The Ankeny football team needed a bounce-back win after a last-minute loss at Valley a week ago. Des Moines North provided an opportunity to do just that. The fifth-ranked Hawks built a 42-0 halftime lead and went on to post a 56-7 victory over visiting North on Friday. They improved to 5-2 on the season, while the Polar Bears' record dropped to … [Read more...] about No. 5 Hawks get back on winning track, romp to 56-7 victory over North
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‘We’ve got to get better in a hurry’: Jags fall to 3-4, face playoff elimination
There is no margin for error left for the Ankeny Centennial football team. The Jaguars dropped to 3-4 on the season with a 17-6 loss at Waukee Northwest on Friday. They may have to sweep their final two games--against No. 3 Southeast Polk and Des Moines East--in order to make the Class 5A playoffs. Northwest (4-3) and Centennial entered Friday's game … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got to get better in a hurry’: Jags fall to 3-4, face playoff elimination
Winkel makes 4 straight birdies, shares first-round lead after shooting 69
Ankeny Centennial's Jack Winkel has put himself in position to win the Class 4A boys' state golf title on Saturday at Beaver Hills Country Club in Cedar Falls. The senior carded a 3-under-par 69 in Friday's opening round and is tied for the lead with four other golfers--Cale Leonard of Ottumwa, Tanner Dinnebier of Waukee, and Owen Sawyer and Maxwell Tjoa … [Read more...] about Winkel makes 4 straight birdies, shares first-round lead after shooting 69
Centennial boys top Ankeny by 18 points for 7th place at Fort Dodge Invite
The last time the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' cross country teams ran against each other, the Hawks edged the Jaguars by five points for seventh place in the Bobcat Invitational on Sept. 9 at Marshalltown. On Thursday, 15th-ranked Centennial reversed the outcome against its crosstown rival. The Jaguars placed seventh among 26 teams in the Fort … [Read more...] about Centennial boys top Ankeny by 18 points for 7th place at Fort Dodge Invite
Jaguars place 4th, Hawkettes finish 5th at Fort Dodge Invitational
Thursday's Fort Dodge Invitational at Lakeside Golf Course showed that the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country teams can compete with some of the state's top squads. The meet featured seven of the top 11 teams in Class 4A. A total of 22 squads and nearly 200 runners competed. Ninth-ranked Centennial placed fourth with 123 points. No. 8 … [Read more...] about Jaguars place 4th, Hawkettes finish 5th at Fort Dodge Invitational
Hawkettes, Jaguars could meet in Class 5A quarterfinals for 2nd straight year
The Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial volleyball teams collided in the quarterfinals of last year's Class 5A state tournament. There's a chance that it could happen again this season. The Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union announced its regional pairings on Thursday. Centennial has been placed in Region 3, while Ankeny is in Region 4. The defending … [Read more...] about Hawkettes, Jaguars could meet in Class 5A quarterfinals for 2nd straight year
‘It didn’t feel like we came out ready to play’: Jaguars tumble to Northwest
On Saturday, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team rolled to a 25-21, 25-17 victory over Waukee Northwest in the quarterfinals of the Urbandale Invitational. Three nights later, the Wolves earned some revenge. Waukee Northwest visited Centennial for a CIML Iowa Conference match on Tuesday and posted a 25-18, 25-20, 20-25, 25-19 win over the … [Read more...] about ‘It didn’t feel like we came out ready to play’: Jaguars tumble to Northwest
Hawkettes sweep Marshalltown, move into tie for first place in Iowa Conference
Tuesday was a good night for the Ankeny volleyball team. Not only did the fifth-ranked Hawkettes bounce back from last week's loss to Ankeny Centennial with a sweep at Marshalltown, but the Jaguars' loss to Waukee Northwest allowed Ankeny to move into a first-place tie with those two teams atop the CIML Iowa Conference. All three squads are now 4-1 with … [Read more...] about Hawkettes sweep Marshalltown, move into tie for first place in Iowa Conference
Ankeny swimmers make some progress despite loss to No. 3 Little Cyclones
Sometimes, a team can benefit from a loss. That may have been the case on Tuesday for the seventh-ranked Ankeny girls' swimming team, which dropped a 105-81 decision at No. 3 Ames in a CIML Iowa Conference dual meet. A year ago, the Little Cyclones--who have won nine of the last 11 state titles--posted a 119-67 victory over Ankeny. "Tonight we … [Read more...] about Ankeny swimmers make some progress despite loss to No. 3 Little Cyclones
Winkel captures medalist honors at district meet, but Jags place 4th overall
The Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team was hoping to qualify for the Class 4A state meet for the seventh time in school history. Instead, the Jaguars will have to settle for an individual qualifier. Jack Winkel shot a 71 to capture medalist honors in a district meet on Tuesday at Veenker Golf Course in Ames. However, seventh-ranked Centennial placed … [Read more...] about Winkel captures medalist honors at district meet, but Jags place 4th overall
