Ellsworth had about as good of a meet as a team could ever have Thursday in Durand-Arkansaw. The boys team won the title, the girls finished third and senior Adolfo Mendez and sophomore Mackenzie Hince won the boys and girls races individually. Middle schooler Oliver Fleming also finished second place.

The rainy weather could have slowed the Panthers down, but they were not going to let it.

“It means a lot, especially from last year. We had a winning season last year, and coming back and winning again just makes it so much better,” Mendez said. “We’ve just got to keep grinding, get better over the season and see where we go.”

For the boys, Adolfo Mendez finished first, Jacob Michels fourth, Carter Lampman fifth, Parker Lampman 10th and Zak Zierl 11th. Mendez has been a part of some great teams over his high school years, helping lead the boys to State in 2025 for the first time since 1992.

“Just pulling through. My team, they pull me through, my coaches, my family,” Mendez said. “Just staying consistent, trying to stay away from injuries. Putting in the work.”

On the girls’ side, Mackenzie Hince won, followed by Blakely Lucente in fifth and Evie Peterson in 11th. In addition to the domination from the boys, the girls took third place at the event, narrowly missing out on a trophy.

At this point in the season, teams are looking for motivation to launch them into the postseason. Mendez said this meet may have just provided that motivation.

Ellsworth has two events remaining before the conference meet, one of which being their home invitational Oct. 6. Many of the runners have been a part of some intense postseason meets in the past, so they know what to expect when the time comes in October. The State boys from a year ago had just one senior in the lineup, and the girls are returning a large portion of their talent as well.