Lady Eagles Test Themselves Against Elite Field at Newton Tournament of Champions
January 14, 2026
The Colby High School Lady Eagles made the trip east to Newton last week to compete in one of the most demanding events on the Kansas girls wrestling calendar, the Newton Girls Tournament of Champions. Featuring a deep field loaded with ranked wrestlers across nearly every weight class, the two-day tournament served as both a measuring stick and a proving ground as teams begin turning their attention toward postseason wrestling.
Colby finished sixth in the team standings with 108 points, narrowly edging host Newton and finishing among a crowded group of traditional state contenders that included Garden City, Manhattan, Basehor-Linwood, and Kapaun Mt. Carmel. The overall team results reflected just how unforgiving the tournament was, with multiple state-level programs filling the top half of the standings and very little separation between teams throughout the field.
Head coach Andrew Flanagin emphasized that results were secondary to effort and mindset going into the weekend.
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“I am very proud of our team and their effort,” Flanagin said. “This tournament is one of the toughest in the state, and it was a good test for us to prepare for regionals and state. I told them that all I wanted from them was their best attitude and effort for every match. I didn’t care what the results were. And they did a great job of that.”
The weekend was not without its challenges. A hotel issue on the first night created some unexpected adversity, but Flanagin noted that the team responded exactly how a coach hopes a group will respond when things do not go as planned.
At the top of the lineup, Colby received standout performances from Morgan Hills at 135 pounds and Dallis Stieben at 155 pounds, both of whom battled through elite brackets to claim tournament championships. Hills went 5-0 on the weekend, defeating multiple ranked opponents on her way to the finals before earning a hard-fought decision victory over Manhattan’s Alayna Slifer. Hills had lost to Slifer the week before, setting up a fantastic grudge match in the finals. Her performance capped off a dominant weekend and earned her Outstanding Wrestler honors at the tournament.
“Morgan’s bracket was tough the whole way, but she was never in bad position in any match on the way to the finals,” Flanagin said. “She was disappointed from last week’s finals match, but luckily she got a rematch. We watched film and she made corrections in practice. This time, she came out aggressive and took control from the start like she usually does. No one can stop her on her feet, and that’s how she won this time. It was the cherry on top for her to get the OW award. She works really hard and she definitely earned it.”
Stieben also delivered a composed and confident weekend, finishing 4-0 with three falls and a sudden-victory win in the finals. Flanagin praised her approach and continued development throughout the season.
“Dallis has been wrestling very well all season and continues to improve,” he said. “She went into every match, took control early and focused on being active with shot fakes and movement. In the finals she stayed patient on her feet, backing out of some bad shots, but ultimately got three takedowns because of it. Her confidence continues to grow and she’s working hard in practice. It’s paying off and it’s fun to watch.”
Across the rest of the lineup, Colby saw competitive efforts from wrestlers at every weight, with several athletes fighting through the consolation rounds and scoring key team points against high-level opposition. Flanagin said the tournament reinforced an important mental focus he continues to stress.
“With both Dallis and Morgan, I told them before they walked onto the mat to always look for the next point, and keep looking for opportunities when something doesn’t work the first time,” he said. “They both did exactly that. They never panicked when they gave up points and stayed level headed. I was extremely proud of them and how they handled their matches.”
As the postseason approaches, the Lady Eagles leave Newton with a clearer understanding of where they stand and what needs refinement. Against one of the toughest fields they will see all year, Colby proved it can compete, adapt, and respond under pressure.
Next, the Eagles will host Norton for a dual and senior night, then they’ll be off to Nebraska to compete at Kearney High School’s dual tournament on January 23.