Ankeny Fanatic

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Jack Wignall

‘It’s a pretty good feeling’: Kingston, Hawk matmen top Jags to avenge football loss

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Ankeny heavyweight Joe Kingston hasn't forgotten what happened on the night of Sept. 3. That's when Kingston and the Ankeny football team suffered a 14-7 loss to Ankeny Centennial in what turned out to be one of the biggest upsets during the regular season. Kingston was determined not to let the same thing happen on the wrestling mat. The junior … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a pretty good feeling’: Kingston, Hawk matmen top Jags to avenge football loss

Ankeny wrestlers post 4-2 mark at Battle of Waterloo, place 6th among 32 teams

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall is excited about where his team is at heading into the holiday break. He's even more excited about where the Hawks are headed. Ankeny defeated four of its six opponents and placed sixth overall among 32 squads in the Battle of Waterloo on Friday and Saturday at Young Arena. The 10th-ranked Hawks are now 7-2 on the … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers post 4-2 mark at Battle of Waterloo, place 6th among 32 teams

Hawk matmen adjust their lineup, record 7 pins in 42-38 win at Waukee Northwest

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The Ankeny wrestling coaches devised a strategy to knock off Waukee Northwest in a matchup of two of the state's top teams. It paid off with a 42-38 victory on Thursday at Northwest. "The kids wrestled hard," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "It was really (assistant coach) Austin Anderson's idea to bump some of our guys up a weight. That was the only … [Read more...] about Hawk matmen adjust their lineup, record 7 pins in 42-38 win at Waukee Northwest

Anderson, Hansen claim titles, lead Hawk wrestlers to runner-up finish at Johnston

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Trever Anderson and Ben Hansen each won an individual title to lead the Ankeny wrestling team to a runner-up finish in the Frank Baltzley Invitational on Saturday at Johnston. JJ Maihan and Will Hinrichs each placed second at their respective weights for the seventh-ranked Hawks, who racked up 195 points to finish 10.5 points ahead of third-place … [Read more...] about Anderson, Hansen claim titles, lead Hawk wrestlers to runner-up finish at Johnston

SENIOR NIGHT SUCCESS: Hawk matmen finish strong to defeat Fort Dodge, 42-30

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The Ankeny wrestling team honored its seniors on Thursday night, including Trever Anderson, who was also recognized for earning his 100th career victory last weekend. The seventh-ranked Hawks opened their CIML Iowa Conference dual-meet schedule with a 42-30 triumph over visiting Fort Dodge. They improved their record to 2-0 on the season. "Overall, our … [Read more...] about SENIOR NIGHT SUCCESS: Hawk matmen finish strong to defeat Fort Dodge, 42-30

Anderson captures Donnybrook crown, leads Hawk wrestlers to 11th-place finish

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall wanted to challenge his team by entering the Dan Gable Donnybook. The 33-team tournament, which was held on Friday and Saturday at the Coralville XTREAM Arena, featured many of the top wrestlers across the Midwest. Ankeny's Trever Anderson showed that he belongs in that elite group with a dominating performance. … [Read more...] about Anderson captures Donnybrook crown, leads Hawk wrestlers to 11th-place finish

Hawk wrestlers win final 6 matches to post 43-29 victory over Valley in opener

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Trever Anderson has waited more than nine months to get back onto the wrestling mat. Now, he'll have to wait a few more hours. The two-time state champion won his first match of the season on Thursday via a forfeit as the seventh-ranked Ankeny wrestling team rallied from a 29-10 deficit to defeat visiting Valley, 43-29, in a non-conference dual … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers win final 6 matches to post 43-29 victory over Valley in opener

Two-time champ Anderson among 8 returning state qualifiers for Hawks

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Ankeny wrestler Trever Anderson has a chance to make some history this season. The senior could become the first three-time state champion ever produced by the city of Ankeny. "His goal was to be committed before the season started, and he did that by signing with (coach) Doug Schwab and the Northern Iowa Panthers," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. … [Read more...] about Two-time champ Anderson among 8 returning state qualifiers for Hawks

‘I ended up tearing my labrum in half’: Anderson recovering from surgery

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Two-time state wrestling champion Trever Anderson of Ankeny is recovering from shoulder surgery. Anderson, a junior, underwent surgery on March 29 to repair a torn labrum. "I ended up tearing my labrum in half," Anderson said following Monday's Jag-Hawk soccer game. "So they basically had to reconstruct it." Anderson injured his right shoulder on … [Read more...] about ‘I ended up tearing my labrum in half’: Anderson recovering from surgery

