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Jay Groth

‘They’re hard to beat’: Centennial wrestlers fall to No. 1 Rams in regular-season finale

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The 21st-ranked Ankeny Centennial wrestling team closed out the regular season on Thursday with a 72-5 loss at No. 1 Southeast Polk. With little at stake and the postseason beginning next week, Centennial coach Jay Groth rested some of his varsity regulars. "There was nothing to gain by having them out there," said Groth. "So we played it pretty close … [Read more...] about ‘They’re hard to beat’: Centennial wrestlers fall to No. 1 Rams in regular-season finale

Dhabolt drops 4-2 decision to Carlisle’s Miller in matchup of defending champs

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The road to another state title for Ankeny Centennial wrestling star Max Dhabolt won't be an easy one. The top-ranked Dhabolt suffered his first loss of the season on Saturday, dropping a 4-2 decision to No. 2 Jaxon Miller of Carlisle in the 175-pound final at the Ed Winger Invitational in Urbandale. Miller, who won a Class 3A state championship at 165 … [Read more...] about Dhabolt drops 4-2 decision to Carlisle’s Miller in matchup of defending champs

Dhabolt returns to Centennial lineup, helps Jags post 3-3 mark at Osage Duals

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After dropping its first three duals on Saturday, the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team rebounded with a trio of victories at the Osage Duals to finish the day with a .500 mark. The Jaguars are now 6-11 on the season. "I was pleased that after losing the first three we didn't get down on ourselves and let that negative momentum drag us down," said … [Read more...] about Dhabolt returns to Centennial lineup, helps Jags post 3-3 mark at Osage Duals

‘It was a fun time’: Vandermark’s technical fall seals Jaguars’ victory on Senior Night

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Ankeny Centennial's Cale Vandermark stepped onto his home wrestling mat Thursday for the final time. The three-time state placewinner will never forget his Senior Night. Vandermark sealed the Jaguars' 41-36 victory over 21st-ranked Waukee with a technical fall over Koye Gericke at 126 pounds. He racked up several takedowns before closing out the 23-7 … [Read more...] about ‘It was a fun time’: Vandermark’s technical fall seals Jaguars’ victory on Senior Night

Rathjen leads Hawks to 5th-place finish at Mendenhall Invite; Centennial takes 9th

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Both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial wrestling teams had multiple placewinners in the Jack Mendenhall Invitational on Saturday at Ames. The Hawks placed fifth in the 15-team field with 141.5 points. They had nine top-eight finishers. Centennial, meanwhile, took ninth with 83.5 points. The Jaguars had six placewinners. "We didn't bring a full group, … [Read more...] about Rathjen leads Hawks to 5th-place finish at Mendenhall Invite; Centennial takes 9th

Bogseth’s win seals Jaguars’ victory over Clear Creek Amana at Dion Cobb Duals

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers finished with a 1-3 record in the Dion Cobb Duals on Saturday at Valley. The Jaguars' lone win came against Clear Creek Amana, 39-37, in their third dual of the day. Brandon Bogseth posted an 11-1 major decision over Dylan Schrock at 215 pounds to seal the victory, giving Centennial a 39-31 lead with just one match … [Read more...] about Bogseth’s win seals Jaguars’ victory over Clear Creek Amana at Dion Cobb Duals

Vandermark captures 4th straight title at Miller Invite; Sodergren also wins crown

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Ankeny Centennial wrestling standout Cale Vandermark captured a fourth consecutive title in the Don Miller Invitational on Saturday at Fort Dodge, where he helped the Jaguars to a sixth-place finish in the 11-team field. Vandermark, who is ranked No. 1 at 126 pounds in Class 3A, posted a 2-1 decision over No. 9 Matthew Tran of Iowa City West in the finals … [Read more...] about Vandermark captures 4th straight title at Miller Invite; Sodergren also wins crown

‘We need to get tougher’: Jaguars tumble to 0-4 with 57-15 loss to No. 2 Dowling

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) It’s safe to say that the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers haven’t seen the start to the season that they were hoping for. The Jaguars have been struggling in a battle with injuries and have now dropped their first four CIML Conference duals of the season  after Dowling Catholic handed them a 57-15 defeat on Thursday at … [Read more...] about ‘We need to get tougher’: Jaguars tumble to 0-4 with 57-15 loss to No. 2 Dowling

‘We’ve got a lot of work to do’: Jags build 34-3 lead before Urbandale rallies to win

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers still have a lot of work to do. The eighth-ranked Jaguars appeared to be on the verge of their first dual-meet victory on Tuesday, when they built a 34-3 advantage through the first eight matches at Urbandale. But the J-Hawks then mounted a huge rally, sweeping the last six weights to post a 39-34 win. "We got pinned … [Read more...] about ‘We’ve got a lot of work to do’: Jags build 34-3 lead before Urbandale rallies to win

