Ankeny Fanatic

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Jack Wignall

Jaguars crown 4 champs, top Ankeny for 5th straight Bob Sharp title

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Ben Monroe and the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers once again walked out of the Ankeny High School gym with the Bob Sharp Invitational championship trophy. For Monroe and his teammates, however, there are bigger goals on the horizon. "We wanted to win the tournament, but the real goal is to win a state dual team and traditional state title," said Monroe, … [Read more...] about Jaguars crown 4 champs, top Ankeny for 5th straight Bob Sharp title

Hawks’ new lineup produces 5 pins, but Johnston holds on for 35-34 victory

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall unveiled a new lineup on Thursday at Johnston. Despite producing five falls and a major decision, the Hawks didn't do quite enough to pull out a victory. Johnston, the No. 13 team in the Class 3A dual rankings, won eight of the 14 matches to edge No. 18 Ankeny, 35-34. The Dragons sealed the win when Harrison Pauley … [Read more...] about Hawks’ new lineup produces 5 pins, but Johnston holds on for 35-34 victory

Rathjen, Anderson make huge statements; Hawks finish 2nd at Ames

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Ankeny's Caleb Rathjen made another huge statement during the Jack Mendenhall Invitational on Saturday at Ames. Trever Anderson made one of his own for the Hawks. Rathjen and Anderson each captured an individual title to lead the eighth-ranked Ankeny wrestlers to a runner-up finish in the 18-team tournament. The Hawks racked up 158 points, finishing 23 … [Read more...] about Rathjen, Anderson make huge statements; Hawks finish 2nd at Ames

Hawk wrestlers move into rankings, then throttle Urbandale

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The Ankeny wrestling team is beginning to earn some respect across the state. The Hawks moved into the No. 8 spot in Class 3A in the latest state tournament rankings by The Predicament. They are one spot ahead of crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial, even though the Jaguars posted a 48-25 victory over Ankeny last month. "I'm just glad our team is showing … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers move into rankings, then throttle Urbandale

Backups play key role in Hawk wrestlers’ victory over Ames

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Despite having several starters out of the lineup, the Ankeny wrestling team still rolled to an impressive victory on Tuesday. The Hawks recorded six pins and easily defeated visiting Ames, 55-18, in a CIML Central Conference dual meet. They improved to 1-1 in the league and 6-5 overall heading into the holiday break. "It was great to see some other … [Read more...] about Backups play key role in Hawk wrestlers’ victory over Ames

Jaguars earn bragging rights with 48-25 victory over Ankeny

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A few months ago, Logan Neils helped the Ankeny Centennial football team to a 20-0 victory over Ankeny. On Thursday, Neils sparked the Jaguars to another win over their crosstown rival--this time on the wrestling mat. He recorded a technical fall in the opening match at 160 pounds and ninth-ranked Centennial went on to post a 48-25 triumph over the … [Read more...] about Jaguars earn bragging rights with 48-25 victory over Ankeny

Hawks, Jaguars ready for showdown on the mat

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Last Friday, Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial collided on the basketball court at Ankeny, where the Jaguars pulled away to win the girls' game before the Hawks used a fast start to win the boys' matchup. On Thursday, the crosstown rivalry will move to the wrestling mat. Ninth-ranked Centennial (7-0) will host Ankeny (2-1) in the CIML Central Conference opener … [Read more...] about Hawks, Jaguars ready for showdown on the mat

Hawks split double dual against No. 1 S.E. Polk, D.M. Lincoln

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The Ankeny wrestling team bounced back from a loss to Southeast Polk with a victory over host Des Moines Lincoln in a double dual meet on Thursday. The Hawks dropped a 54-14 decision to Southeast Polk, the No. 1 team in Class 3A. They then posted a 47-26 win over Lincoln to improve their record to 2-1 on the season. "Southeast Polk is good, but it was … [Read more...] about Hawks split double dual against No. 1 S.E. Polk, D.M. Lincoln

Caleb Rathjen, Gray lead AHS matmen to 8th-place finish at Keen Invitational

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The Ankeny wrestling team competed in one of the toughest tournaments in the Midwest on Friday and Saturday at Independence. The Hawks placed eighth among 32 teams in the prestigious Cliff Keen Invitational. They finished with 227 points. Christian Brothers College (Mo.) won the team title with 299 points. Scott West (Minn.) was the runner-up with … [Read more...] about Caleb Rathjen, Gray lead AHS matmen to 8th-place finish at Keen Invitational

