Sports

By the I-R Staff

The Wilson Dragons couldn’t stop Clifton-Clyde’s momentum Sept. 14 as the Eagles defeated the Dragons at home 66-12.

The win gives the Eagles a 3-0 record as the team faces Hill City on Friday. With the loss, Wilson’s record stands at 1-2 on the season.

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By Jennifer McDaniel
For the Ellsworth I-R

The Central Plains Oilers knew going into Friday’s game they were sitting atop the Central Prairie League standings as the only undefeated team.

They also knew they had to keep their energy up, and the momentum going to post another win. And that’s exactly what they did in front of a hometown crowd, shutting out the Kinsley Coyotes 72-0.

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By Taylor Holecek
For the Ellsworth I-R

The Ellsworth Bearcats were upset Friday by the Sacred Heart Knights in a low-scoring third game of the season at the Graves Family Sports Complex in Salina.

Each of the teams scored just one touchdown for the entirety of the game and the final score was 7-9.

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By MARK McCOY
Ellsworth County I-R

Ellsworth’s No. 1 doubles team of Kassie Sheridan and Cassidy Kroboth placed first Tuesday, Aug. 28, in the Ellsworth Girls’ Invitational tennis tournament.

Emily Ryan of Central Plains took first in No. 1 singles.

The Lady Bearcats team of Jaycee Cunningham and Jaide Talbott placed 2nd in No. 2 doubles.

Lady Oiler Zoe Potter placed 2nd in No. 2 singles.

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By MARK McCOY
Ellsworth County I-R

WILSON — The Wilson Dragon football team destroyed Northern Plains League rival Southern Cloud County, 48-8, Friday in the 2018 season opener at Wilson.

The Dragons put 14 unanswered points on the scoreboard by the end of the first quarter. The Dragons looked good in the second stanza, executing blocks and running through the holes on offense. The Dragons have a couple of decent arms in the offensive backfield this season and delivered the ball into the receiver’s hands at several points in the game — even if the pass fell incomplete.

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By Mike Courson
For the Ellsworth County I-R

ELLINWOOD — The momentum continues to build for the Lady Bearcat volleyball team. After downing Republic County twice in the season opener, Ellsworth traveled to Ellinwood Thursday, Aug. 30, to pick up wins against the host Lady Eagles and Sterling.

“This is always a tough triangular,” said Lady Bearcat coach Amy Johnson. “It seems like no matter who is supposed to be the best team, it’s just a scrappy little triangular. I love it because we don’t always see these teams. Ellinwood comes to our tournament, but this is the only time, unless we see them in sub-state, we play Sterling.”

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By the I-R staff

This year’s Ellsworth High School cross country team is a mixed bag.

Eric Coonrod, who will start his 16th year with the program — 10 of those as head coach — will return seven varsity-level boys from the 2017 team.

“The boys’ team should be strong if we keep working hard and pushing each other,” Coonrod said.

The girls’ team has fewer runners this year.

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By the I-R staff

The Ellsworth tennis team has a new coach this year, Deb Talbott. She replaces Eric Anderson, who resigned earlier this year to take a job outside education.

As a result, Talbott is feeling her way in her first season as a Bearcat.

“As a 1st-year coach and new to the Ellsworth Ladies Tennis Program, it is difficult to say what changes will be beneficial to the team. We will take the season one day at a time and measure success based on current progress and performance rather than previous accomplishments,” Talbott said.

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By Conor Nicholl
For Kansas Pregame

Josh Homolka had a strong first year with the Bearcats, leading Ellsworth to a one-win improvement and its most wins since 2011.

“We look forward to seeing if we can continue to progress,” Homolka said. “We have a lot of new pieces to the puzzle this season. This summer will be a great opportunity to find leaders to step up. Consistency will be the key. We are a young team so we need to learn to perform on a consistent basis.”

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By Mike Courson
For the Ellsworth County I-R

From Claflin to Hays and Topeka to Rio de Janeiro, the stage keeps growing for Reagan Phelan and Taylor Rolfs.

The three-time state champions from Central Plains High School recently wrapped up a brief basketball tour in Brazil.

“It was definitely a big culture change coming from a small town and going to Brazil with practically a bunch of strangers,” Phelan said.

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