Sports

Tennis opens season with wins at home

The Ellsworth varsity tennis team opened the season at home at their invitational tournament. Ellsworth fielded two teams, designated as Ellsworth Black and Ellsworth Red.In team awards, the Ellsworth Black team tied for first place with Hoisington.
Freshman Owen Schultz keeps his eye on the ball during the season opener home tennis tournament April 2. CATHERINE DOUD/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Bearcat softball falls to Sacred Heart in season opener

SALINA — The Ellsworth softball team took on the Sacred Heart Knights March 27 in their 2026 season opener. Despite playing the Knights in a tight Game 1 and a valiant comeback effort in both games, the Bearcats dropped both league contests.
Miley Rolfs successfully secures an out during Game 1 at Sacred Heart March 27 in Salina. KAREN BONAR/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Baseball drops two games at Salina

SALINA — The Ellsworth Bearcat baseball team started its 2026 campaign on March 27 as they took on the Sacred Heart Knights.
Macian Korbe swings at a ball during Game 1 against Sacred Heart in Salina March 27. KAREN BONAR/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Bearcats upset Beloit in substate championship, punch ticket to state

LARNED — The Ellsworth girls’ basketball team continued to keep their postseason run alive March 7 as they took on the Beloit Trojans in the KSHSAA Class 3A Substate Championship, winning the game 49-45.The game was neckand-neck. The fourth quarter began with a 34-34 tie.

McGowan selected for Shrine Bowl roster

Senior Ellsworth football standout Cooper McGowan was selected to play in the 53rd Annual Kansas Shrine Bowl.The Shrine Bowl is an annual all-star football game for Kansas high school seniors that benefits Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Senior Cooper McGowan will compete in the Kansas Shrine Bowl June 26 at Welch Stadium in Emporia. Courtesy photo

Wrestlers place at state tourney in Hays

Homolka places second, Donley sixth at stateHAYS — The Ellsworth girls’ wrestling team sent qualifying wrestlers to compete in the KSHSAA 3-2-1A State Wrestling Championships Feb. 27-28.
Ellsworth wrestlers competed at the state tournament in Hays Feb. 27-28. Combined, both the boys’ and girls’ teams placed six wrestlers. Additionally, the boys’ team placed fifth overall. Courtsey photo

Boys just miss bid to upset Sacred Heart

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.

Boys’ wrestling takes first at regional competition

Team places 8 in top 4 at regional competitionEllsworth County I-RGYPSUM — The Ellsworth boys’ wrestling team had a great day Feb. 21 as they traveled to Southeast of Saline to compete in the Class 3-2-1A Regional Wrestling Tournament.
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

Girls qualify 4 for state wrestling

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.
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

Homolka takes first

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.
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