Four of the state's top 10 boys' swimming teams were in action on Saturday at the Mike Wittmer Invitational in Ames. Fifth-ranked Ankeny placed second in the six-team field with 230 points. The Hawks won six of the 11 events. No. 2 Ames captured the team title for the third straight year, racking up 330 points. No. 7 Johnston and No. 9 Cedar Falls … [Read more...] about Short-handed Hawk swimmers place 2nd at Wittmer Invitational
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Centennial’s Pieper selected to play for U-17 U.S. National Team
Ankeny Centennial junior Lucas Pieper got some unexpected news earlier this week. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound defensive end has been selected to play for the U-17 U.S. National Team and will compete in International Bowl X in January at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. "I was honestly pretty excited and shocked," said … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Pieper selected to play for U-17 U.S. National Team
Hoover boys top Jaguars on Treadwell’s last-second 3-pointer
Des Moines Hoover's Hosea Treadwell pulled up at the top of the key and lofted a shot over the outstretched arm of Ankeny Centennial defender Cody McCullough. Swish. Treadwell made a 3-point goal with 1 second left to give the Huskies a 42-39 victory in a CIML boys' basketball game on Friday at Hoover. "I got my left hand up," said McCullough. "It … [Read more...] about Hoover boys top Jaguars on Treadwell’s last-second 3-pointer
Burns sits out with injury as Centennial girls rout Huskies
Ten different players scored for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team in an 84-24 victory at Des Moines Hoover on Friday. Unfortunately, junior guard Meg Burns wasn't one of them. Burns sat on the bench in street clothes as she continues to battle a lingering foot injury that she suffered in July. "Her foot's just been bad, and it needs to … [Read more...] about Burns sits out with injury as Centennial girls rout Huskies
Hawk swimmers win all 11 events en route to victory over Roosevelt
Some of the best races on Thursday at Trail Point Aquatics Center were between teammates on the Ankeny boys' swimming squad. The Hawks won all 11 events and rolled to a 110-60 victory over visiting Des Moines Roosevelt. They swept the top three places in the 100 butterfly and took the top two spots in two other events. "I think that the hard work the … [Read more...] about Hawk swimmers win all 11 events en route to victory over Roosevelt
Jaguars edge defending state champs on Pruisner’s takedown in final second
Lane Pruisner crouched on the wrestling mat and waited for the referees to make a call. "No doubt, I thought I had a takedown," Pruisner said. The Ankeny Centennial heavyweight was tied with Fort Dodge's Logan Finowski, 2-2, as the final seconds of their match ticked off the clock during Thursday's season-opening dual meet at Centennial. Pruisner then … [Read more...] about Jaguars edge defending state champs on Pruisner’s takedown in final second
Hawk wrestlers win 11 of 14 matches, cruise to victory over Mason City
Thursday's season-opening dual meet went about the way that Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall expected. The Hawks won 11 of the 14 matches and rolled to a 61-17 victory over visiting Mason City, which had four open weights. "We were hoping to win a couple of other matches that didn't go our way, but we knew (Mason City) had some holes in their … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers win 11 of 14 matches, cruise to victory over Mason City
Bayless, Ankeny boys outlast Locure, Polar Bears in thriller
The wait was worth it for Braxton Bayless. The 6-foot-1 junior guard finally made his debut for the Ankeny boys' basketball team on Tuesday, and he led the Hawks to a thrilling victory. Bayless, who sat out last season after transferring to Ankeny from Valley, scored 24 points as the Hawks opened their season with an 85-78 triumph over visiting Des … [Read more...] about Bayless, Ankeny boys outlast Locure, Polar Bears in thriller
Balanced scoring helps Hawkettes to easy victory over North
For the second time in two nights, the Ankeny girls' basketball team had a balanced scoring attack, putting three players in double figures. This time, it resulted in a win. The Hawkettes bounced back from Monday's loss at Mason City with a 63-24 victory over visiting Des Moines North on Tuesday. They raised their record to 2-1 on the season. "The … [Read more...] about Balanced scoring helps Hawkettes to easy victory over North
No. 1 S.E. Polk starts fast, hands Jaguars their first loss
A slow start proved costly for the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team on Tuesday. Or, maybe, it was just a fast start by Southeast Polk. The top-ranked Rams jumped out to a 23-10 lead in the first quarter and led all the way en route to a 51-44 victory at No. 10 Centennial. The Jaguars dropped to 2-1 on the season. "They came out on fire--they … [Read more...] about No. 1 S.E. Polk starts fast, hands Jaguars their first loss
Blimpie Sub of the Week: Bella Robben, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball
