Will Blevins will always appreciate the role that Tami Lewton played in his success on the tennis court. "Tami was instrumental in my career," the former Ankeny Centennial star said. "I had known Tami since I was about 10 years old, and we met at the Ankeny tennis courts. I began taking lessons with her and then she helped me to find other pros and clubs … [Read more...] about ‘She will be greatly missed’: Centennial boys’ tennis coach Lewton passes away
Will Blevins
‘I’m proud of my accomplishment’: ACHS star ends career with runner-up finish
For the second time in three years, an Ankeny Centennial senior advanced to the championship match in the Class 2A singles bracket at the boys' state tennis tournament before having to settle for runner-up honors. Top-seeded Caleb Peterson dropped a 6-3, 6-3 decision to second-seeded Kaden Taylor of Waukee Northwest on Wednesday at the Hawkeye Tennis … [Read more...] about ‘I’m proud of my accomplishment’: ACHS star ends career with runner-up finish
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 141
Will Blevins and Claudia Guan of Ankeny Centennial talk about their run to the Class 2A state coed tennis title on the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America, which also features a trio of girls' soccer standouts--Elizabeth Overberg of Centennial, Eden Gibson of Ankeny and Brookelyn Buttolph of … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 141
Blevins, Guan knock off Dowling’s singles champions to win co-ed state title
Ankeny Centennial seniors Will Blevins and Claudia Guan teamed up to win the co-ed state tennis championship on Tuesday at Ankeny. They played five matches over the course of 12 hours to capture the title. In the finals, Blevins and Guan posted a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Daniel Lu and Allison Szalay of Dowling Catholic, who were the boys' and girls' singles … [Read more...] about Blevins, Guan knock off Dowling’s singles champions to win co-ed state title
‘I just kept fighting’: Blevins falls short in Class 2A title match despite valiant effort
After playing four hours of grueling tennis on Saturday, Ankeny Centennial's Will Blevins sat down in a chair and reflected on the end of his glorious high school career. Blevins didn't reach his ultimate goal, but he nevertheless walked off the court as a winner--even if the scoreboard showed that he had lost. Putting up a valiant fight in the finals … [Read more...] about ‘I just kept fighting’: Blevins falls short in Class 2A title match despite valiant effort
VIDEO: Blevins saves 9 match points in Class 2A singles final
The Ankeny Centennial senior refuses to go down without a fight in the state championship match, battling back from a 5-1 deficit in the second set before dropping a 6-4, 6-3 decision to Daniel Lu of Dowling Catholic. … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Blevins saves 9 match points in Class 2A singles final
Blevins advances to Class 2A semifinals, while doubles team earns top-8 finish
Ankeny Centennial's Will Blevins will have a chance on Saturday to avenge one of his three losses this season. He could potentially have a chance to avenge his other two singles defeats. The unseeded Blevins advanced to the semifinals of the boys' Class 2A state tennis tournament with a pair of lopsided victories on Friday at the University of Iowa's … [Read more...] about Blevins advances to Class 2A semifinals, while doubles team earns top-8 finish
Centennial doubles team wins district title, advances to state along with Blevins
Ankeny Centennial's Will Blevins has qualified for the boys' state tennis tournament for the third time in his high school career. He'll be joined by teammates Caleb Peterson and Nic Mackaman. Blevins placed second in singles in a Class 2A district tournament on Wednesday at Ames, while Peterson and Mackaman teamed up to win the doubles title. The … [Read more...] about Centennial doubles team wins district title, advances to state along with Blevins
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 136
Girls' tennis coaches Steve Smith of Ankeny and Armando Espinosa of Ankeny Centennial joined Centennial boys' standout Will Blevins as the guests on the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mid-America. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 136
Blevins suffers his first loss, but Jaguars hold off Dowling for 6-5 victory
Will Blevins and the Ankeny Centennial boys' tennis team got another chance to see Dowling Catholic before Wednesday's Class 2A district tournament at Ames. Thursday's dual meet at Ankeny produced some mixed results. Blevins suffered his first loss of the year in singles, but then bounced back with a win in doubles as Centennial posted a 6-5 victory in … [Read more...] about Blevins suffers his first loss, but Jaguars hold off Dowling for 6-5 victory
‘It definitely helps for seeding at state’: Blevins knocks off Waukee’s Ecklund
