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Jay Groth

Centennial wrestlers return trio of state qualifiers, several other veterans

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When the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team opens its season this week, the Jaguars will have some new faces in their lineup. Centennial graduated five state qualifiers from last year's team, including four-time qualifier Jackson Helmkamp and fellow two-time placewinner Carter Cahill. The Jaguars tied for 16th place in Class 3A with 34 points. "The … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers return trio of state qualifiers, several other veterans

Centennial’s Helmkamp, Cahill close out careers as two-time state placewinners

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Ankeny Centennial coach Jay Groth has been blessed with some talented wrestlers in his nine years at the school. He'll now have to say goodbye to two of the best that he has coached. Seniors Carter Cahill and Jackson Helmkamp closed out their high school careers on Saturday at the consolation finals of the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Helmkamp, Cahill close out careers as two-time state placewinners

Anderson earns shot at 3rd title; Hawks, Jaguars combine for 7 placewinners

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Trever Anderson is one win away from becoming the first three-time state wrestling champion in Ankeny High School history. The second-ranked Anderson defeated No. 3 Cale Seaton of Iowa City High, 3-1, in overtime in the 120-pound semifinals of the Class 3A state tournament on Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena. He got the winning takedown about 30 seconds … [Read more...] about Anderson earns shot at 3rd title; Hawks, Jaguars combine for 7 placewinners

Anderson moves closer to 3rd title; Bruhl, Helmkamp also advance to semifinals

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Two-time state champion Trever Anderson of Ankeny has advanced to the semifinals of the Class 3A state wrestling tournament along with the Ankeny Centennial duo of Lucas Bruhl and Jackson Helmkamp. The second-ranked Anderson posted a 15-4 major decision over No. 12 Braxten Westendorf of Waverly-Shell Rock in the quarterfinals at 120 pounds on Friday … [Read more...] about Anderson moves closer to 3rd title; Bruhl, Helmkamp also advance to semifinals

Five Hawk matmen, Centennial trio advance to Friday’s quarterfinals

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Eighth-ranked Ankeny advanced five wrestlers into Friday's quarterfinals in the Class 3A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial advanced three of its wrestlers into the quarterfinals. The Jaguars also have senior Cael Wiener alive in the consolation bracket. Both Ankeny and Centennial entered the tournament with seven … [Read more...] about Five Hawk matmen, Centennial trio advance to Friday’s quarterfinals

Hawks capture district crown; Runner-up Jags match Ankeny with 7 state qualifiers

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Saturday's Class 3A district wrestling tournament at Fort Dodge featured nine matches between Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial grapplers. The team title also came down to a battle between the crosstown rivals. In the end, eighth-ranked Ankeny captured the overall crown with 220 points, even though Centennial went 5-4 in its head-to-head matches against the … [Read more...] about Hawks capture district crown; Runner-up Jags match Ankeny with 7 state qualifiers

Centennial wrestlers top Norwalk at regional dual, then fall to No. 3 Wolves

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A week ago, the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team closed out the regular season with a 39-35 loss to Waukee Northwest. The two squads met again on Wednesday with a lot more at stake. In the final of a regional dual at Northwest, the third-ranked Wolves posted a 45-21 victory over No. 13 Centennial to qualify for the state duals tournament. "We didn't … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers top Norwalk at regional dual, then fall to No. 3 Wolves

Centennial wrestlers fall to Waukee NW, but could get rematch in regional duals

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Ankeny Centennial wrestling coach Jay Groth spent 19 years coaching at Des Moines Roosevelt before he left to begin the Jaguars' program in 2013. On Thursday, Groth returned to Roosevelt for the first time as Centennial's coach. The Jaguars opened a double dual meet with a 74-6 victory over Roosevelt, recording seven pins along the way. "I might … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers fall to Waukee NW, but could get rematch in regional duals

Hawks place 3rd, Jaguars finish 4th in final year of CIML’s 18-team tournament

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As the wrestling season heads into the home stretch, both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial are sitting in good positions. The two teams earned top-four finishes in the CIML Invitational on Friday at Johnston. This was the final year of the 18-team tournament before the CIML splits into two conferences next year. Eighth-ranked Ankeny placed third with 174 … [Read more...] about Hawks place 3rd, Jaguars finish 4th in final year of CIML’s 18-team tournament

