The Ankeny wrestlers got some much-needed time on the mat last week. After placing third in their own Bob Sharp Invitational on Jan. 20, the Hawks celebrated their Senior Night on Thursday with a 42-33 victory over visiting Dowling Catholic. They then defeated five more opponents on Saturday to win the Dave Ewing Duals at Ankeny. "Some of our kids … [Read more...] about Busy week for Hawk wrestlers ends with win over Dowling, Dave Ewing Duals title
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Ames girls top Jaguars after forcing OT on miraculous basket at buzzer
Sometimes, the ball doesn't bounce your way. Or, the questionable call that could have gone either way doesn't go in your favor. The 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team experienced both of those things Friday on the same play--a miraculous basket by Ames' Teagan Lipsey that forced overtime and eventually helped the No. 12 Little … [Read more...] about Ames girls top Jaguars after forcing OT on miraculous basket at buzzer
‘I think he’s ready for those moments’: Bayless sinks game-winner for Hawks
Braxton Bayless has been playing like an all-stater this season for the Ankeny boys' basketball team. The senior guard delivered once again on Friday. Bayless scored a career-high 31 points, including the game-winning basket with 2 seconds left, as the ninth-ranked Hawks posted a 65-63 victory over visiting Urbandale. He is now averaging 23.7 points … [Read more...] about ‘I think he’s ready for those moments’: Bayless sinks game-winner for Hawks
McAleer’s career night helps Centennial boys pull away from Little Cyclones
A 29-3 run that spanned both halves allowed the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to post a 50-29 victory over visiting Ames on Friday. The sixth-ranked Jaguars trailed, 16-11, before scoring the last 10 points of the first half. They then outscored Ames in the third quarter, 16-3, to build a 37-19 advantage. "It was a slow-paced game the first … [Read more...] about McAleer’s career night helps Centennial boys pull away from Little Cyclones
Hawkettes lose another heartbreaker, fall to No. 9 Urbandale in OT
Ankeny girls' basketball coach Dru McAnelly isn't fond of moral victories. But that's exactly what his short-handed squad came away with on Friday. The Hawkettes battled ninth-ranked Urbandale into overtime before dropping a 59-57 decision at Ankeny. It was another strong effort by McAnelly's team that wasn't rewarded with a win. "That's a top-10 … [Read more...] about Hawkettes lose another heartbreaker, fall to No. 9 Urbandale in OT
Centennial boys maintain league lead; Dowling girls take over top spot
The race for the CIML Central Conference boys' basketball title could be turning into a two-team battle. Ankeny Centennial maintained sole possession of the league lead with a 50-29 victory over visiting Ames on Friday. Ankeny remained one game behind the Jaguars as Braxton Bayless scored the winning basket in the final seconds to give the Hawks a 65-63 … [Read more...] about Centennial boys maintain league lead; Dowling girls take over top spot
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Trent Frandson, Ankeny boys’ swimming
Junior Trent Frandson has helped the Ankeny boys' swimming team to a 6-1 dual record. He won all four of his events as the third-ranked Hawks posted an 86-84 victory at No. 6 Ames on Thursday. Frandson was named the state's swimmer of the year as a sophomore, when he won both the 200 and 500 freestyle events at the state meet to lead Ankeny to its first … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Trent Frandson, Ankeny boys’ swimming
Hawkettes pass ‘test of character’, but Valley girls escape with victory
After losing to its crosstown rival on Monday, the Ankeny girls' basketball team was anxious to get back on the court. The Hawkettes didn't have to wait too long. Ankeny hosted 15th-ranked Valley on Tuesday and battled the Class 5A defending state champion down to the wire before dropping a 62-59 decision. "It was good to try to get back in the … [Read more...] about Hawkettes pass ‘test of character’, but Valley girls escape with victory
Ankeny boys rebound from loss to Jaguars, rely on defense to beat Valley
There wasn't much time for the Ankeny boys' basketball team to prepare for Tuesday's game against visiting Valley. Still stinging from Monday's loss at sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial, the No. 9 Hawks bounced back with a hard-fought 55-45 victory that improved their record to 10-2. Valley dropped to 7-5. "It was just a grind-it-out win for us," said … [Read more...] about Ankeny boys rebound from loss to Jaguars, rely on defense to beat Valley
Jaguars avoid letdown, convert 30-of-33 free throws in win over North
Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball coach Bob Fontana was hoping that his team could avoid a letdown after Monday's huge victory over Ankeny. He should not have been worried. The sixth-ranked Jaguars returned to the court on Tuesday and defeated visiting Des Moines North, 85-74, in a non-conference game. They improved to 12-1 on the season, while … [Read more...] about Jaguars avoid letdown, convert 30-of-33 free throws in win over North
