Sports

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.

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.

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.

Ellsworth boys double up La CrosseHOISINGTON — The Ellsworth boys’ basketball team traveled to Hoisington Jan. 20 to compete in the Cardinal Boys’ Winter Jam. The Bearcats, coming in with a 2-7 record, took on the 6-1 La Crosse Leopards.

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.