Ankeny volleyball standout Jesa Wallace has verbally committed to play for William Jewell College, an NCAA Division II school in Liberty, Mo. Wallace, a senior setter, has helped the fifth-ranked Hawkettes to a 7-1 record. She said it was not an easy decision. "It's hard to make when it comes to where you plan on spending your next four years," Wallace … [Read more...] about ‘I felt comfortable–like I was meant to be there’: Wallace to play for William Jewell
Featured
After sluggish start, Hawks roll past Waukee behind Williams’ 3 2nd-half TDs
Ankeny football coach Rick Nelson didn't know what his team was doing during the first half of Friday's season opener at Waukee. The Hawks were intercepted three times before the half and went to the locker room trailing, 7-0. "We did some really extreme things," said Nelson. "I'll have to watch the film. I don't know sometimes what we were doing. I'm … [Read more...] about After sluggish start, Hawks roll past Waukee behind Williams’ 3 2nd-half TDs
‘Too little and too late’: Jaguars’ rally falls short against Kluver, Indianola
A late rally fell short for the Ankeny Centennial football team in its season opener on Friday. The Jaguars scored two touchdowns in the final 4 1/2 minutes before visiting Indianola recovered an onside kick to preserve a 26-20 victory at Ankeny Stadium. "The second half was just too little and too late," said Centennial co-head coach Ryan Pezzetti. "I … [Read more...] about ‘Too little and too late’: Jaguars’ rally falls short against Kluver, Indianola
TWIN WINS: Ankeny’s Zuber, Hill race to victories in opening meet of season
The Ankeny boys' cross country team captured a pair of individual titles in the Ankeny Centennial Invitational on Thursday at DMACC. The Hawks nearly won a division crown as well. Ethan Zuber raced to an impressive victory in the 9/10 race, then teammate Levi Hill followed with another win in the 11/12 race. "Any time you get a meet champion, that … [Read more...] about TWIN WINS: Ankeny’s Zuber, Hill race to victories in opening meet of season
Jaguars win 9/10 title at Centennial Invite; Ankeny captures 11/12 crown
Thursday's season-opening Ankeny Centennial Invitational featured three of the top 10 girls' cross country teams in Class 4A. Sixth-ranked Ankeny won the 11/12 division with 44 points, while No. 7 Centennial captured the 9/10 division with 27 points. No. 9 Valley took second in both divisions and won the overall title with 40 points, edging the Jaguars by … [Read more...] about Jaguars win 9/10 title at Centennial Invite; Ankeny captures 11/12 crown
Led by Kohl, No. 1 Hawks look to contend for 2nd state title in 3 years
There's been a lot of hype surrounding the Ankeny football team the last couple of seasons. It might be time to take the hype up another notch. The Hawks are No. 1 in the Class 5A preseason rankings by The Des Moines Register. They return several standouts from last year's state runner-up squad--and have also added some talented newcomers. "It's a … [Read more...] about Led by Kohl, No. 1 Hawks look to contend for 2nd state title in 3 years
‘It was fun’: Hawkettes top Centennial to win Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational
The Ankeny volleyball team is off to a good start. Ankeny Centennial has plenty of reasons to be optimistic, too. Both squads opened their season on Tuesday by competing in the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational. Fifth-ranked Ankeny won the round-robin tournament with a 4-0 record, while No. 11 Centennial took second with a 3-1 mark. "It’s always … [Read more...] about ‘It was fun’: Hawkettes top Centennial to win Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational
‘Our strength is going to be our defense’: Jaguars to rely on experienced unit
The key to Ankeny Centennial's success on the football field this fall will be the Jaguars' ability to prevent their opponents from reaching the end zone. "When you look at our team from a year ago and we've looked at how to build a competitive team, we knew right away that our strength is going to be our defense," said Centennial co-head coach Ryan … [Read more...] about ‘Our strength is going to be our defense’: Jaguars to rely on experienced unit
‘The boys battled’: Jaguars edge SEP, Valley in triangular at Copper Creek
A week ago, the Southeast Polk boys' golf team traveled to Ankeny and defeated Ankeny Centennial on its home course to win the Jesse Peck Invitational at Briarwood Golf Club. On Monday, the Jaguars returned the favor. Centennial shot a 311 to win a CIML Conference triangular meet at Copper Creek. The Rams placed second on their home course with a 314, … [Read more...] about ‘The boys battled’: Jaguars edge SEP, Valley in triangular at Copper Creek
‘This team can do big things’: Jaguars ready to compete in new conference
Throughout most of her tenure as the Ankeny Centennial volleyball coach, Jessica Rinehart has had some of the state's best players on her roster--from Jaali Winters to Kenna Sauer to Devyn Robinson just to name a few. Now, the Jaguars will head into the 2022 season without even one returning all-conference player. Centennial posted a 30-10 record last … [Read more...] about ‘This team can do big things’: Jaguars ready to compete in new conference
Hawkettes’ new head coach ‘blown away’ by team’s progress in preseason
