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Taylor Runchey

Runchey scores 12 points, but Wartburg falls to Smith College in OT at Final 4

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The final game of Taylor Runchey's college basketball career resulted in some bittersweet feelings. The former Ankeny Centennial standout scored a season-high 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, but the Wartburg College women's team dropped a 61-54 decision to Smith College in overtime in the NCAA Division III Final Four on Thursday at Bexley, Ohio. The … [Read more...] about Runchey scores 12 points, but Wartburg falls to Smith College in OT at Final 4

Wartburg women’s squad reaches Div. III Final 4 for 3rd time in program history

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Taylor Runchey's final collegiate basketball season will conclude at the NCAA Division III Final Four. The former Ankeny Centennial standout helped the Wartburg College women's team to a 68-58 victory over Washington and Lee University in the Elite 8 on Saturday at Providence, R.I. She had three rebounds, an assist and a block in 29 minutes of … [Read more...] about Wartburg women’s squad reaches Div. III Final 4 for 3rd time in program history

Runchey, Wartburg advance to Elite 8 with last-second win over Bates College

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Taylor Runchey and the Wartburg College women's basketball team have reached the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament. Runchey, a former Ankeny Centennial standout, helped the Knights to a 54-53 victory over Bates College in the Sweet 16 round of the Division III tournament on Friday at Providence, R.I. She had two points, five rebounds and four assists in the … [Read more...] about Runchey, Wartburg advance to Elite 8 with last-second win over Bates College

Ex-Jaguar Runchey, ex-Comet Murphy help Wartburg reach NCAA’s Sweet 16

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Taylor Runchey, Jaedon Murphy and the 24th-ranked Wartburg College women's basketball team reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament before dropping a 60-51 decision to No. 1 Christopher Newport on Friday at Medford, Mass. Runchey, a junior guard and former Ankeny Centennial standout, had four rebounds and three assists in the loss. Murphy, a … [Read more...] about Ex-Jaguar Runchey, ex-Comet Murphy help Wartburg reach NCAA’s Sweet 16

Seniors lead the way as Jaguars pound Muscatine to end season in style

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The seniors on the sixth-ranked Ankeny Centennial softball team were determined to go out in style. The outcome of Thursday's Class 5A consolation final against No. 8 Muscatine was never in doubt. Centennial scored in every inning and rolled to a 10-0 victory over the Muskies in five innings at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. The Jaguars (23-9) … [Read more...] about Seniors lead the way as Jaguars pound Muscatine to end season in style

‘It was just a matter of when’: Centennial erupts for dramatic win over Waukee

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Ankeny Centennial runner Mackenzie James watched from third base as her teammate, Franie Burnett, swung and missed at a third strike during Monday's Class 5A quarterfinal against Waukee. Then James noticed the ball skip past Waukee catcher Natalie Wellet. The freshman raced home with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the sixth-ranked Jaguars … [Read more...] about ‘It was just a matter of when’: Centennial erupts for dramatic win over Waukee

Jaguars stun No. 4 Waukee in their state tournament debut

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Ankeny Centennial's first trip to the state softball tournament has already been a memorable one. The sixth-ranked Jaguars advanced to the Class 5A semifinals with an improbable 5-2 victory over No. 4 Waukee on Monday at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. Down to its final five outs, Centennial rallied for five runs in the last two innings to erase a … [Read more...] about Jaguars stun No. 4 Waukee in their state tournament debut

Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Taylor Runchey, Centennial girls’ hoops

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Senior point guard Taylor Runchey has helped the 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team to a 5-4 record. She scored a season-high 12 points, making 4-of-6 shots from 3-point range, and also dished out 10 assists in the Jaguars' 71-34 victory at Fort Dodge on Saturday. Runchey is averaging 4.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. She is shooting … [Read more...] about Revive Clinic and Spa Prep of the Week: Taylor Runchey, Centennial girls’ hoops

