northwest in the third period, 16-9, to build a 42-32 advantage. The Wolves closed the gap to 44-41 in the … [Read more...] about Centennial girls knock off Wolves, earn 3rd-place finish in CIML Conference
‘She was lights out tonight’: Jaeger pours in 30 as Valley girls roll past Hawkettes
There wasn't much that Ankeny girls' basketball coach Dru McAnelly could say to his team following the Hawkettes' 67-36 loss to visiting Valley in their regular-season finale on Friday. "Not that we ever want to have this feeling again, but we'd much rather have it tonight than eight days from now," said McAnelly. "If this happens eight days from now, our … [Read more...] about ‘She was lights out tonight’: Jaeger pours in 30 as Valley girls roll past Hawkettes
Ankeny boys fall to No. 4 Valley, will try to rebound Saturday against Linn-Mar
The Ankeny boys' basketball team won't have much time to dwell on Friday's loss to visiting Valley. The Hawks will be right back on the court Saturday at Valley to face Linn-Mar (Marion) (7-10) in a non-conference game. Tip-off is at 2:30 p.m. "They've got a good young team," Ankeny coach Brandt Carlson said of the Lions. "It'll be a good challenge for … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys fall to No. 4 Valley, will try to rebound Saturday against Linn-Mar
Swanepoel smashes state record in 100 butterfly, closes in on 50 freestyle mark
Ankeny swimmer Lance Swanepoel called his shot a week ago. After winning the 100 butterfly at a district meet in 48.75 seconds, Swanepoel said that a time of 46.8 was calling his name for the state meet. On Friday night during the preliminaries of the state meet at the University of Iowa's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in Iowa City, the senior … [Read more...] about Swanepoel smashes state record in 100 butterfly, closes in on 50 freestyle mark
Hawk swimmers projected to finish 8th at state; Swanepoel could win 2 titles
Top-ranked Waukee is a strong favorite to win a third consecutive boys' swimming state title. The Warriors are projected to score 273 points in the state meet, which begins on Friday with the preliminaries at 5 p.m. at the University of Iowa's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in Iowa City. The meet concludes on Saturday with the finals at … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers projected to finish 8th at state; Swanepoel could win 2 titles