Ankeny Centennial's Will Blevins may have taken a big step toward a state tennis title on Tuesday at Waukee. Blevins posted a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Waukee's Will Ecklund in a matchup of two of the state's top players. Blevins placed fourth in the Class 2A singles tournament as a sophomore in 2019, while Ecklund was a part of the state championship doubles … [Read more...] about ‘It definitely helps for seeding at state’: Blevins knocks off Waukee’s Ecklund
Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Will Blevins, Ankeny Centennial senior
The two-time state placewinner in singles posted his biggest victory of the season on Tuesday with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Waukee's Will Ecklund. … [Read more...] about Central Bank Athlete of the Month: Will Blevins, Ankeny Centennial senior
Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Will Blevins, Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis
Senior Will Blevins is a two-time state placewinner for the Ankeny Centennial boys' tennis team. He took fifth in the Class 2A singles tournament as a freshman in 2018, then placed fourth as a sophomore. Blevins boasts a career record of 39-10 in singles, including a 3-0 mark this season. He was named the captain of Ankeny Fanatic's all-time Ankeny boys' … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Prep of the Week: Will Blevins, Ankeny Centennial boys’ tennis
Blevins is back for final season, but Centennial lacks depth, experience
COVID-19 took a toll on the Ankeny Centennial boys' tennis team. The Jaguars not only lost the entire 2020 season to the global pandemic. They also lost a lot of players in the process. "Many of the freshmen and sophomores that were new to tennis (last year) found jobs, or got involved in other activities and did not come out this year," said … [Read more...] about Blevins is back for final season, but Centennial lacks depth, experience
‘I loved the team unity’: Centennial’s Blevins commits to play for Bulldogs
An opportunity to play in front of the Drake tennis coaches has paid off for Ankeny Centennial standout Will Blevins. The senior has committed to play for the Bulldogs. "I'm so excited!" Blevins said. "Earlier in the fall I had been playing many ITA tournaments held by Drake in Des Moines. This gave me the opportunity to showcase my talents against … [Read more...] about ‘I loved the team unity’: Centennial’s Blevins commits to play for Bulldogs
Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny boys’ tennis team
The Ankeny boys' tennis program dates back to the early 1970s. The biggest highlight for the Hawks over the last 50 years came nearly two decades ago. In 2003, head coach Dennis Hoefle guided Ankeny to the best season in school history. The Hawks advanced to the state team tournament for the first time ever and went on to capture the Class 2A … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic announces its all-time Ankeny boys’ tennis team
Updated schedule provides glimmer of hope for spring sport athletes, coaches
A glimmer of hope arrived earlier this week for Will Blevins, Jaci Webb and the rest of the spring sport athletes throughout the state of Iowa. On Monday, an updated schedule for spring sports was released in a joint statement from the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association. All spring activities had … [Read more...] about Updated schedule provides glimmer of hope for spring sport athletes, coaches
Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 49
Check out the latest edition of the Ankeny Fanatic weekly podcast sponsored by the Ankeny office of Iowa Realty. Ankeny Centennial boys' tennis standouts Samson Densmore and Will Blevins stopped by to visit with Ankeny Fanatic publisher Dan Holm about the Jaguars' performances in the individual and team state tournaments. … [Read more...] about Ankeny Fanatic Podcast: Episode 49
Jaguars fall to eventual champs, finish 4th in 2A state team tourney
The most successful boys' tennis season in Ankeny Centennial school history ended on Tuesday with a fourth-place finish in the Class 2A state team tournament at the Life Time Athletic Club in Urbandale. The Jaguars lost to eventual champion Iowa City West, 5-0, in the semifinals. They then dropped a 5-1 decision to Waukee in the third-place match. "I'm … [Read more...] about Jaguars fall to eventual champs, finish 4th in 2A state team tourney
Centennial’s Blevins earns 4th-place finish in Class 2A singles tournament
Ankeny Centennial's Will Blevins finally ran out of gas on Saturday at the boys' state tennis tournament in Cedar Rapids. After playing two consecutive grueling three-set matches, Blevins dropped a 6-3, 7-5 decision to Luke VanDonslear of Linn-Mar (Marion) in the third-place match of the Class 2A singles tournament. By placing fourth, the sophomore … [Read more...] about Centennial’s Blevins earns 4th-place finish in Class 2A singles tournament