Friday's game against visiting Johnston wasn't a must-win situation for the Ankeny football team. But a loss would have been the Hawks' third in a row, and could have severely damaged their playoff hopes. Ankeny responded with a huge defensive effort to post a 16-10 victory over the Dragons, leaving both squads at 2-2 after the first four weeks of the … [Read more...] about ‘This was our coming out party’: Hawks’ defense fuels 16-10 win over Johnston
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‘Our kids fought their tails off’: Jaguars battle S.E. Polk to the wire in 24-21 loss
(Story by Gabe Ploeger) The Ankeny Centennial football team proved on Friday night that it can go toe-to-toe with the state's No. 1 squad. The fourth-ranked Jaguars battled two-time defending state champion Southeast Polk down to the wire before dropping a 24-21 decision to the host Rams. “Our kids fought their tails off," said Centennial co-head … [Read more...] about ‘Our kids fought their tails off’: Jaguars battle S.E. Polk to the wire in 24-21 loss
Hawk golfers edge Waukee schools in triangular, finish 6-2 in CIML Conference
Only three strokes separated the Ankeny boys' golf team from two of its CIML Conference rivals on Thursday at Otter Creek. Fortunately for the Hawks, they came out on top in the triangular meet. Fifth-ranked Ankeny posted a score of 297 to edge No. 13 Waukee by one stroke. No. 7 Waukee Northwest was another two shots back with a 300. The Hawks … [Read more...] about Hawk golfers edge Waukee schools in triangular, finish 6-2 in CIML Conference
‘We had a great day today!’: Jaguars beat No. 4 S.E. Polk, place 2nd at August Invite
For the second day in a row, the Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team took a big step forward. After shooting a season-best score on their home course Wednesday, the 12th-ranked Jaguars followed up with a second-place finish among 14 teams in the Joe August Invitational on Thursday at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown. The host Bobcats won the … [Read more...] about ‘We had a great day today!’: Jaguars beat No. 4 S.E. Polk, place 2nd at August Invite
Centennial golfers shoot 303 on their home course for best score of season
The Ankeny Centennial boys' golf team posted its best score of the season Wednesday during a triangular meet at Briarwood Golf Club. The 15th-ranked Jaguars shot a 303 on their home course, topping their previous best by three strokes. They lost to No. 9 Valley, which shot a 295, but easily defeated Urbandale, which finished with a 365. "I am very … [Read more...] about Centennial golfers shoot 303 on their home course for best score of season
‘We knew it was going to be a battle’: Jags drop first set, then rally past Valley
Anna Sash and the other seniors on the Ankeny Centennial volleyball team had some business to take care of before getting a two-week break in the middle of the season. Sash had four kills and three blocks as the second-ranked Jaguars celebrated their Senior Night on Tuesday by posting a 21-25, 25-14, 25-9, 25-19 victory over No. 8 Valley in a CIML … [Read more...] about ‘We knew it was going to be a battle’: Jags drop first set, then rally past Valley
Centennial girls edge Hawkettes by 4 points to defend crown at Karpan Invite
Only one spot separates the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial girls' cross country teams in the latest Class 3A rankings from the Iowa Association of Track Coaches. Tuesday's Tom Karpan Invitational at Valley Southwoods Freshman High School showed that there isn't much of a gap between the two squads. Sixth-ranked Centennial edged No. 5 Ankeny by four … [Read more...] about Centennial girls edge Hawkettes by 4 points to defend crown at Karpan Invite
‘This was our best meet’: Ankeny tankers make progress in 125-61 loss to Dowling
The final score of Tuesday's dual meet at Trail Point Aquatics Center was deceiving. Even though the Dowling Catholic girls' swimming team posted a 125-61 victory over host Ankeny, coach Dustin Rhoads was happy with his team's performance. "This was our best meet as a whole so far," said Rhoads. "I am pleased with how we raced, and the times we put up … [Read more...] about ‘This was our best meet’: Ankeny tankers make progress in 125-61 loss to Dowling
‘It’s not a course you can fake your way around’: Hawks, Jags struggle at Veenker
One of the state's toughest courses proved to be a formidable challenge for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial boys' golf teams on Monday. The seventh-ranked Hawks placed seventh among 18 teams in the Turk Bowman Invitational at Veenker Golf Course in Ames. They posted a score of 322, their highest of the season. "It was not a very good day for us," … [Read more...] about ‘It’s not a course you can fake your way around’: Hawks, Jags struggle at Veenker
‘It was just a rough go’: Ailing Hawkettes post 3-2 record at Found Invitational
It's a good time for the Ankeny volleyball team to regroup. The third-ranked Hawkettes went 3-2 on Saturday in the Caroline Found Invitational at Iowa City West. They will have a week off before returning to the court on Saturday at the Waukee Invitational. "I think the timing is going to benefit us so we can heal up and get back to 100 percent," said … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a rough go’: Ailing Hawkettes post 3-2 record at Found Invitational
Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Elijah Porter, Ankeny Centennial football
Senior running back Elijah Porter ran 13 times for 128 yards and caught five passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns to help the Ankeny Centennial football team to a 42-13 victory over sixth-ranked Cedar Falls on Friday at Ankeny Stadium. He has helped the Jaguars to a 2-1 record. Porter leads the team in rushing with 315 yards on 35 carries, despite … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Elijah Porter, Ankeny Centennial football
Jaguars knock off Indianola to win Metro Classic title, avenge season-opening loss
Bouncing back from Tuesday's loss to top-ranked Dowling Catholic, the No. 2 Ankeny Centennial volleyball team cruised to the championship of the Metro Classic on Saturday at Southeast Polk. The Jaguars claimed the title with a 25-14, 25-20 win over Indianola, the No. 2 team in Class 4A. It was the first loss of the season for the Indians (16-1), who had … [Read more...] about Jaguars knock off Indianola to win Metro Classic title, avenge season-opening loss
‘We just have to start faster’: Hawks dig big hole in 35-14 loss to Dowling
(Story by Gabe Ploeger) The Ankeny Hawks were once again staring face-to-face with one of the state's top teams. Coming off a 58-21 loss to Southeast Polk, the Hawks had to travel to Valley Stadium on Friday to play second-ranked Dowling Catholic. Things didn't get any easier. Ra'Shawd Davis ran 36 times for 242 yards and three touchdowns to … [Read more...] about ‘We just have to start faster’: Hawks dig big hole in 35-14 loss to Dowling
Smith passes for school-record 6 TDs, leads Jaguars to rout over Cedar Falls
Ankeny Centennial's Trenton Smith still remembers walking off the UNI-Dome field after a first-round loss to Cedar Falls in last year's Class 5A football playoffs. "That (game) was definitely in the back of our minds this whole week," said Smith. "It was a pretty sour loss, and I think all of our guys kind of rallied. They knew this was a statement game, … [Read more...] about Smith passes for school-record 6 TDs, leads Jaguars to rout over Cedar Falls
Ankeny squads place 3rd at Bobcat Invitational; Zuber earns 2nd straight win
The Ankeny cross country teams earned a pair of third-place finishes in the Bobcat Invitational on Thursday at Marshalltown Community College. Top-ranked Johnston won the girls' crown with 94 points, edging No. 11 Dallas Center-Grimes by five points. No. 5 Ankeny and No. 2 Dubuque Hempstead both finished with 116 points in the 18-team field, but the … [Read more...] about Ankeny squads place 3rd at Bobcat Invitational; Zuber earns 2nd straight win
‘A lot of people had to step up’: Ankeny swimmers hold on for win at Newton
The Ankeny girls' swimming team won the final event, the 400 freestyle relay, to hold on for an 87-83 victory at Newton in a non-conference dual meet on Thursday. Ankeny raised its overall record to 3-1 on the season. "It was an interesting meet," said Ankeny coach Dustin Rhoads. "We were kind of sluggish from the start. It was a short-course meters … [Read more...] about ‘A lot of people had to step up’: Ankeny swimmers hold on for win at Newton
Mohrhauser, Schermerhorn sweep individual titles at C.R. Kennedy Invite
Ankeny Centennial swept the individual titles in the Cedar Rapids Kennedy Invitational on Thursday at the Seminole Valley cross country course. Anika Mohrhauser won the girls' 5k race in a time of 18 minutes 19 seconds. She led the sixth-ranked Jaguars to a second-place finish in the 16-team field. AJ Schermerhorn then won the boys' race in 15:13, … [Read more...] about Mohrhauser, Schermerhorn sweep individual titles at C.R. Kennedy Invite
Hawk golfers shoot 306 at home invite, edge Jaguars by 1 stroke for 5th place
Wednesday's Ankeny Invitational at Otter Creek showed the Ankeny boys' golf team just how difficult it is to post a low score from one day to the next. After shooting a total of 277 on Tuesday at Willow Creek, the seventh-ranked Hawks struggled to a fifth-place finish among 11 teams in their home tournament 24 hours later. They finished with a score of … [Read more...] about Hawk golfers shoot 306 at home invite, edge Jaguars by 1 stroke for 5th place
‘It was just a complete team effort’: Ankeny outlasts No. 5 Dragons in 5 sets
There's a reason why the top five teams in the Class 5A volleyball rankings are from the CIML Conference. On any given night, a squad that is unprepared for its CIML opponent can easily suffer a defeat. "Honestly, it's hard to call any match an upset because if you are just slightly off with any pieces of your 'A' game, you're going to lose," said … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a complete team effort’: Ankeny outlasts No. 5 Dragons in 5 sets
Dowling Catholic rallies past Centennial to win volleyball showdown in 5 sets
The Ankeny Centennial volleyball players appeared to run out of gas during Tuesday's 1 vs. 2 showdown against Dowling Catholic. The top-ranked Maroons rallied for a 19-25, 27-25, 26-28, 25-18, 15-11 victory at No. 2 Centennial. They avenged a five-set loss to the Jaguars in last year's Class 5A quarterfinals. "I think the fourth set we kind of got off … [Read more...] about Dowling Catholic rallies past Centennial to win volleyball showdown in 5 sets