Blimpie Sub of the Week: Isaac O’Toole, Ankeny wrestling

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Isaac O'Toole is a member of the Ankeny wrestling team. He helped the Hawks to an 11-6 dual-meet record this season. "Isaac puts the team first," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "He’s a 106-pounder that wrestled 113, but also bumped up to wrestle 120…and he only weighs about 112. Whatever we asked from him, the answer was always, 'Yes!'. "He … [Read more...] about Blimpie Sub of the Week: Isaac O’Toole, Ankeny wrestling

‘It feels really good to prove them wrong again’: Anderson wins his 2nd state title

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For the last 12 months, Ankeny wrestler Trever Anderson has been motivated to erase the memory of last year's disappointing third-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament. He wasn't even going to let a bum shoulder get in his way. The top-ranked junior captured his second state title on Saturday with a 3-2 victory over No. 3 Chad Bellis of Dubuque … [Read more...] about ‘It feels really good to prove them wrong again’: Anderson wins his 2nd state title

Hawks flex their muscles, move into 5th place in Class 3A team standings

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Caleb Rathjen isn't talking to reporters, but he and the rest of the Ankeny wrestlers are doing plenty of talking on the mat. Rathjen and Trever Anderson both advanced to Saturday's championship round, Cael Cox and Cade Bennethum each won consolation matches to earn a top-six finish, and the eighth-ranked Hawks moved into fifth place in the Class 3A state … [Read more...] about Hawks flex their muscles, move into 5th place in Class 3A team standings

‘It’s pretty crazy what we’re doing right now’: Hawks advance 7 to quarterfinals

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Ankeny junior Trever Anderson fully expected to reach the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state wrestling tournament. He just didn't expect to have so many of his teammates along for the ride. The eighth-ranked Hawks advanced seven wrestlers to Friday's quarterfinals at Wells Fargo Arena. Two other Ankeny qualifiers stayed alive in the consolation … [Read more...] about ‘It’s pretty crazy what we’re doing right now’: Hawks advance 7 to quarterfinals

‘We finally got over that hump’: Hawks qualify record 10 wrestlers for state

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The Ankeny wrestling program has come a long way since the split into two high schools in 2013. In his first year as the team's head coach, Jack Wignall guided the Hawks to a 6-19 record. Only one of his wrestlers qualified for the state tournament. It took three more seasons before Ankeny finished with a winning mark. On Saturday, the eighth-ranked … [Read more...] about ‘We finally got over that hump’: Hawks qualify record 10 wrestlers for state

State champs return to lineup as Hawks tumble to Norwalk in regional final

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Ankeny wrestlers Trever Anderson and Caleb Rathjen could have waited a few more days before getting back onto the mat. The duo decided that they were ready to compete. Both Anderson and Rathjen are nursing injuries, but they returned to the lineup on Wednesday as the ninth-ranked Hawks traveled to Norwalk for the Class 3A regional duals. They sat out … [Read more...] about State champs return to lineup as Hawks tumble to Norwalk in regional final

Ankeny’s Wignall named Class 3A Central District Coach of the Year

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall has been named the Class 3A Central District Coach of the Year by the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association. Wignall is a finalist for the state's Class 3A Coach of the Year, which will be awarded at the state tournament later this month. Wignall has guided Ankeny to a 10-5 dual record this season. The … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Wignall named Class 3A Central District Coach of the Year

Centennial wrestlers capture Iowa Conference crown on Wells’ pin

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There was a lot at stake when Ankeny Centennial's Jackie Wells and Ankeny's Will Hinrichs took the mat for the championship match at 195 pounds in the CIML Iowa Conference wrestling tournament on Friday night. Wells didn't know it, but the outcome of the whole tournament was on the line. The Centennial senior got a pin in 3 minutes 35 seconds, allowing … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers capture Iowa Conference crown on Wells’ pin

Hawks defend their Dave Ewing Duals title on Jace Anderson’s win in OT

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Jace Anderson picked a good time to make his return to the wrestling mat. The Ankeny sophomore won all three of his matches on Saturday at the Dave Ewing Duals, including a 7-5 overtime victory against Independence's Tyler Trumblee to give the Hawks a 35-32 win in the championship round of the tournament. "He hasn't been on the mat much (due to a … [Read more...] about Hawks defend their Dave Ewing Duals title on Jace Anderson’s win in OT