Adrian Ellsworth
Athletic Pairing Arrangement Reached
After several months of discussion, a comprehensive sport pairing arrangement with Ellsworth Public School has been reached. The process began last spring with multiple public meetings in both Districts.
School Boards for both districts approved the agreement at special meetings held last week in each District. According to the agreement, the schools will pair in all sports. Prior to the agreement, Adrian and Ellsworth were paired in football, wrestling, baseball and softball. The Conference and MSHSL have indicated support for the pairing process, and we expect their official approval in the near future. Next fall, the pairing arrangement will be expanded to include volleyball and girls and boys cross-country.
Both schools have agreed to a cost sharing arrangement based on the per pupil cost of each sport. The teams will be known as the Adrian-Ellsworth Dragons and continue to wear the current Adrian uniforms for most regular season games and all post season play. During the regular season, a portion of the home games in volleyball and boys and girls basketball will be played in Ellsworth. During those games, the teams will wear Ellsworth colors.
School officials believe the pairing agreement will enhance the overall athletic experience for students by providing them with an opportunity to play at appropriate levels and be more competitive.