Ankeny Fanatic

Your Ankeny Sports Resource

Sam Kallem

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

Rathjen dominates, becomes Ankeny’s fourth two-time state champion

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Ankeny's Caleb Rathjen doesn't want to just win state titles. He also wants to dominate his opponents on the wrestling mat. On Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena, Rathjen did both of those things. The top-ranked junior racked up eight takedowns and rolled to a 17-6 major decision over No. 2 Dreyzon Phillips of Fort Dodge to win the Class 3A crown … [Read more...] about Rathjen dominates, becomes Ankeny’s fourth two-time state champion

WELL DONE: Ankeny’s Rathjen, Kallem to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night

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Whenever Caleb Rathjen steps on the wrestling mat, he brings a ton of confidence with him. His teammate on the Ankeny squad, Sam Kallem, boasts just as much confidence in his own abilities. Both Rathjen and Kallem advanced to the Class 3A finals on Saturday night with a pair of victories on Friday in the state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. The duo … [Read more...] about WELL DONE: Ankeny’s Rathjen, Kallem to wrestle for state titles on Saturday night

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

Hawks crown 3 champs, earn 3rd-place finish overall at Bob Sharp Invitational

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While Martin Luther King Jr. Day provided a day off for many people, that wasn't the case for the Ankeny wrestlers. The seventh-ranked Hawks hosted the Bob Sharp Invitational after Saturday's tournament was postponed until Monday due to inclement weather. Ten of the 13 teams that were originally slated to compete traveled to Ankeny for the rescheduled … [Read more...] about Hawks crown 3 champs, earn 3rd-place finish overall at Bob Sharp Invitational

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Sam Kallem, Ankeny wrestling

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Senior Sam Kallem has helped the seventh-ranked Ankeny wrestling team to a 7-5 dual record this season. He earned his 100th career victory during the Cliff Keen Invitational last month at Independence. Kallem posted a 34-13 record as a junior, when he placed seventh in the Class 3A state tournament at 132 pounds. He has committed to wrestle for Grand View … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Sam Kallem, Ankeny wrestling

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

Jag-Hawk dual could be determined by outcome of several swing matches

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Thursday's wrestling showdown between fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial and No. 8 Ankeny will likely be decided by the outcome of several toss-up matches. The crosstown rivals will meet for their annual clash at 7:30 p.m. at Ankeny High School. Centennial brings a 6-1 record into the CIML Central Conference opener, while Ankeny has a 2-1 mark. "Both teams … [Read more...] about Jag-Hawk dual could be determined by outcome of several swing matches

Hawk wrestlers tie for 5th place among 33 teams at Cliff Keen Invitational

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The Ankeny wrestling team proved over the weekend that it belongs on the mat with some of the best squads in the Midwest. The eighth-ranked Hawks tied with Linn-Mar (Marion) for fifth place among 33 teams in the Cliff Keen Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Independence. Both squads finished with 228 points. Simley (Minn.) won the prestigious … [Read more...] about Hawk wrestlers tie for 5th place among 33 teams at Cliff Keen Invitational

Ankeny’s Kallem to wrestle for NAIA powerhouse Grand View

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Ankeny wrestler Sam Kallem has decided to follow in the footsteps of former teammate Killyan Green. Kallem announced earlier this week via Twitter that he has verbally committed to Grand View, where Green is a sophomore on the Vikings' roster. "I'd like to announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at Grand View University!" … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Kallem to wrestle for NAIA powerhouse Grand View

Ankeny’s Kallem earns 7th-place finish at state wrestling tourney

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Sam Kallem got a taste of what the state wrestling tournament is all about this week. The Ankeny junior is looking to go back for more next year. The seventh-ranked Kallem earned a seventh-place finish in Class 3A at 132 pounds on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. He posted a 7-1 decision over No. 8 Christian Stanek of Cedar Rapids Xavier in the … [Read more...] about Ankeny’s Kallem earns 7th-place finish at state wrestling tourney

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

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

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

Jaguars spoil Ankeny’s Senior Night with 43-25 victory over Hawks

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On a night when Ankeny's wrestling seniors were recognized, crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial stole the spotlight. The visiting Jaguars racked up six falls and rolled to a 43-25 victory in a CIML Central Conference dual meet on Thursday. The win avenged last year's 28-26 loss to the Hawks. "That loss was a very big motivating factor because we beat … [Read more...] about Jaguars spoil Ankeny’s Senior Night with 43-25 victory over Hawks

‘Rivalry Week’ continues: A closer look at Thursday’s Ankeny vs. Centennial dual

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Saturday's Bob Sharp Invitational wrestling tournament was just the beginning of what Colin Honderd calls "Rivalry Week". The fifth-ranked Honderd won an individual title at 182 pounds to help Ankeny Centennial to the team crown for the fourth straight year. The Jaguars finished with 217.5 points, while host Ankeny placed third in the 10-team field with … [Read more...] about ‘Rivalry Week’ continues: A closer look at Thursday’s Ankeny vs. Centennial dual

Jaguars capture 4th straight Bob Sharp title; Ankeny’s Anderson upsets Centennial’s Monroe

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The Ankeny Centennial wrestlers are beginning to feel right at home in their crosstown rival's gym. The Jaguars visited Ankeny on Saturday for the Bob Sharp Invitational and came away with the team title for the fourth straight year. They racked up 217.5 points in the 10-team tournament. "It's awesome. I'm pretty happy," said Centennial coach Jay … [Read more...] about Jaguars capture 4th straight Bob Sharp title; Ankeny’s Anderson upsets Centennial’s Monroe

Big meets ahead for Ankeny, Centennial wrestlers

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Crosstown rivals Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial will see a lot of each other on the wrestling mat over the next 10 days. Both teams will compete in the Bob Sharp Invitational on Saturday at Ankeny, beginning at 10 a.m. The Jaguars will be seeking their fourth consecutive Bob Sharp title after winning last year's tournament with 194 points, while the Hawks … [Read more...] about Big meets ahead for Ankeny, Centennial wrestlers

Hawks win Atlantic tournament; Kallem named most outstanding wrestler

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The Ankeny wrestlers needed a strong performance in the final round of the Rollin Dyer Invitational on Saturday to come away with the team title. And that's exactly what they got. The Hawks won 11 of their last 14 matches and racked up 234.5 points to edge Sergeant Bluff-Luton, which had 231 points, for the crown. The tournament was held at … [Read more...] about Hawks win Atlantic tournament; Kallem named most outstanding wrestler