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Jay Groth

Centennial’s Monroe, Neils, Leo earn crowns at Miller Invite

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers crowned three individual champions in the Don Miller Invitational on Saturday at Fort Dodge, where the Jaguars earned a second-place finish in the 12-team tournament. Top-ranked Ben Monroe at 132 pounds, third-ranked Logan Neils at 170 and fifth-ranked Nic Leo at 182 each captured an individual title. Teammate Lane Pruisner … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Monroe, Neils, Leo earn crowns at Miller Invite

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

Jaguars top Dowling, defend their title at Centennial Duals

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers turned in a dominating performance at the Centennial Duals on Saturday, winning all five of their matches by an average of 26 points. The ninth-ranked Jaguars posted a 46-21 victory over Dowling Catholic in the finals to capture the tournament title for the second straight year. They raised their record to 7-0 on the … [Read more...] about Jaguars top Dowling, defend their title at Centennial Duals

Jaguars roll past Ottumwa, will host Centennial Duals Saturday

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers spent more time on the bus Thursday than they did on the wrestling mat. The Jaguars traveled to Ottumwa for a dual meet against the Bulldogs, and they quickly rolled to a 60-18 victory, racking up nine falls along the way. Four of the pins came in the first period, including three that took less than a minute. "It wasn't … [Read more...] about Jaguars roll past Ottumwa, will host Centennial Duals Saturday

Jaguars crown 5 champions, defend their title at DC-Grimes tournament

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Ben Monroe is making a habit of winning an individual title at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational. The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers are doing likewise in the team race. Monroe captured his third consecutive crown on Saturday at the Dallas Center-Grimes tournament, four of his teammates also captured titles, and the ninth-ranked Jaguars easily … [Read more...] about Jaguars crown 5 champions, defend their title at DC-Grimes tournament

Jaguars edge defending state champs on Pruisner’s takedown in final second

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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

Coach: Jaguars capable of bringing trophy home from state tournament

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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

Monroe has no answers for Biscoglia Buzzsaw, earns repeat runner-up finish

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Ankeny Centennial's Ben Monroe ran into a proverbial buzzsaw on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. You might even call it a Biscoglia Buzzsaw. Waukee's top-ranked Kyle Biscoglia turned in a dominating performance to win his third state wrestling title, posting a 9-2 decision over the sixth-ranked Monroe in the Class 3A championship match at 120 … [Read more...] about Monroe has no answers for Biscoglia Buzzsaw, earns repeat runner-up finish

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, Centennial’s Monroe earn berths in Class 3A semifinals

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Ankeny's Caleb Rathjen and Ankeny Centennial's Ben Monroe are both headed to the Class 3A semifinals of the state wrestling tournament on Friday night. The second-ranked Rathjen pinned No. 7 Jakey Penrith of Cedar Falls in 3 minutes 11 seconds in a quarterfinal match at 113 pounds on Friday morning at Wells Fargo Arena. The freshman won for the 19th time … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Rathjen, Centennial’s Monroe earn berths in Class 3A semifinals

Jaguars advance duo to quarterfinals; 4 others alive in consolation bracket

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Six of Ankeny Centennial's eight state qualifiers are still alive following Thursday's opening session in the Class 3A state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Ben Monroe at 120 pounds and Logan Neils at 160, who are both ranked sixth at their respective weights, each won by a major decision in the first round. Four of their teammates then won … [Read more...] about Jaguars advance duo to quarterfinals; 4 others alive in consolation bracket

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

Centennial advances 8 wrestlers to state, the most in school history

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Jay Groth was hoping to advance all 14 of his Ankeny Centennial wrestlers to this week's state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. He'll have to settle for just eight. The Jaguars advanced the most qualifiers in school history while placing second in a Class 3A district tournament on Saturday at Dallas Center-Grimes. They racked up 227 points to finish … [Read more...] about Centennial advances 8 wrestlers to state, the most in school history

Jaguars earn rematch against Johnston, but then fall in regional final

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In just six days, the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team closed the gap considerably on fifth-ranked Johnston. The No. 9 Jaguars just didn't close it far enough. The Dragons advanced to next week's state duals tournament with a 35-30 victory over visiting Centennial in a Class 3A regional final on Wednesday. The Jaguars, who dropped a 44-22 decision at … [Read more...] about Jaguars earn rematch against Johnston, but then fall in regional final

Johnston wrestlers top Centennial, but Jaguars could get rematch at regional dual

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Ankeny Centennial wrestling coach Jay Groth wasn't too excited about Thursday's double dual meet at Johnston. The Jaguars ended the night with a matchup against fifth-ranked Johnston, even though the two teams will likely meet again in a Class 3A regional dual on Wednesday. "It wasn't ideal," Groth said. "Obviously, we were hoping to be one of the … [Read more...] about Johnston wrestlers top Centennial, but Jaguars could get rematch at regional dual

Neils captures CIML wrestling title, leads Jaguars to fifth-place finish

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Logan Neils made some history on Friday in the CIML Invitational at Southeast Polk. The 160-pound sophomore became the first Ankeny Centennial wrestler in the school's brief history to capture an individual conference title. After pinning his first three opponents, the fifth-ranked Neils posted a 3-0 decision over seventh-ranked Levi Egli of Fort Dodge in … [Read more...] about Neils captures CIML wrestling title, leads Jaguars to fifth-place finish

Hawks, Jaguars face difficult paths to state duals tournament

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The road to the Class 3A state duals tournament will be a difficult one for both the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial wrestling teams. The pairings for the regional duals were announced on Wednesday by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Both the Hawks and Jaguars will have to win two matches, one of them against a top-five opponent, to reach the state … [Read more...] about Hawks, Jaguars face difficult paths to state duals tournament

Valley wrestlers record 8 pins, roll to 51-22 victory over Jaguars

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Coming off an emotional week, the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers didn't have much energy left for Tuesday's dual meet at fourth-ranked Valley. The Jaguars won only five of the 14 matches and suffered a 51-22 loss in a CIML Central Conference matchup. Eight of the Tigers' nine victories came by fall. "We were pretty flat," said Centennial coach Jay Groth, … [Read more...] about Valley wrestlers record 8 pins, roll to 51-22 victory over Jaguars