Hawks place 6th at Baltzley Invite behind champion Walsh, while Jaguars finish 13th

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It didn't take long for Ankeny wrestler Ben Walsh to get into midseason form. After making his season debut two nights earlier, the fifth-ranked Walsh cruised to the 126-pound title in the Frank Baltzley Invitational on Saturday at Johnston. He posted a 10-3 decision over Lou Elsten of Lawrence (Kan.) in the title match. "Sometimes when you have a kid … [Read more...] about Hawks place 6th at Baltzley Invite behind champion Walsh, while Jaguars finish 13th

‘We’re heading in right direction’: Hawks top Centennial for 2nd consecutive year

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With two of their stalwarts back in the lineup, the Ankeny wrestlers defeated their crosstown rival for the second consecutive year. The Hawks traveled across town to Ankeny Centennial on Thursday and posted a 40-28 victory, getting a pair of pins from returning state placewinners Ben Walsh and Calvin Rathjen. "It was nice having both Ben and Calvin … [Read more...] about ‘We’re heading in right direction’: Hawks top Centennial for 2nd consecutive year

Ankeny, Centennial wrestlers hoping to get healthy for Jag vs. Hawk showdown

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With the Jag-Hawk wrestling dual meet coming up on Thursday at Ankeny Centennial, both teams are still trying to get to full strength. It's been a rough start to the season for the Jaguars, who placed 14th among 15 teams in the Keith Young Invitational on Saturday at Cedar Falls. Defending state champion Max Dhabolt has yet to wrestle, and neither have … [Read more...] about Ankeny, Centennial wrestlers hoping to get healthy for Jag vs. Hawk showdown

‘I liked the way we fought’: Depleted Jags open season with 53-21 loss at Northwest

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(Story by Stephen McDaniel) The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers saw their team's season come to an end a year ago at the hands of Waukee Northwest after winning the previous matchup. Now, the Jaguars hope to flip the script in the 2025-26 season. Centennial traveled to Northwest on Thursday and won just four of the 14 matches with three falls in a 53-21 … [Read more...] about ‘I liked the way we fought’: Depleted Jags open season with 53-21 loss at Northwest

Jags return state champ Dhabolt, runner-up Vandermark, placewinner Sodergren

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During his tenure as the head coach of the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers, Jay Groth has built a program that embodies hard work and toughness. That culture has led to a lot of success in the 12-year history of the program, but even Groth admits that it's not easy to be a Jaguar wrestler. "We have lost a few kids this season because wrestling is a hard … [Read more...] about Jags return state champ Dhabolt, runner-up Vandermark, placewinner Sodergren

‘I had to prove everybody wrong again’: Dhabolt wins Class 3A title at 157 pounds

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The title drought is over for the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers. In their seventh appearance in a Class 3A championship match, the Jaguars finally got an individual state championship on Saturday night courtesy of sophomore Max Dhabolt, who became the first boy in school history to capture a crown. "Oh my gosh, it's been a long time coming," said … [Read more...] about ‘I had to prove everybody wrong again’: Dhabolt wins Class 3A title at 157 pounds

Jaguars move into 8th place, will have 4 placewinners along with Ankeny wrestlers

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Ankeny Centennial wrestling coach Jay Groth has vowed to get a tattoo the first time a Jaguar wins an individual state title. Now, it's possible that he might have to get two. Centennial's Cale Vandermark and Max Dhabolt both advanced to Saturday's championship matches by recording technical falls in the semifinal round of the Class 3A tournament on … [Read more...] about Jaguars move into 8th place, will have 4 placewinners along with Ankeny wrestlers

Hawks surge into 8th place, advance 2 to semifinals along with Centennial duo

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Ankeny wrestling coach Jack Wignall was left speechless by his team's performance on Thursday morning. The Hawks won 12 of 14 matches on the second day of the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena, allowing them to catapult from 15th in the team standings into eighth place with 60.5 points. They recorded seven pins and two technical falls along … [Read more...] about Hawks surge into 8th place, advance 2 to semifinals along with Centennial duo

Jaguars advance 4 wrestlers to Thursday’s quarterfinals, while Ankeny duo moves on

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Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny advanced a total of six wrestlers into Thursday's quarterfinal round of the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The Jaguars won eight of 13 matches on Wednesday and are currently in seventh place in the team standings with 32.5 points. They advanced second-seeded Cale Vandermark at 120 pounds, No. 6 … [Read more...] about Jaguars advance 4 wrestlers to Thursday’s quarterfinals, while Ankeny duo moves on