Hawk wrestlers win 11 of 14 matches, cruise to victory over Mason City

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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

Experienced Hawk wrestlers have ‘tough kids up and down the lineup’

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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’

Ankeny wrestlers headed to Cadet and Junior National Championships

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  Four wrestlers from Ankeny will be competing in the 2018 Cadet and Junior National Championships in Fargo, N.D., beginning on Saturday. It is the premiere youth tournament in the United States. Trever Anderson, a freshman-to-be at Ankeny High School, has qualified in the Cadet Division along with Caleb Rathjen, an incoming sophomore at … [Read more...] about Ankeny wrestlers headed to Cadet and Junior National Championships

Valley’s Oldham edges Rathjen in seesaw battle for state title

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On Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena, Caleb Rathjen was 2 minutes away from winning his first state wrestling title. Now, the Ankeny freshman will have to wait 365 days to get another shot at winning a crown. Valley's top-ranked Nick Oldham rallied in the third period to beat the second-ranked Rathjen, 10-8, in the Class 3A championship match at 113 … [Read more...] about Valley’s Oldham edges Rathjen in seesaw battle for state title

Neils earns 4th-place finish for Jaguars; Anderson takes 7th for Hawks

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Ankeny senior Spencer Anderson closed out his wrestling career in style. Ankeny Centennial sophomore Logan Neils showed that his career is just beginning to blossom. Neils earned a fourth-place finish at 160 pounds in the Class 3A state tournament on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. Anderson finished seventh at 132 with a 9-7 decision over 10th-ranked … [Read more...] about Neils earns 4th-place finish for Jaguars; Anderson takes 7th for Hawks

Ankeny’s Rathjen, Anderson advance to Friday’s quarterfinals

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall didn't want to spend too much time on the mat on Thursday afternoon. Thanks to strong performances by Caleb Rathjen and Spencer Anderson, he didn't have to. Both of Ankeny's state qualifiers won their first-round matches in the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena, allowing Wignall to spend the rest of the … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Rathjen, Anderson advance to Friday’s quarterfinals

Centennial, Ankeny wrestlers boast high hopes heading into state

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Ankeny Centennial's eight state wrestling qualifiers aren't content with just making it to Wells Fargo Arena. Neither are the two qualifiers from Ankeny High School. "We're happy that we qualified, but we're not satisfied," said Centennial coach Jay Groth, whose team advanced the most wrestlers in the five-year history of the school. "We want to get up … [Read more...] about Centennial, Ankeny wrestlers boast high hopes heading into state

Ankeny’s Caleb Rathjen, Spencer Anderson capture district titles, punch ticket to state

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After being placed in a tough district, Ankeny advanced only two wrestlers to this week's state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Caleb Rathjen at 113 pounds and Spencer Anderson at 132 each won an individual title for the Hawks, who placed fourth among the eight teams in a Class 3A district tournament on Saturday at Waukee. They finished with 171.5 … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Caleb Rathjen, Spencer Anderson capture district titles, punch ticket to state

No. 1 Fort Dodge wrestlers ‘flex their muscle’ in victory over Hawks

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After avenging one of its dual-meet losses, the Ankeny wrestlers were hoping to avenge another one while earning a trip to next week's state duals tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Unfortunately, top-ranked Fort Dodge had some other ideas. The Dodgers won eight of the last nine matches, all of them by falls, and rolled to a 58-18 victory over No. 17 … [Read more...] about No. 1 Fort Dodge wrestlers ‘flex their muscle’ in victory over Hawks

Hawk wrestlers rout Roosevelt, then slip past Carlisle

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The Ankeny wrestling team closed out the regular season on Thursday with a pair of victories in a double dual meet at Des Moines Roosevelt. The Hawks rolled to a 73-3 win over Roosevelt before posting a 42-32 triumph over Carlisle. They raised their record to 10-8 on the season. "It was a long night," said Ankeny coach Jack Wignall. "Some of our guys … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers rout Roosevelt, then slip past Carlisle