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Boys just miss bid to upset Sacred Heart

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 - 7:39am

SALINA — The Ellsworth boys faced off against the Sacred Heart Knights Feb. 19. Sacred Heart ceme into the contest with a 19-2 record and was ranked No. 3 in Class 2A.

Ellsworth’s Keegan Urbanek, right, competes against a wrestler in December at Minneapolis. Urbanek, along with the girls’ and boys’ wrestling teams, will compete at state this weekend in Hays. KAREN BONAR/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Boys’ wrestling takes first at regional competition

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 - 7:39am

Team places 8 in top 4 at regional competition

Sophie Homolka competes in the 145-lb. weight class in December at Minneapolis. She placed second at regionals and heads to state wrestling Feb. 27-28 in Hays. KAREN BONAR/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Girls qualify 4 for state wrestling

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - 7:51am

WAKEENEY — The Ellsworth girls’ wrestling team competed in the KSHSAA Class 3-2-1A Regionals Tournament Feb. 13-14, qualifying four wrestlers to advance to the state championships Feb. 27-28. Qualifiers are juniors Sophie Homolka and Brooklyn Webb, sophomore Kiya Schultz and freshman Kit Donley.

Homolka takes first

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 - 7:36am

PHILLIPSBURG — The Ellsworth girls’ wrestling team competed in the Girls’ Panther Classic Feb. 6, taking 10th out of 18 teams with 50 points, 12 points behind ninth place WaKeeney and 3 points ahead of 11th place Osborne.

Urbanek earns 100th win

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 - 7:35am

PHILLIPSBURG — Seniors Keegan Urbanek and Micah Galvan won their respective weight brackets as the Ellsworth boys wrestling team competed in the Boys’ Panther Classic Feb. 7. The Bearcats placed five wrestlers in the top four, earning a fourth place team finish in the 16-team field.

Senior Reagan Hansen battles for a rebound against SES defenders Jan. 30 at home. KAREN BONAR/ Ellsworth County Independent Reporter

Ellsworth girls fall to SES

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 - 12:17pm

The Ellsworth girls’ basketball team welcomed the Southeast of Saline Trojans to the Bearcat gymnasium Jan. 30, with the game having big implications for the league crown. Ellsworth and Southeast both came into the contest as two of the hottest teams in Class 3A, with the Bearcats on a four-game winning streak, while the Trojans crept back into the state rankings at No. 8, winning their last seven games.

Senior Tucker Goss passes the ball across the court during the Jan. 30 game against SES. KAREN BONAR/Ellsworth County Independent Reporter

Bearcats tripped up by Trojans

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 - 12:16pm

The Ellsworth boys’ basketball team welcomed the Southeast of Saline Trojans for their homecoming night Jan. 30 in an NCAA matchup. Both teams came into the contest being used to being higher in league standings, but still evenly matched, nonetheless.