Ankeny Fanatic

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Logan Neils

Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny wrestling team

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is dedicated to longtime Des Moines Register wrestling reporter Dan McCool, who died on Monday at the age of 60. Dan was a legend in the wrestling community and will be sorely missed. I was working for the Register as a correspondent in the 80s and one of the first big events that I was asked to cover was to help out Dan with state … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny wrestling team

Neils pins his way into 3A quarterfinals, while Monroe escapes with win

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A .500 record on the opening day of the Class 3A state tournament left Ankeny Centennial with two quarterfinalists and two more wrestlers alive in the consolation bracket. Top-ranked Logan Neils at 170 pounds and No. 4 Ben Monroe at 145 each won their first-round matches on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena. Teammates Jackson Bresson at 120 and Jackson … [Read more...] about Neils pins his way into 3A quarterfinals, while Monroe escapes with win

Jaguars advance 5 wrestlers to state, but suffer some ‘heartbreaking’ losses

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Although the Ankeny Centennial wrestling team qualified five wrestlers for next week's state tournament, the Jaguars came up just short of advancing a few more. A trio of Jaguars lost wrestle-back matches for second place in a Class 3A district tournament on Saturday at Des Moines East, preventing them from earning a trip to Wells Fargo Arena. "It was … [Read more...] about Jaguars advance 5 wrestlers to state, but suffer some ‘heartbreaking’ losses

Ankeny trio, Centennial’s Neils capture individual titles at CIML Invitational

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If Friday's CIML Invitational at Southeast Polk was any indication of what's going to happen later this month at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament, then both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial could make a lot of noise at Wells Fargo Arena. The eighth-ranked Jaguars placed second in Friday's 16-team tournament, while the No. 7 Hawks took fourth. It was … [Read more...] about Ankeny trio, Centennial’s Neils capture individual titles at CIML Invitational

Centennial wins final 3 matches to top Ankeny in Jag-Hawk showdown

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After switching places in the latest Class 3A rankings by The Predicament, eighth-ranked Ankeny Centennial and No. 5 Ankeny may have to revert back to their preseason spots. The visiting Jaguars won the final three matches to defeat Ankeny, 38-29, in the CIML Central Conference opener for both teams on Thursday. It was Centennial's seventh win in eight … [Read more...] about Centennial wins final 3 matches to top Ankeny in Jag-Hawk showdown

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Logan Neils, Ankeny Centennial wrestling

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Senior Logan Neils pinned his way to the 170-pound title at the Dallas Center-Grimes Invitational on Saturday, helping the Jaguars to the overall team crown. He is now 4-0 on the season. Neils compiled a 38-3 record as a junior, when he placed second at 170 in the Class 3A state tournament. He is a two-time state placewinner. Here is some inside info … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Logan Neils, Ankeny Centennial wrestling

Jaguars earn 3 silver medals, finish 4th overall in Class 3A

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For three days, the Ankeny Centennial wrestlers put themselves in position to capture a team trophy at the Class 3A state tournament in Des Moines. Centennial coach Jay Groth was also confident that the Jaguars would win multiple individual championships, especially after his team advanced three wrestlers into Saturday night's finals at Wells Fargo … [Read more...] about Jaguars earn 3 silver medals, finish 4th overall in Class 3A

‘Great round’ sends Centennial trio into Saturday’s championship matches

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Ben Monroe has waited 365 days for another opportunity to win a state wrestling title. Two of his Ankeny Centennial teammates, Eric Owens and Logan Neils, had their own championship aspirations. Now, the trio will get their chance on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. All three of them won semifinal matches on Friday afternoon to advance to the Class … [Read more...] about ‘Great round’ sends Centennial trio into Saturday’s championship matches

Jaguars advance 5 wrestlers, Hawks send 3 to Class 3A quarterfinals

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Both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial are off to good starts in the Class 3A state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Fifth-ranked Centennial still has six wrestlers alive following Thursday's opening round, including five quarterfinalists. The Jaguars are in ninth place with 17 points in the team standings. "I'm happy for the six that are still … [Read more...] about Jaguars advance 5 wrestlers, Hawks send 3 to Class 3A quarterfinals

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

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

Jaguars outlast Fort Dodge in shootout, 49-44, to remain unbeaten

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With about 1 minute left in Friday's game at Fort Dodge, Ankeny Centennial running back Gabe Godwin burst through the line of scrimmage at the Dodgers' 15-yard line and appeared to have a clear path to the end zone. Godwin had already rushed for three touchdowns, but he passed up an opportunity to score again. The 200-pound senior stopped at the 2-yard … [Read more...] about Jaguars outlast Fort Dodge in shootout, 49-44, to remain unbeaten

Jaguars enjoy memorable Senior Night with back-to-back walk-off wins

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There isn't a better way to celebrate your Senior Night than with a walk-off win. Unless, of course, you can do it twice. The Ankeny Centennial baseball team rallied to win both games of a non-conference doubleheader against visiting Des Moines East on Friday. The Jaguars twice scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to post 6-5 and 10-9 … [Read more...] about Jaguars enjoy memorable Senior Night with back-to-back walk-off wins

Jaguars fall to 9-9 after being swept by No. 2 Johnston

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Johnston's 2008 state championship baseball team was honored on Friday night to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Dragons' historic season. That Johnston team, coached by Ankeny resident Randy Wee, finished with a perfect 40-0 record. This year's Johnston squad won't be able to match that accomplishment, but the second-ranked Dragons are still one … [Read more...] about Jaguars fall to 9-9 after being swept by No. 2 Johnston

Hawks, Jaguars each win twice at Tim Heggen Invitational

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Saturday was a good day for the Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial baseball teams as both squads won a pair of games in the Tim Heggen Invitational at Ankeny. The Hawks rolled to a 9-1 victory over North Polk, the No. 10 team in Class 3A. They later defeated Davenport North, 5-4, in nine innings to extend their winning streak to six games. The Jaguars also … [Read more...] about Hawks, Jaguars each win twice at Tim Heggen Invitational

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

Dominating wins send Rathjen, Monroe to Saturday’s finals

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  Ankeny's Caleb Rathjen and Ankeny Centennial's Ben Monroe share at least one trait in common. They both look comfortable on Iowa's biggest wrestling stage. The duo posted dominating wins on Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena to advance to Saturday's championship matches in the Class 3A state tournament. "It feels great. It's an awesome … [Read more...] about Dominating wins send Rathjen, Monroe to Saturday’s finals

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