Bella Robben of the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team is the Ankeny Fanatic Sub of the Week sponsored by Blimpie. Robben, a sophomore guard, has helped the 10th-ranked Jaguars to a 2-1 record. She is averaging 3.3 points per game. Robben scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting in Centennial's season-opening 73-21 victory over visiting Fort Dodge … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Bella Robben, Ankeny Centennial girls’ basketball
Jaguars roll to season-opening win with ‘total team effort’
After losing its last two season openers, the Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team was determined to get off on the right foot. Thanks to a crucial 6-minute stretch, the Jaguars accomplished their goal. Centennial overcame an early deficit and then pulled away to defeat visiting Southeast Polk, 62-45, in its season opener on Tuesday. The Jaguars led … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll to season-opening win with ‘total team effort’
Experienced Hawk wrestlers have ‘tough kids up and down the lineup’
It has taken awhile for coach Jack Wignall to rebuild the Ankeny wrestling program following the split into two high schools. This could be the year that there's a huge payoff for the Hawks. Ankeny returns several varsity regulars from a team that posted an 11-9 record last year and placed 21st in the Class 3A state tournament with 26.5 points. "We … [Read more...] about Experienced Hawk wrestlers have ‘tough kids up and down the lineup’
Hawkettes look to rebound from Monday’s loss at Mason City
The Ankeny girls' basketball team won't have time to dwell on its first loss of the season. The Hawkettes, who dropped a 72-58 decision at Mason City on Monday, will be back on the court less than 24 hours later. They will host Des Moines North on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. Mason City, the No. 3 team in Class 4A, built a 40-27 halftime lead in Monday's game. … [Read more...] about Hawkettes look to rebound from Monday’s loss at Mason City
Centennial boys boast tall front line, inexperienced backcourt
The Ankeny Centennial boys' basketball team appears to be loaded with frontline players. The Jaguars could be a little thin in the backcourt, though, following the graduation of all-state guard Hunter Strait, who is now playing a key role as a freshman at Truman State. "Our returning players that played the most are all frontline players, so I would … [Read more...] about Centennial boys boast tall front line, inexperienced backcourt
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Kayla Pitz, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Junior guard Kayla Pitz scored five points and had six assists to help the Ankeny girls' basketball team to a 45-38 victory over 13th-ranked Des Moines East in its season opener on Tuesday at Ankeny. The Hawkettes will play at Mason City, the No. 3 team in Class 4A, on Monday. Pitz started every game for Ankeny as a sophomore, when she averaged 5.7 points … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Kayla Pitz, Ankeny girls’ basketball
Bluejays continue Big East dominance, will host USD in NCAA opener
Jaali Winters was a dominant volleyball player in high school at Ankeny Centennial. She's been just as dominant for Creighton as a collegiate player in the Big East Conference. Winters was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after leading the ninth-ranked Bluejays to their fifth consecutive Big East championship title on Saturday in Omaha. … [Read more...] about Bluejays continue Big East dominance, will host USD in NCAA opener
Jaguars dominate rebounding battle en route to 75-20 victory at Lincoln
If the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team misses a shot, there's a good chance that the Jaguars will grab an offensive rebound. That proved to be the case on Saturday afternoon at Des Moines Lincoln, where 10th-ranked Centennial won the battle of the boards, 43-12, and rolled to a 75-20 victory over the Railsplitters. "We were really strong on … [Read more...] about Jaguars dominate rebounding battle en route to 75-20 victory at Lincoln
Coach: Jaguars capable of bringing trophy home from state tournament
The Ankeny Centennial wrestling program has been making strides every year under coach Jay Groth, gradually increasing its win total from 10 in its inaugural season in 2013-14 to a school-record 22 victories last season. Now, the Jaguars may just have their best team yet. "We have very high expectations for this group," said Groth. "We have three … [Read more...] about Coach: Jaguars capable of bringing trophy home from state tournament
Talented Hawks look to become ‘most unselfish team in state’
There's a lot of excitement around this year's Ankeny boys' basketball team. The Hawks are coming off an 8-15 season a year ago, but that record is deceiving. The team got off to a 1-10 start that included six losses by five points or less, three of them in overtime. Ankeny went 6-4 to close out the regular season, then posted a 48-46 victory at Ames in a … [Read more...] about Talented Hawks look to become ‘most unselfish team in state’