Sports

HALSTEAD — The Ellsworth boys’ wrestling team competed in the Halstead Invitational Jan. 17, placing second out of 21 teams. The team once again had a good turnout, with nine wrestlers placing in the top six of their weight class, including three wrestlers claiming the top spot in their bracket.

HAYS — The Ellsworth High School girls’ wrestling team competed in the Girls’ Prairie Classic Jan. 17. The Bearcats claimed 10th place in team standings that featured 21 teams, most of which were 4A, 5A and 6A schools. Ellsworth scored 63.

For just the second time this season, and the first time in 2026, the Ellsworth girls’ basketball team was back in the friendly confines of the Bearcat gymnasium Jan. 8, as they played host to the Republic County Buffaloes.

The Bearcats boys’ basketball team was back at home for just the second time this season, as they welcomed the Republic County Buffaloes Jan. 8. The Buffaloes came into the contest with a 6-2 record and ranked No. 10 in Class 2A.

The Ellsworth boys’ basketball team closed out 2025 as they played host to league foe, the 4-1 Beloit Trojans, Dec. 16.Things got bad quickly for the Bearcats as Beloit started the game on a 9-0 run, prompting an early Ellsworth timeout with 3:58 left in the first quarter with the score at 12-2.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Ellsworth girls’ basketball team took on the Lions Dec. 16 in an NCAA matchup that had fans on the edge of their seats with 59.4 seconds left in regulation play and with the score 43-39 in favor of the Lions.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Ellsworth wrestlers traveled to Minneapolis Dec. 13 to take part in the Jeff Giles Invitational. In team standings, Ellsworth placed sixth out of the 13-team field.The boys’ team won the invitational as a team, beating out second place finisher Salina South by 10 points.

YONS — The Ellsworth girls’ basketballLteam started their winter campaign on the right track Friday night, as they traveled to Lyons for the first tip-off of the season. With 11 of the 12 players scoring for the Bearcats, Ellsworth had no problem cruising to a 54-21 victory.

LYONS — The Ellsworth boys’ basketball team dropped its season opener Dec. 5 as they traveled to Lyons in an early NCAA matchup.

While many people know Kim Whetzel as an administrative assistant at the USD 327 district office, her interaction reaches beyond her desk chair.For more than 10 years, she has been the driver of the lead vehicle for Ellsworth’s home cross country meet each fall.