When Dave Whims retired as the Ankeny volleyball coach, he left behind a talented roster. New head coach Dani Kohut Lynch inherits a team that boasts five returning varsity regulars, led by junior outside hitter Aowyn Schrader. Also back are senior setter Jesa Wallace, senior middle hitter Myra Carlson, senior outside hitter Hannah Baier and junior … [Read more...] about Hawkettes’ new head coach ‘blown away’ by team’s progress in preseason
Despite heavy losses to graduation, Jaguars seek 3rd straight trip to state
This could be a rebuilding season for the Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country team. The Jaguars placed 14th in last year's Class 4A state meet with 307 points. It was their second straight state-meet appearance, but four of the top seven runners from that squad graduated, including Tyler Schermerhorn. Schermerhorn was Centennial's No. 1 runner for … [Read more...] about Despite heavy losses to graduation, Jaguars seek 3rd straight trip to state
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Lawson Hachmeister, ACHS boys’ golf
Senior Lawson Hachmeister helped the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team to a runner-up finish in the Jesse Peck Invitational on Aug. 15 at Briarwood Golf Club. He carded a 77 to place 10th as an individual. On Wednesday, Hachmeister shot a 1-over-par 73 to finish fifth in a triangular meet at The Legacy Golf Club in Norwalk. He had five birdies for the … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Lawson Hachmeister, ACHS boys’ golf
Centennial goalkeeper Bergan to play soccer at Carnegie Mellon University
Ankeny Centennial goalkeeper Kate Bergan has verbally committed to play for the Carnegie Mellon University women's soccer team in Pittsburgh, Pa. Bergan, a senior-to-be, announced her decision via Twitter on Friday. The Tartans are members of the NCAA Division III University Athletic Association. "I started off looking at a lot of schools earlier on, … [Read more...] about Centennial goalkeeper Bergan to play soccer at Carnegie Mellon University
‘I think we could have done better’: Hawks fall short in opener against SEP
On a near perfect day for golf, the Ankeny boys' team opened its season on Thursday with a 299-302 loss to visiting Southeast Polk in a CIML Conference dual meet at Otter Creek. The Hawks posted five scores in the 70s, but it wasn't good enough to knock off Southeast Polk, which was coming off a victory in the Jesse Peck Invitational on Monday at … [Read more...] about ‘I think we could have done better’: Hawks fall short in opener against SEP
Jaguars return 6 of their top 7 runners, seek podium finish at 4A state meet
The Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country team discovered last season that the gap between the top squads in Class 4A isn't very large. The Jaguars placed 10th at the state meet with 188 points, the second-lowest total in school history. Only 47 points separated the team from third place. "A year ago, we took part in the closest finishing state meet … [Read more...] about Jaguars return 6 of their top 7 runners, seek podium finish at 4A state meet
Waukee NW tops Dowling, Centennial to win triangular meet at The Legacy
Ankeny Centennial boys' golf coach Rick Fee often tells his players that they need to shoot around a 300 to be competitive against the state's best squads. The Jaguars would have had to shoot even better than that on Wednesday. Waukee Northwest easily won a CIML Conference triangular meet at The Legacy Golf Club in Norwalk by shooting a 290. Centennial … [Read more...] about Waukee NW tops Dowling, Centennial to win triangular meet at The Legacy
Ankeny girls’ cross country team looks to build on success of last year’s squad
Coming off one of the best seasons in school history, the Ankeny girls' cross country team is setting some high expectations once again. The Hawkettes placed sixth in last year's Class 4A state meet with 166 points. It was the second-best performance in program history, surpassed only by a fifth-place finish in 1988. Now, Ankeny could be poised for … [Read more...] about Ankeny girls’ cross country team looks to build on success of last year’s squad
‘We have a really strong nucleus coming back’: Hawks return 4 varsity regulars
Last year, the Ankeny boys' cross country team entered the Class 4A state meet with a goal of a top-10 finish. The Hawks came up short of their goal, placing 13th with 299 points. However, they did finish eight points ahead of crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial, defeating the Jaguars for the fourth time in their seven meetings in 2021. Now, Ankeny could … [Read more...] about ‘We have a really strong nucleus coming back’: Hawks return 4 varsity regulars
‘Rough starts’ prove costly as Jaguars place 2nd behind S.E. Polk at Peck Invite
The Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team opened its season on Monday with a second-place finish in the Jesse Peck Invitational at Briarwood Golf Club. Southeast Polk won the nine-team meet with a 303 total. The Jaguars, who had won the title in each of the previous five years, finished with a 309--four strokes better than Indianola. "Like I told the boys … [Read more...] about ‘Rough starts’ prove costly as Jaguars place 2nd behind S.E. Polk at Peck Invite