Hawk golfers, Hensen just miss qualifying for Class 4A state meet
The season came to an end on Tuesday for the Ankeny boys' golf team. The Hawks competed in a Class 4A district meet at Whispering Creek Golf Club in Sioux City and just missed qualifying for the state meet. They placed fifth in the 14-team field with a 335 total, finishing three strokes out of the third and final qualifying spot. "I am really proud of … [Read more...] about Hawk golfers, Hensen just miss qualifying for Class 4A state meet
Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ swimming team
When the Ankeny girls' swimming program was launched in 1989, the Hawkettes suffered through some growing pains. Ankeny had three winless campaigns in its first seven seasons and went just 10-52 in dual meets through 1995. The Hawkettes had no state qualifiers in two of those years and placed no higher than 30th at the state meet during that … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny girls’ swimming team
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Drew Hensen, Ankeny boys’ golf
Sophomore Drew Hensen carded a 75 in the CIML Iowa Conference meet on Tuesday at Otter Creek Golf Course. He placed third as an individual while leading the Ankeny boys' golf team to a fourth-place finish. Hensen is a three-time medalist this season. He leads the Hawks with a nine-hole average of 38.7 strokes. Here is some inside info on Hensen: You … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Drew Hensen, Ankeny boys’ golf
‘It was a huge day for us’: Jaguars capture championship of Urbandale Invitational
There was no letdown for the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team. Riding the momentum of Tuesday's victory at Ankeny, the fourth-ranked Jaguars captured the championship of the Urbandale Invitational on Saturday. They rallied for a 23-25, 25-18, 15-8 win over No. 3 Urbandale in the title match. "It was a huge day for us," said Centennial coach Jessica … [Read more...] about ‘It was a huge day for us’: Jaguars capture championship of Urbandale Invitational
‘We just couldn’t stop them’: Jaguars fall to Urbandale in final seconds
With less than 2 minutes left to play, the Ankeny Centennial football team was in position to pull out a huge victory on Friday at Ankeny Stadium. The 10th-ranked Jaguars had just taken an 18-12 lead over No. 8 Urbandale and needed one defensive stop to seal the outcome. But they couldn't close the deal. The J-Hawks drove 80 yards down the field and … [Read more...] about ‘We just couldn’t stop them’: Jaguars fall to Urbandale in final seconds
‘They made more plays than we did’: Valley’s late TD hands Hawks 38-35 loss
The Ankeny football team knows how to rebound from a tough loss. Now, the Hawks will have to do it again. Mason Morrow threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Ayden Price with 13 seconds left and fifth-ranked Valley defeated No. 1 Ankeny, 38-35, on Friday at Valley Stadium. "I definitely think we will bounce back stronger," said Ankeny receiver Brady … [Read more...] about ‘They made more plays than we did’: Valley’s late TD hands Hawks 38-35 loss
COMMITTED: Centennial’s Kovacs to join Ankeny’s Gibson, Macke at Minnesota St.
Ankeny Centennial soccer standout Courtney Kovacs decided earlier this week that she wanted to continue her playing career at Minnesota State-Mankato. Ankeny players Eden Gibson and Kennedy Macke came to the same conclusion at about the same time. Kovacs announced her verbal commitment to the Mavericks via Twitter on Tuesday. Gibson and Macke then … [Read more...] about COMMITTED: Centennial’s Kovacs to join Ankeny’s Gibson, Macke at Minnesota St.
Centennial’s Winkel named Iowa PGA Junior Tour Player of the Year
Ankeny Centennial senior Jack Winkel has been named the 2021 Iowa PGA Junior Tour Player of the Year in the 16-18 year old division. He racked up 2,027.33 Player of the Year points. Winkel competed in 11 events this season. He had nine top-10 finishes on the Iowa PGA Junior Tour, including two wins and two ties for first place. Winkel was victorious in … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Winkel named Iowa PGA Junior Tour Player of the Year
McCullough to follow sister’s footsteps, will play football at Northern Iowa
Ankeny receiver Brady McCullough has always had a tight bond with his older sister Sara. The siblings will have a chance to grow even closer over the next few years. McCullough verbally committed on Wednesday to play football at Northern Iowa, where Sara is a redshirt freshman on the women's basketball team. He announced his decision via … [Read more...] about McCullough to follow sister’s footsteps, will play football at Northern Iowa
‘We wanted it so bad’: Centennial girls sweep to victory over Hawkettes
For the last two weeks, the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team focused most of its attention on third-ranked Ankeny. Not even an injury to one of their top players could prevent the No. 7 Jaguars from knocking off their crosstown rival. Centennial moved into sole possession of first place in the CIML Iowa Conference with a 28-26, 31-29, 25-23 victory at … [Read more...] about ‘We wanted it so bad’: Centennial girls sweep to victory over Hawkettes