Lady Trojans Open 2026 with Strong Showing at York Women’s Open
January 17, 2026
The Colby Community College Lady Trojan wrestling team opened the 2026 calendar year on January 17 by traveling to York, Nebraska, where they faced one of the deeper and more challenging fields they have seen this season. The York University Women’s Open provided a strong measuring stick coming out of an extended holiday break, and head coach Michael Ruiz viewed the event as both a competitive test and a strategic tune-up with national goals already in sight.
Colby entered the tournament following one of the longer midseason layoffs in the NJCAA ranks, a decision Ruiz made intentionally to allow recovery and long-term development. Despite the time away from competition, the Lady Trojans looked refreshed and prepared, turning in several standout performances across both the Open and Amateur divisions. Ruiz noted afterward that the event served its purpose as a re-entry point before the intensity ramps up in the coming weeks.
Leading the way for Colby was Catherine Dutton in the Open Division at 207 pounds. Dutton delivered one of the most dominant performances of the day, capturing first place and scoring 22.5 team points. Her run included multiple falls and a technical fall in the championship bout, navigating a bracket filled with ranked NAIA opponents. Dutton did not surrender a point throughout the tournament, reinforcing her position as one of the premier heavyweights in collegiate women’s wrestling.
The Amateur Division also saw strong contributions from the Lady Trojans. Destiny Gonzalez claimed first place at 138 pounds, scoring 21 team points. Gonzalez strung together a series of decisive victories, including pins in the semifinals and finals, continuing her successful transition to the weight class and showing the progress the coaching staff has been expecting. Emma Parker added another key result with a fifth-place finish at 131 pounds, earning 11.5 team points after rebounding from a tough semifinal loss to finish her day with a pin in the placement match.
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At 160 pounds, Kaylen McAtee placed third and scored 19.5 points, putting together a solid consolation run that included multiple falls. Atavia Cain also competed at 160, earning three team points while wrestling below her typical weight division.
In addition to the official team entries, Colby had several wrestlers competing unattached, highlighted by assistant coach Anastasia Hardin in the Open Division at 160 pounds. Hardin placed third overall and scored 17.5 points, recording four falls in five matches. Her performance included wins over opponents from Waldorf, Baker, and Grand View, with her only setback coming in the semifinals against Colorado Mesa. Hardin closed the day with a decisive 12-4 win in the third-place match.
Aspen Sharpe also impressed while competing unattached in the Amateur Division at 110 pounds. Sharpe advanced to the championship match with back-to-back pins before finishing second overall and scoring 17 points. Her aggressive style and continued development stood out against a competitive bracket that included nationally ranked opposition.
Ruiz emphasized that the York tournament was less about final placements and more about preparing the team for the stretch run of the season. With national duals and postseason events approaching, the Lady Trojans used the trip to evaluate progress, manage weight adjustments, and sharpen their competitive edge. The results reflected a team trending in the right direction, combining high-end individual performances with valuable mat time against elite competition.
Colby will look to build on the momentum from York as it shifts focus to upcoming national-level events, where the Lady Trojans aim to translate early-season preparation into postseason success.