‘We’re getting hot at the right time’: Jaguars roll to pair of wins over Ankeny

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Ankeny Centennial's Taylor Runchey winced in pain after a hard ground ball deflected off her body during the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against visiting Ankeny. The junior third baseman refused, however, to come off the field. "No, not for a second," Runchey said when asked if she thought about leaving the game. "It just stung a little bit at … [Read more...] about ‘We’re getting hot at the right time’: Jaguars roll to pair of wins over Ankeny

After pulling off one upset, Jaguars will try for another against S.E. Polk

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When the girls' state basketball tournament tips off on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena, 10th-ranked Ankeny Centennial won't be mentioned as one of the favorites to capture the Class 5A title. But that's just fine with the Jaguars. Centennial pulled off one upset in order to reach the state tournament, and now it will try for another one. The Jaguars … [Read more...] about After pulling off one upset, Jaguars will try for another against S.E. Polk

WELL DONE: Jaguars topple Pleasant Valley, earn trip to state tournament

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Wells Fargo Arena sits only about 10 miles away from the city of Ankeny. To earn a chance to play there, however, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team had to make its longest road trip ever. The 10th-ranked Jaguars traveled to Pleasant Valley on Tuesday for a Class 5A regional final against the No. 7 Spartans, who entered the game with a 21-0 … [Read more...] about WELL DONE: Jaguars topple Pleasant Valley, earn trip to state tournament

Jaguars to rely on team effort to compete in loaded CIML

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A year ago, the Ankeny Centennial girls' basketball team overcame a slew of injuries to post a 19-4 record. Centennial coach Scott DeJong is hoping to have better luck this season, but the Jaguars have already been bitten by the injury bug. Junior guard Meg Burns, one of the team's top returning players, has been sidelined since July due to a foot … [Read more...] about Jaguars to rely on team effort to compete in loaded CIML

Jaguars may need to rely on deep pitching staff down the stretch

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It's a good thing that the Ankeny Centennial softball team has several dependable pitchers. The Jaguars may need them all down the stretch. Haley Gatica, the team's No.1 pitcher, is battling a wrist injury. She took the loss in the first game of Monday's doubleheader at Southeast Polk. Gatica (9-5) allowed four hits in five innings as the Jaguars … [Read more...] about Jaguars may need to rely on deep pitching staff down the stretch

Jaguars top Norwalk twice, earn 3rd-place finish in Elite Eight tournament

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team defeated Norwalk for the second time in two days, 6-1, to earn a third-place finish in the Barney Dennis Elite Eight tournament on Saturday at Johnston. Taylor Runchey drove in four runs as the Jaguars improved their record to 12-10. Ella Schulz and Cassi Garland each went 2-for-3 in the win. "Norwalk pitched their … [Read more...] about Jaguars top Norwalk twice, earn 3rd-place finish in Elite Eight tournament

Jaguars earn culture-building sweep over No. 4 Waukee

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Randy Schneider has been saying for weeks that his Ankeny Centennial softball team is capable of beating some of the CIML's top squads. The Jaguars not only did that on Wednesday, but they did it twice. Centennial swept both games of a Central Conference doubleheader against visiting Waukee, 5-4 and 7-5. The fourth-ranked Warriors had won the previous … [Read more...] about Jaguars earn culture-building sweep over No. 4 Waukee

Schulz hits walk-off single to complete Jaguars’ sweep over Ames

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If there's any pressure on Ella Schulz, the Ankeny Centennial freshman doesn't seem to feel it. Schulz has been batting third for the Jaguars' softball team most of the season, putting her in a position where she's expected to produce some runs. On Tuesday, she did exactly that with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving … [Read more...] about Schulz hits walk-off single to complete Jaguars’ sweep over Ames

Jaguars knock off Class 4A No. 4 ADM, finish 2-2 at tournament

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The Ankeny Centennial softball team is embracing its tough early-season schedule. The Jaguars played three more ranked opponents at the ADM Invitational on Friday and Saturday. They went 2-2 at the tournament and are now 5-7 on the season with three one-run losses while playing nine ranked teams in their first 12 games. "We love our schedule," said … [Read more...] about Jaguars knock off Class 4A No. 4 ADM, finish 2-2 at tournament