Centennial girls cruise to 80-23 victory over short-handed Polar Bears
Ankeny Centennial's Meg Burns picked up right where she left off on Monday. Burns scored 14 points while playing only the first 6 minutes of the game to lead the 10th-ranked Jaguars to an 80-23 victory over visiting Des Moines North on Tuesday. She went 5-for-5 from the field, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range. Burns had scored 19 points in a win … [Read more...] about Centennial girls cruise to 80-23 victory over short-handed Polar Bears
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Nike Coulthard, Ankeny wrestling
Nike Coulthard is a member of the Ankeny wrestling team. He has helped the Hawks to a 7-5 dual record. Coulthard filled in at 126 pounds during Ankeny's 40-23 loss to visiting Johnston on Thursday. He dropped a 5-3 decision to Aidan Honkomp. "Nike is a good kid," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "He is always there for us and works hard." Ankeny … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Nike Coulthard, Ankeny wrestling
Hawks crown 3 champs, earn 3rd-place finish overall at Bob Sharp Invitational
While Martin Luther King Jr. Day provided a day off for many people, that wasn't the case for the Ankeny wrestlers. The seventh-ranked Hawks hosted the Bob Sharp Invitational after Saturday's tournament was postponed until Monday due to inclement weather. Ten of the 13 teams that were originally slated to compete traveled to Ankeny for the rescheduled … [Read more...] about Hawks crown 3 champs, earn 3rd-place finish overall at Bob Sharp Invitational
DOUBLE TROUBLE: McCullough, Johnson lead Jaguars past Ankeny boys
A dynamic duo emerged for the Ankeny boys' basketball team on Monday. Ankeny Centennial's twin towers were just a little bit better. Post players Cody McCullough and Micah Johnson combined for 46 points and 33 rebounds against Ankeny's undersized squad to lead the sixth-ranked Jaguars to a 69-61 victory at Centennial. The No. 9 Hawks had won the last … [Read more...] about DOUBLE TROUBLE: McCullough, Johnson lead Jaguars past Ankeny boys
Burns leads the way at both ends as Centennial girls roll past Hawkettes
The Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team sometimes struggles to score. But the Jaguars' defense never seems to take a day off. On Monday, 10th-ranked Centennial excelled at both ends of the floor as the Jaguars cruised to a 57-29 victory over visiting Ankeny. "We had some possessions where we really locked into them well," said Centennial coach … [Read more...] about Burns leads the way at both ends as Centennial girls roll past Hawkettes
Centennial boys top Ankeny, take sole possession of Central Conference lead
The sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team moved into sole possession of first place in the CIML Central Conference with a 69-61 victory over No. 9 Ankeny on Monday at Centennial. Centennial entered the game tied atop the league standings with Ankeny and No. 10 Dowling Catholic. But the Jaguars received some help from Ames, which posted a … [Read more...] about Centennial boys top Ankeny, take sole possession of Central Conference lead
Local businesses raise $1,000 for Ankeny Athletic Booster Club
Several local businesses raised a total of $1,000 for the Ankeny Athletic Booster Club through a pair of tailgates in the fall. The tailgates were held before the Ankeny vs. Ankeny Centennial football game on Aug. 30 and before the Hawks' homecoming game against Des Moines Hoover on Oct. 4. These events were sponsored by Ankeny Fanatic, Gershman … [Read more...] about Local businesses raise $1,000 for Ankeny Athletic Booster Club
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Sam Kallem, Ankeny wrestling
Senior Sam Kallem has helped the seventh-ranked Ankeny wrestling team to a 7-5 dual record this season. He earned his 100th career victory during the Cliff Keen Invitational last month at Independence. Kallem posted a 34-13 record as a junior, when he placed seventh in the Class 3A state tournament at 132 pounds. He has committed to wrestle for Grand View … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Sam Kallem, Ankeny wrestling
Jaguars gear up for Monday’s showdown after pulling away to beat Urbandale
It would have been easy for the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team to overlook its opponent on Saturday. With a huge showdown against crosstown rival Ankeny looming on Monday, the fifth-ranked Jaguars broke away from a 25-25 halftime tie to post a 70-60 victory at Urbandale. It wasn't pretty, but Centennial improved to 4-1 in the CIML Central … [Read more...] about Jaguars gear up for Monday’s showdown after pulling away to beat Urbandale
Without Keahna-Harris, Centennial girls tumble to J-Hawks, Gyamfi sisters
The Urbandale girls' basketball team boasts an imposing front line led by sisters Jada and Maya Gyamfi. Unfortunately for Ankeny Centennial, the Jaguars didn't have their best post player to battle the J-Hawks on Saturday. Alexandria Keahna-Harris suffered a foot injury during Tuesday's overtime loss to second-ranked Johnston. She sat out as the No. 10 … [Read more...] about Without Keahna-Harris, Centennial girls tumble to J-Hawks, Gyamfi sisters