Centennial, Ankeny girls achieve success on wrestling mat, look ahead to future

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It was a good weekend for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial female wrestlers. The future for the sport of girls' wrestling looks even brighter. While both Ankeny schools had some competitors in the girls' state tournament, the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union announced prior to the start of the championship round that it will begin sanctioning … [Read more...] about Centennial, Ankeny girls achieve success on wrestling mat, look ahead to future

‘I think we wrestled not to lose’: Jaguars tie for 10th place at Winger Invitational

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Saturday's Ed Winger Invitational at Urbandale featured some of the state's top wrestling teams. Ankeny Centennial may have given those squads too much respect. The Jaguars tied for 10th place in the 23-team field. They finished with 66.5 points along with Underwood, the No. 2 team in Class 1A. Top-ranked Southeast Polk won the tournament with 246.5 … [Read more...] about ‘I think we wrestled not to lose’: Jaguars tie for 10th place at Winger Invitational

Late rally allows Centennial wrestlers to edge No. 5 Fort Dodge, 36-32

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers rallied for a 36-32 victory over visiting Fort Dodge in a CIML Iowa Conference dual meet on Thursday. The fifth-ranked Dodgers held a 32-15 lead with four matches left, but Centennial then answered with four straight wins--including three falls--to pull out the win. The Jaguars improved to 4-1 in the league and 12-9 … [Read more...] about Late rally allows Centennial wrestlers to edge No. 5 Fort Dodge, 36-32

Groth earns 400th career victory as Jaguars top Clear Lake at Osage Duals

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Chalk up another accomplishment for Ankeny Centennial wrestling coach Jay Groth. Groth earned his 400th career victory during the Osage Duals on Saturday. He reached the milestone with a 56-16 victory over Clear Lake, which came against former Jaguars' assistant coach Evan Johnson. "That was nice, and it was nice of Osage to say something about it," … [Read more...] about Groth earns 400th career victory as Jaguars top Clear Lake at Osage Duals

Bennett ‘outfunks’ Bobcats’ Hageman, helps Centennial to 55-15 road triumph

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Ankeny Centennial wrestling coach Jay Groth describes senior Carter Bennett as a funky wrestler. On Thursday at Marshalltown, Bennett ran into a funky opponent. Bennett, who is ranked 12th in Class 3A at 138 pounds, moved up to 145 and posted a 17-8 major decision over Luke Hageman. The win helped the Jaguars to a 55-15 victory in a CIML Iowa … [Read more...] about Bennett ‘outfunks’ Bobcats’ Hageman, helps Centennial to 55-15 road triumph

‘We saw a lot of things that we need to work on’: Jaguars finish 16th at The Clash

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team got off to a good start in The Clash on Friday at LaCrosse, Wis. The rest of the tournament didn't go as well for the Jaguars. After opening the two-day event with a 42-25 victory over Glenbard North (Ill.), Centennial dropped its next two dual meets in the preliminary round. The Jaguars then lost to all three of … [Read more...] about ‘We saw a lot of things that we need to work on’: Jaguars finish 16th at The Clash

‘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

HOLY FORFEITS!: Jaguars capitalize on 10 open weights, roll to victory over Ames

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Any fans of the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team who showed up late for Tuesday's dual meet against visiting Ames may have missed it. The Jaguars remained unbeaten with a 72-9 victory, getting most of their points via forfeits. Only four of the 14 scheduled matches were actually contested. "The Ames coach messaged me on Sunday and said they were going … [Read more...] about HOLY FORFEITS!: Jaguars capitalize on 10 open weights, roll to victory over Ames

Jaguars place 2nd at Fort Dodge behind individual champs Hron, Cahill, English

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers came away with three individual titles on Saturday in the Don Miller Invitational at Fort Dodge. It just wasn't quite enough to earn the team crown for the Jaguars. Creston/Orient Macksburg claimed the overall title with 195.5 points. Centennial finished second in the 12-team field with 191. "They snuck up on us … [Read more...] about Jaguars place 2nd at Fort Dodge behind individual champs Hron, Cahill, English

Centennial wrestlers get 2 pins, 3 technical falls in 48-21 win at Mason City

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestling team cruised to a 48-21 victory at Mason City in its CIML Iowa Conference opener on Thursday. The Jaguars got pins from 11th-ranked Carter Bennett at 138 pounds and Logan Song at 170. Cael Hron at 126, Drew Dunn at 145 and No. 5 Carter Cahill at 160 each won by a technical fall, while heavyweight Will Adams posted a 7-6 … [Read more...] about Centennial wrestlers get 2 pins, 3 technical falls in 48-21 win at Mason City